What Is Adderall?
Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts) is an amphetamine used for treating:
What Are Side Effects of Adderall?
Side effects of Adderall include:
- nervousness,
- restlessness,
- excitability,
- irritability,
- agitation,
- dizziness,
- headache,
- fear,
- anxiety,
- agitation,
- tremor,
- weakness,
- blurred vision,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- dry mouth or unpleasant taste in the mouth,
- diarrhea,
- constipation,
- stomach pain,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- fever,
- hair loss,
- loss of appetite,
- weight loss,
- loss of interest in sex,
- impotence,
- difficulty having an orgasm,
- increase blood pressure,
- increased heart rate, and
- heart palpitations.
Adderall may cause serious side effects including:
- chest pain,
- trouble breathing,
- lightheadedness,
- hallucinations,
- new behavioral problems,
- aggression,
- paranoia,
- hostility,
- numbness,
- pain,
- feeling cold,
- unexplained wounds,
- skin color changes to fingers or toes,
- seizures (convulsion),
- muscle twitches (tics),
- vision changes,
Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:
- Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
- Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out;
- Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
Dosage for Adderall
The usual dose of Adderall is 2.5-60 mg daily administered in one or three doses.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Adderall?
Adderall may interact with:
- heart or blood pressure medications,
- diuretics (water pills),
- cold or allergy medicines (antihistamines),
- acetazolamide,
- chlorpromazine,
- ethosuximide,
- haloperidol,
- lithium,
- meperidine,
- methenamine,
- phenytoin,
- phenobarbital,
- reserpine,
- ammonium chloride,
- ascorbic acid (vitamin C),
- potassium phosphate,
- antacids,
- sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer),
- potassium citrate,
- sodium citrate and citric acid,
- sodium citrate and potassium,
- stomach acid reducers, or
- antidepressants
Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Adderall During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Adderall should not be used in pregnancy. Mothers taking Adderall should refrain from nursing because amphetamines are excreted in human milk and can have undesirable effects on the child.
Additional Information
Adderall is habit forming and chronic use may lead to dependence.
Our Adderall Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
QUESTION
The abbreviated term ADHD denotes the condition commonly known as: See AnswerGet emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- signs of heart problems--chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;
- signs of psychosis--hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia;
- signs of circulation problems--numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes (pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes;
- a seizure (convulsions);
- muscle twitches (tics); or
- changes in your vision.
Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Long-term use of stimulant medicine can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.
Common side effects may include:
- stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- mood changes, feeling nervous or irritable;
- fast heart rate;
- headache, dizziness;
- sleep problems (insomnia); or
- dry mouth.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
SLIDESHOW
ADHD Symptoms in Children See SlideshowSIDE EFFECTS
Cardiovascular
Palpitations, tachycardia, elevation of blood pressure, sudden death, myocardial infarction. There have been isolated reports of cardiomyopathy associated with chronic amphetamine use.
Central Nervous System
Psychotic episodes at recommended doses, overstimulation, restlessness, irritability, euphoria, dyskinesia, dysphoria, depression, tremor, tics, aggression, anger, logorrhea, dermatillomania.
Eye Disorders
Vision blurred, mydriasis.
Gastrointestinal
Dryness of the mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal ischemia and other gastrointestinal disturbances. Anorexia and weight loss may occur as undesirable effects.
Allergic
Urticaria, rash, hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema and anaphylaxis. Serious skin rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported.
Endocrine
Impotence, changes in libido, frequent or prolonged erections.
Skin
Musculoskeletal
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva at 1-888-838-2872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Acidifying Agents
Lower blood levels and efficacy of amphetamines. Increase dose based on clinical response. Examples of acidifying agents include gastrointestinal acidifying agents (e.g., guanethidine, reserpine, glutamic acid HCl, ascorbic acid) and urinary acidifying agents (e.g., ammonium chloride, sodium acid phosphate, methenamine salts).
Adrenergic Blockers
Adrenergic blockers are inhibited by amphetamines.
Alkalinizing Agents
Increase blood levels and potentiate the action of amphetamine. Co-administration of Adderall® and gastrointestinal alkalinizing agents should be avoided. Examples of alkalinizing agents include gastrointestinal alkalinizing agents (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) and urinary alkalinizing agents (e.g. acetazolamide, some thiazides).
Tricyclic Antidepressants
May enhance the activity of tricyclic or sympathomimetic agents causing striking and sustained increases in the concentration of d-amphetamine in the brain; cardiovascular effects can be potentiated. Monitor frequently and adjust or use alternative therapy based on clinical response. Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include desipramine, protriptyline.
CYP2D6 Inhibitors
The concomitant use of Adderall® and CYP2D6 inhibitors may increase the exposure of Adderall® compared to the use of the drug alone and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. Initiate with lower doses and monitor patients for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome particularly during Adderall® initiation and after a dosage increase. If serotonin syndrome occurs, discontinue Adderall® and the CYP2D6 inhibitor [see WARNINGS, OVERDOSE]. Examples of CYP2D6 Inhibitors include paroxetine and fluoxetine (also serotonergic drugs), quinidine, ritonavir.
Serotonergic Drugs
The concomitant use of Adderall® and serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Initiate with lower doses and monitor patients for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, particularly during Adderall® initiation or dosage increase. If serotonin syndrome occurs, discontinue Adderall® and the concomitant serotonergic drug(s) [see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS]. Examples of serotonergic drugs include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, St. John’s Wort.
MAO Inhibitors
Concomitant use of MAOIs and CNS stimulants can cause hypertensive crisis. Potential outcomes include death, stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, ophthalmological complications, eclampsia, pulmonary edema, and renal failure. Do not administer Adderall® concomitantly or within 14 days after discontinuing MAOI [see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS]. Examples of MAOIs include selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue.
Antihistamines
Amphetamines may counteract the sedative effect of antihistamines.
Antihypertensives
Amphetamines may antagonize the hypotensive effects of antihypertensives.
Chlorpromazine
Chlorpromazine blocks dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, thus inhibiting the central stimulant effects of amphetamines, and can be used to treat amphetamine poisoning.
Ethosuximide
Amphetamines may delay intestinal absorption of ethosuximide.
Haloperidol
Haloperidol blocks dopamine receptors, thus inhibiting the central stimulant effects of amphetamines.
Lithium Carbonate
The anorectic and stimulatory effects of amphetamines may be inhibited by lithium carbonate.
Meperidine
Amphetamines potentiate the analgesic effect of meperidine.
Methenamine Therapy
Urinary excretion of amphetamines is increased, and efficacy is reduced, by acidifying agents used in methenamine therapy.
Norepinephrine
Amphetamines enhance the adrenergic effect of norepinephrine.
Phenobarbital
Amphetamines may delay intestinal absorption of phenobarbital; coadministration of phenobarbital may produce a synergistic anticonvulsant action.
Phenytoin
Amphetamines may delay intestinal absorption of phenytoin; coadministration of phenytoin may produce a synergistic anticonvulsant action.
Propoxyphene
In cases of propoxyphene overdosage, amphetamine CNS stimulation is potentiated and fatal convulsions can occur.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of amphetamine is decreased compared to when administered alone. Monitor patients for changes in clinical effect and adjust therapy based on clinical response. An example of a proton pump inhibitor is omeprazole.
Veratrum Alkaloids
Amphetamines inhibit the hypotensive effect of veratrum alkaloids.
Drug Abuse And Dependence
Adderall® (Dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine aspartate, dextroamphetamine sulfate and amphetamine sulfate tablets (Mixed salts of a single entity amphetamine product)) is a Schedule II controlled substance.
Amphetamines have been extensively abused. Tolerance, extreme psychological dependence, and severe social disability have occurred. There are reports of patients who have increased the dosage to levels many times higher than recommended. Abrupt cessation following prolonged high dosage administration results in extreme fatigue and mental depression; changes are also noted on the sleep EEG. Manifestations of chronic intoxication with amphetamines include severe dermatoses, marked insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes. The most severe manifestation of chronic intoxication is psychosis, often clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Adderall (Amphetamine, Dextroamphetamine Mixed Salts)
© Adderall Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Adderall Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
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