Adderall: The Milestone for ADHD and Depression

Adderall is a powerful stimulant that was created to treat the sometimes disastrous symptoms associated with ADD (attention deficit disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Adderall in the contemporary benchmark by which all other ADD/ADHD medications should be judged. Not only is Adderall effective for children with the disorder it works amazingly well in adults with the same dysfunction. Adderall (generically known as mixed amphetamine salts) is a psycho stimulant comprised of four different amphetamine mixtures. It is well known that Adderall can increase alertness, reduce fatigue, help with libido, and improve a users overall concentration and comprehension of tasks and subject matter. Adderall is most commonly known on college campuses as a study drug allowing students to stay awake for hours on end to cram for large exams, surprisingly enough not only are the students able to cram all the information into their brain and regurgitate it back onto a test paper their level of retention of information is amazingly high too.

Taken on a regular basis for those that suffer from ADD/ ADHD are reported to begin feeling normal again like they never have in their whole lives until initially getting prescribed the stimulant. Most users suggest that they feel that their brain is working the way it should have been the whole time and they often wonder how they did without it for so long. For someone with this disorder Adderall is truly a miracle drug. There are many other ADD/ADHD treatments readily available such as psychotherapy or other medications such as dopamine and serotonin reuptake inhibiting anti-depressants as well as other amphetamine style stimulants such as Ritalin, but none seem to hail in comparison to the mighty Adderall. Adderall comes in two different distinct forms of action. Adderall IR is an instant release tablet and Adderall XR is an extended release capsule, both come in different milligram dosages depending on the circumstances and the need of the user in question. Both of these two medications come in the same available dosages, they begin at 5mg and work there way up to 30mg in increments of five.

It is recommended to never exceed a 60mg dosage of either one on any particular day, but it has been widely acknowledged that many physicians are prescribing higher than recommended doses depending on the severity of the case at hand. One draw back of taking amphetamines such as Adderall is the possible mental and physical dependence as well as a tolerance can over time be built up to it's effects. Many people who initially begin taking the drug experience extreme euphoria and an overall general sense of well being for the first one to two weeks after they start taking it. This side effect will go away overtime and the person is left with an increase in energy and an intent ability to focus on even the most benign tasks.

Adderall is used to treat other illnesses and known defects in the human mind as well. It is a widely recommended for the treatment of narcolepsy (a disorder where a person can fall asleep at unusual times during the day with absolutely no control over the condition) and it has many off label usages that it has been reported to be extremely effective in the treatments of other illnesses such as: ICNSH (idiopathic central nervous system hypersomnia), drug induced brain dysfunction, epilepsy, senile apathetic behavior (which is a condition where the elderly and sometimes people just even in their early fifties have given up on life and no longer care for themselves, it's a form of chronic depression. Adderall allows them to have the get up and go to regain control of their life), general and chronic medication resistant depression, and obesity.

Adderall works by increasing levels of dopamine and nor epinephrine in the brain.
Dopamine which is a neurotransmitter for our brains is very crucial in key functions. Neurotransmitters are essentially carriers that relay information to and from nerve cells. Dopamine plays a key role in the functioning of the cortex; not having enough of it is thought to have a strong impact on cognitive processes such as attention and focusing, the very same problem people with ADD/ ADHD have.

On a personal note I have used Adderall on and off for years depending on the level of attention I desired for that particular point in my life and Adderall XR is a God send. Looking back on the times when I either didn't have insurance (because it does get expensive, most likely because the performance is so good) or I thought I would try and go without it, I don't know how I made it. Recently after losing my job I fell into a slump of drug resistant depression, I tried many different anti-depressants and I was at my wits end. I could barely get out of bed I was so depressed after losing my business, my tools and equipment, my pride, and my Viper Ram truck. I didn't know what to do, I wasn't on Adderall at the time and I was reading about it, because I always felt good when I took it and I noticed an off label usage for depression. So, I made an appointment and got back on it and immediately my mood began to get better, I stopped trying to sleep all day and retired from my pessimistic perspective. I got up and was able to do things again and have a more positive outlook on life. So for someone who has ADD/ADHD and they've fallen into a dark pool of depression which goes hand in hand with the disorder, get on Adderall and it may just pull you out of that black hole.