“The study drug,” “speed,” “uppers”—these are all slang terms for Adderall, which is a brand name for the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Although the misuse of Adderall has gained attention in the media in recent years, the substances it’s made of are nowhere near new. Adderall use on college campuses is a common problem. This is probably not a surprise since most people do in fact think of it as/call it the “study drug.”
There are a number of people who get great benefits from an Adderall prescription. When someone follows their doctor’s directions they can utilize Adderall to overcome certain struggles in their life. However, Adderall addiction treatment can make a difference for those struggling with this substance use disorder. If Adderall side effects have impacted your life, reach out for addiction treatment today.
Possible Adderall Side Effects
Although Adderall has a long list of side effects, keep this in mind: if you are taking a prescription for Adderall your doctor will be monitoring your health. It’s important to remember it can be completely safe to take Adderall and it helps many people. Side effects of Adderall can play a role in someone’s life who is taking the medication exactly as prescribed, just like they can play a role in the life of someone who is taking them without a prescription. Some of these side effects are mild and some are severe. Some are even life-threatening.
Mild Adderall Side Effects
Some mild side effects of Adderall may include:
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Weight loss
- Painful menstrual cramps
Side effects like increased levels of anxiety and nervousness are connected to how Adderall is affecting someone’s nervous system. A change in sexual stamina and even the desire for sexual interaction is possible, which is a side effect you will often see listed alongside antidepressants. If you are abusing this drug, get Adderall addiction treatment right away.
Severe Adderall Side Effects
The list of severe side effects of Adderall addiction is long. Doctors and experts recommend anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms while on Adderall should call a doctor immediately. If you are taking Adderall without a prescription you could be significantly endangering yourself. Severe Adderall side effects may include
- Slurred speech and/or having trouble speaking
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision or general changes in sight
- Itching and hives
- Random swelling, especially of the face, and particularly in the eyes, tongue, and/or throat
- Struggling to breathe or swallow
- Hoarseness/coughing
- A feeling of numbness or weakness in a leg or arm
- Depression
- Grinding your teeth
- A heightened sense of paranoia and potentially feeling a change, in reality, thinking and/or believing things that are not actually real
- Visual or auditory hallucinations
- Blue colored toes or fingers
- Random and inexplicable wounds appearing on the hands and/or feet
- Blisters and skin cracking or peeling
- Seizures
- Developing tics of speech or fine motor skills, such as in the hands or in the face
- Fever (sweating, shaking, etc.)
- Heightened heart rate
- Stiff muscles
- Decreased coordination
- Manic episodes
For people with heart defects, the likelihood of heart attack or sudden death is higher. Because Adderall can speed up someone’s heart rate, a person who is already struggling with maintaining a healthy heart rate could be at a higher risk of a heart attack. Doctors caution to watch for shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting as signs of a serious problem.
Is Adderall Overdose Possible?
It is possible to overdose on Adderall and it is specifically possible when considering someone misusing the medication. Almost all Adderall tablets/pills are created as time-release, meaning they are ingested and the medication then enters the body over an extended period of time. If someone crushes the pills in order to inhale/snort or even smoke them, the likelihood of overdose rises. That’s because the amount of medication the body would be getting in a very short period of time would be much too high. Many of the signs of Adderall overdose are similar to the side effects of taking Adderall, which further complicates the situation of someone taking Adderall without a prescription. They can include:
- Weak muscles
- Seizures
- Anxiety/panic attacks
- Fever or temperature spikes
- Excessive or uncontrollable shaking
- Dark urine
- Blurred vision
- Aggression
Another difficult aspect is that everyone is different, meaning some people could overdose on much smaller amounts of Adderall. If someone has overdosed on Adderall call 911 immediately. The dangers associated with overdose are very real, including coma and even death. Most importantly, if you know someone who is taking Adderall without a prescription and struggling with stopping, there is treatment available. Trying to quit cold turkey is not a helpful strategy for most people, and can lead to longer struggles with relapse, not to mention produce dangerous side effects from suddenly stopping the use of a drug or substance. When it’s time to get treatment, finding the right situation and location is the best way to go about it. Taking all information and circumstances into consideration is key. You want the person struggling to be as well taken care of as possible.
Moving Past Adderall Addiction at Vertava Health Mississippi
Struggling with addiction, potential side effects, and withdrawal from a drug or substance is all very scary. When someone enters an addiction treatment facility to address these things they should be well taken care of and remain safe and comfortable. Recovery is possible. Our Mississippi drug rehab uses the strength of the clients we see; it focuses on their resilience and helps them realize how powerful they are. It’s our mission to help everyone we see begin their lifelong journey into recovery.
We use evidence-based treatments like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a well-researched and reliable form of therapy, to address all the things that go into struggling with addiction. And because everyone is different, and struggles in different ways, we do individual assessments to ensure we’re not relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. Also, we know treatment doesn’t begin and end with detox and rehab. That’s why we have our evening intensive outpatient program (IOP). It’s a program that allows people to continue working, living at home, and continue focusing on their future.
When it’s time for someone to begin recovery, or even when it’s time to ask questions about recovery, we want you to know we are here for whatever you need. Call us at 844.470.0410 any day of the week, at any time. Whether you are calling for yourself or a loved one, we’re ready to talk.
