Adderall weight loss drug reviewed
Adderall, or amphetamine-dextroamphetamine, was first marketed in the 1960s as a diet pill. It is currently classified as a stimulant medication and appetite suppressant and is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Adderall XR (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine extended release) is a long-acting form of Adderall used for ADHD treatment. Weight loss is a common side effect of taking Adderall. In fact, losing weight may be one of the reasons why so many people abuse Adderall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Adderall as a weight loss medication.
Weight loss is a common side-effect of taking Adderall. From published reports it seems that losing weight is one of the reasons why so many people abuse Adderall. And pursuant to recent news report in the New York Daily News, a number of female celebrities have used prescription Adderall as a weight loss supplement. Reports even suggest that some of these celebrities have resorted to crushing and snorting these pills as a way to deliver a quicker effect.
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a brand-name drug psychostimulant composed of mixed amphetamine salts, which is thought to work by increasing the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Adderall is widely reported to increase alertness, concentration and overall cognitive performance while decreasing user fatigue. It is available in two formulations: immediate release and extended release (XR). The immediate release formulation is indicated for use in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, while the XR formulation is only approved for use in ADHD.[1] In the United States, Adderall is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substance Act.
Adderall: Weight loss pill of the stars?
From crash diets to extreme workouts, it is no secret that the weight loss regimens of the stars and celebrities are not always healthy ones. According to a recent report in the New York Daily News, a number of female celebrities have used prescription Adderall as a weight loss supplement. Reports even suggest that some of these celebrities have resorted to crushing and snorting these pills as a way to deliver a quicker effect. And this is probably just the tip of the iceberg of Adderall abuse.
How Does Adderall Work?
Adderall is a stimulant. While stimulants (like caffeine) can cause hyperactivity, when used at the doses used to treat, Adderall has a calming effect. In general, Adderall is used at higher doses, where it has more of a stimulating effect, for the treatment of narcolepsy.
While the precise mechanism by which Adderall produces this calming effect is unknown, it has been established that it stimulates the central nervous system by increasing the levels of chemicals, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. These chemicals, or neurotransmitters, help the brain send signals between nerve cells. Adderall helps restore the balance of these neurotransmitters in the parts of the brain that control the ability to focus and pay attention.
Headaches (including migraines) have been reported in up to 26% of adults taking Adderall XR (data for Adderall is not available). Headaches were not as common in children taking Adderall XR.
For people taking Adderall, depression is a reported side effect, although the specific frequency has not been determined. Depression has not been recorded as a common side effect in short-term studies of Adderall XR. However, about 1% of children stopped taking the medicine because of depression. At this time, it is difficult to say how common it is for people taking Adderall or Adderall XR to experience depression.
Adderall weight loss drug abuse
Many dieters wrongly assume that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take Adderall at much higher doses than normally prescribed for weight loss, a non approved use. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because administering a drug in this manner permits direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous.
Snorting Adderall effectively fast tracks it to the brain. The resulting blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible. The reason that snorting some drugs causes a greater buzz than taking them orally is because of rapid absorption through the blood-rich mucous membranes of the nose.
Many users believe that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take it in very high doses, much higher than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because snorting or injecting drugs allows direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous. Snorting Adderall can also damage nasal membranes and cartilage. Snorting Adderall effectively accelerates its passage into to the brain. The resulting sudden blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems.
Adderall overdose and Adderall side effects
A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible when taking Adderall not as presribed. Combining Adderall with alcohol further increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems. Like other amphetamines, snorting Adderall can lead to tolerance and addiction. Withdrawal effects may be experienced if Adderhall is suddenly discontinued after continuous use. Taking too much Adderall or Adderall XR could lead to symptoms that could include:
Hyperactivity (trouble sitting still)
Fast breathing
Confusion
Fever
Muscle pains
Shakiness
Aggressiveness
Hallucinations
If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
When coming down from Adderall a number of adverse effects such as exhaustion, tension, radical mood swings, depression and even strong violent tendencies may be experienced.
Long-term effects of repeated use of amphetamines such as Adderall can include:
High blood pressure and a rapid and irregular heartbeat
Chronic sleeping problems
Potential loss of appetite
Anxiety, tension and sudden aggressive outbursts
Amphetamine psychosis, where symptoms of paranoid delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behaviour may be exhibited (symptoms usually disappear a few days after stopping use of amphetamines
There is also some evidence that brain cells can be damaged
Adderall side-effects that need to be reported
There are a number of serious side-effects in taking Adderall that need to be reported to a healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:
Suicidal tendencies
Mental confusion
Chest pain or heart palpitations
Shortness of breath
Depression
Strange or more aggressive behavior than normal
Hallucinations
Agitation or restlessness
Fainting
Seizures
Unexplained rash
Hives
Uncontrolled movements of the head, neck, mouth, arms, or legs (known as tics)
Adderall drug interactions
Adderall can potentially interact with many drugs. Some of the drugs that may lead to Adderall interactions include:
Acetazolamide (Diamox®)
Amitriptyline (Elavil®)
Ammonium chloride
Certain antacids, such as sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate (Tums®)
Certain sleep medications, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®, Tylenol PM®)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine®)
Clomipramine (Anafranil®)
Desipramine (Norpramin®)
Doxepin (Sinequan®)
Ethosuximide (Zarontin®)
Haloperidol (Haldol®)
Imipramine (Tofranil®)
Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
Lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®, Lithonate®)
Medications for high blood pressure
Meperidine (Demerol®)
Methenamine (Hiprex®, Urex®)
Norepinephrine (Levophed®)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor®)
Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
Propoxyphene (Da rvocet®, Darvon®)
Protriptyline (Vivactil®)
Reserpine
Selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Zelapar®)
Several herbal and nutritional supplements can also interact with Adderall. Examples of these include, but are not limited to:
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Glutamic acid
Guarana
Melatonin
This list of Adderall drug interaction is not fully comprehensive. Therefore, it is advisable to talk to healthcare provider if taking another drug or compound in combination with Adderall.
Adderall manufactures
Shire Pharmaceuticals marketed Adderall in 1996 in the form of a multi-dose, instant-release tablet. It is the same drug that they had previously called Obetrol and sold as a weight loss management product. In 2006, Shire sold the rights to the Adderall name to Duramed Pharmaceuticals, and this instant-release medication has subsequently become available in a generic formulation. In 2001, Shire Pharmaceuticals introduced an extended-release preparation of the drug in a variety of dosages under the brand name “Adderall XR”. Adderall XR has become available in a generic form. In 2009, Barr Pharmaceuticals and Shire reached a settlement agreement permitting Barr to offer a generic form of the drug.
