The effects of Adderall in our body can manifest in different ways. It can either be positive, negative or both; and it could also be physical or psychological. Nevertheless, what matters is that we take the drug according to the doctor’s prescription to minimize or avoid any unwanted consequences from the drug.
What Is Adderall Used For?
The pharmaceutical company Richwood Corporation got its approval from FDA to market the Adderall drug way back in 1996 as an instant relief for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. ADHD is a common mental disorder that causes a person to have difficulty in maintaining focus and controlling their impulses. (1)
It is often characterized by three major symptoms namely inattention (inability to stay on task and sustain focus), hyperactivity (constant need to be on motion or restlessness) and impulsivity (creating actions before thinking first about them).
A few years later, the Food and Drug Administration has also approved the use of Adderall for another mental disorder which is narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a type of rare sleep disorder that causes a person to fall asleep during any time of the day suddenly.
It is due to the brain’s inability to regulate its sleeping and waking patterns. This then results in various symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (temporary loss of muscle control), excessive dreaming and waking during the night, sleep attacks and sleep paralysis. (2)
Some patients and individuals have also used Adderall for some off label uses. Off label means it has not been formally approved by the FDA. Some of these off label uses are primarily for the improvement of physical and cognitive performance. Hence, many sports regulatory commissions have banned the drug due to reports of players trying to cheat with the use of drug supplements.
What Are Some Side Effects of Adderall?
If used properly, Adderall can become a very helpful drug for many patients suffering from ADHD or narcolepsy. Nevertheless, whether you properly take it or not, there is still a possibility that you would experience some of its side effects.
We’ve listed below some of the common side effects of Adderall that you need to look out for:
- nervousness
- excitability
- restlessness
- agitation
- irritability
- dizziness
- fear
- headache
- anxiety
- tremor
- agitation
- blurred vision
- weakness
What Are The Long Term Effects Of Adderall?
Manufacturers create the drug by mixing the salts of the highly addictive drug amphetamine. Because of this reason, the Food and Drug Administration has categorized it as a Schedule II drug to signify that high abuse and addiction potential of the drug.
Other than addiction, other long term effects of Adderall may include depression, paranoia, and hostility. However, the possibility of you experiencing any of these side effects is fairly small. Nevertheless, using the drug beyond what the doctor has recommended will make you more susceptible to more adverse side effects of the drug.
