{"id":60080,"date":"2023-08-29T15:33:56","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T19:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60080"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:33:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:33:20","slug":"adderall-effects-on-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/adderall-effects-on-body\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn the short- and long-term effects of Adderall on the body"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), your healthcare provider may recommend or prescribe the stimulant medication Adderall to help minimize your symptoms. Adderall can be an essential tool for improving the daily executive functioning of people with ADHD. It helps with thinking more clearly, focusing energy on singular projects, and coping better with everyday challenges like impulsivity and hyperactivity. <\/span><\/p>\n

But it’s understandable if you have <\/span>concerns about taking Adderall<\/span><\/a> due to possible adverse side effects. To better understand this medication, we spoke with two experts about how Adderall works and its short-term and long-term effects on the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Adderall?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Adderall<\/span><\/a> is a brand-name drug; its generic is <\/span>amphetamine-dextroamphetamine<\/span><\/a>. Both are a combination of amphetamine salts: dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, according to <\/span>Alex Dimitriu<\/span><\/a>, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. It’s FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy, but it’s sometimes <\/span>prescribed off-label as a weight loss drug<\/span><\/a>. The drug works by <\/span>stimulating the central nervous system<\/span><\/a> thereby increasing the amounts of certain neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine) in the brain. <\/span><\/p>\n

The effects of Adderall on the body<\/span><\/h2>\n

No two people taking Adderall will have the same response to the drug. Dr. Dimitriu notes this is especially true for people with ADHD versus people without ADHD (i.e., people taking Adderall for narcolepsy or off-label uses). <\/span><\/p>\n

“Generally speaking, the side effects of Adderall are more problematic in non-ADHD users,” Dr. Dimitriu says. However, he explains that <\/span>anyone<\/span><\/i> taking Adderall may experience common side effects, such as increased energy, alertness, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, dry mouth, and decreased appetite.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short-term effects of Adderall on the body<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to a <\/span>2018 review<\/span><\/a>, “the primary pharmacologic effect of both amphetamine and methylphenidate is to increase central dopamine and norepinephrine activity, which impacts executive and attentional function.” The impacts Adderall has on your nervous system and your body when a dose is active in your system are known as short-term effects, and they include:<\/span><\/p>\n