Adderall

What is Adderall?

Adderall is formulated from a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Both these drugs are stimulants for our central nervous system which affect chemicals in our nerves and brain that contribute to impulse control and hyperactivity. Doctors also prescribe Adderall for narcolepsy and ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some doctors may prescribe Adderall for many other health problems as well.

What are things patients need to know before taking Adderall?

You should not take Adderall if you have used a MAO inhibitor, for instance furazolidone or Furoxone, phenelzine or Nardil, isocarboxazid or Marplan, tranylcypromine or Parnate, rasagiline or Azilect, Emsam, or Zelapar, selegiline or Eldeprylor in the last fourteen days. In this case a very dangerous drug interaction may happen, leading to severe side effects.

You must avoid taking this medicine if you are allergic to dextroamphetamine or amphetamine or if you have: moderate to high high blood pressure or hypertension, heart disease; arteriosclerosis which is hardening of the arteries; glaucoma; overactive thyroid; tension, severe anxiety, or agitation; or if you have a record of alcohol or drug addiction.

Some stimulants may cause sudden death in children and young people who have severe heart problems or inherited heart defects. If you have any of the following you should inform your doctor before taking Adderall: high blood pressure; an inherited heart defect; a heart rhythm disorder, heart failure, or any recent minor heart attack; a personal or family record of psychotic disorder, mental illness, bipolar illness, suicide attempt or depression; epilepsy or any other seizure disorder; or Tourette's syndrome or muscle twitches.

Taking Adderall during pregnancy

Adderall can cause problems to an unborn child. It could cause low birth weight, premature birth, or withdrawal symptoms in a baby if the mother takes Adderall during her pregnancy. If you are pregnant or decided to conceive you need to tell your doctor or physician before taking this medicine.

Again, Adderall may pass into the breast milk and might cause a lot of harm to a nursing baby. Thus when you are breast feeding a child, you must not take the medicine without discussion with your doctor about taking Adderall.

How should you take Adderall?

You should take Adderall exactly the same way as prescribed by your physician or doctor. You should not take in smaller or larger amounts or for shorter or longer than recommended. You should also follow the instructions on your prescription label. You need to keep it in your mind that your doctor or physician may sometimes change your dose of medicine to ensure that you get the best results.

You should not chew, crush, break, or open an extended-release pill bottle. You must swallow it whole because breaking the pill may lead to you a situation when you have too much of the pill into your system released at one time.

What happens if a patient misses a dose?

Since Adderall is taken as needed, in most of the case patients may not be on a dosing schedule. If a patient is taking Adderall regularly, he should take the missed dose whenever he can remember. When it is the time to take the next dose he should skip that and more to his regular dose afterwards.

What happens if you overdose?

You need to seek emergency medical assistance if you feel you have taken Adderall more than you have been prescribed. In some situation an overdose of Adderall can cause very serious health problems.

What are the possible side effects of Adderall?

You should get emergency medical assistance if you have any allergic reaction to Adderall including difficulty breathing; hives; swelling of your tongue, face, throat or lips.

You should stop using this medicine and talk with your doctor immediately if you have a severe side effect such as: uneven fast, pounding heartbeats; burning or pain when you urinate; feelings of excessive happiness or sadness, talking more than normal; hallucinations, tremors, unusual behavior, or muscle twitches; or severely high blood pressure along with buzzing in the ears, severe headache, anxiety, chest pain, confusion, shortness of breath, seizure, or uneven heartbeats.

Some of the less serious Adderall side effects include weakness, headache, blurred vision, dizziness; feeling irritable, restless, or agitated, insomnia or sleep problems; dry mouth or an uncomfortable taste in the mouth; constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, nausea; fever; loss of appetite, hair loss, weight loss; or impotence, loss of interest in sex, or difficulty having an orgasm.

So like all other medicines proper precautions and safety measures should be taken before having the medicine. Again this medicine should only be taken in a proper way after consulting with a doctor.