Overview of Adderall -- Best Known as an ADD Medication

Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant, which affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. What this means is the medication allows a person to focus more, and thus allows that person to not become frustrated due to him or her not concentrating. Adderall contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are stimulants that:

1. Improve a person's attention span.
2. Increase the person's ability to concentrate more and follow directions.
3. Decrease distractibility.
4. Decrease sudden mood swings, impulsiveness, and aggression.
5. Increase one's ambition to stay awake.

Adderall is a very satisfying medication if it is taken as prescribed. Children as young as 3 years of age can take Adderall, and many children and teens take it when they go to school. Adderall is prescribed for people that have the following symptoms:

1. Short Attention Span
2. Hyperactivity Disorder
3. Moderate to Severe Distractibility
4. Sudden Mood Swings
5. Impulsiveness

* Adderall may also be used for other purposes that aren't listed in this article.

If one appears to have one or more of the symptoms above, they may have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or possibly even ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). A psychiatrist is best to talk to if a person believes they have ADD or ADHD, and Adderall is one of the top medications that is prescribed for these conditions.

The active ingredients in Adderall are 'Amphetamine Aspartate; Amphetamine Sulfate; Dextroamphetamine Saccharate; Dextroamphetamine Sulfate'. Adderall is an amphetamine, which in short term means "speed" on the street. Since Adderall has the ingredients that allow a person to become potentially high off of it, it has a possible risk of abuse. If one is taking Adderall to experience the feeling of euphoria, they can build up a tolerance to the drug. While a person could develop a tolerance to the drug even if they weren't using it recreationally, the possibility is far more greater the other way around. If a person continues taking the medication so that they can experience the pleasurable effects, they will need to increase the dosage, which then would lead to withdrawal symptoms if the person suddenly stopped taking the medication.

Withdrawal Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:

- Fatigue
- Depression
- *In Severe Cases*Psychosis

While Adderall's withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening, they can be very uncomfortable.

All medications have side effects, but the side effects below aren't anything to be worried about. Although they can be quite bothersome:

- Constipation, Diarrhea
- Difficulty Sleeping, Dizziness, Euphoria
- Dry Mouth, Headache, Loss of Appetite, Nausea
- Restlessness, Nervousness,
- Stomach Pain, Upset Stomach,
- Unpleasant Taste (Bitter, Metallic), Vomiting, Weight Loss

Seek medical attention immediately if any of the following side effects below occur when using Adderall:

- Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; change in sexual ability or desire; chest pain; confusion; depression; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; growth suppression; mental/mood changes; numbness or tingling in an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; painful or frequent urination; seizures; severe headache; severe stomach pain; severe weight loss; sudden severe dizziness, fainting, or vomiting; uncontrolled muscle movement; unusual weakness or tiredness; vision or speech changes.
*Thanks to Drugs.com for the SEVERE side effects