Immediate-release or “IR” medications, on the other hand, release a drug into your body right away. Since 1998, millions of parents and adults have trusted ADDitude’sexpert guidance and support for living better with ADHD and its related mental healthconditions. Our mission is to be your trusted advisor, an unwavering source of understandingand guidance along the path to wellness.
If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Stimulants, antidepressants, and lifestyle changes may all be useful in treating the symptoms of narcolepsy. The dosage depends developing effective coping skills for substance abuse recovery on which condition Adderall is treating and the age of the person taking it. Stimulant medications, such as Adderall, boost the levels of a brain chemical called norepinephrine, which helps promote wakefulness. Stimulant drugs increase the activity of certain brain chemicals.
- If you have a serious heart problem, Adderall could raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death.
- Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that sends messages between cells.
- However, it’s not clear how often this occurs or if Adderall was the cause of this effect.
- When Adderall is dispensed from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle.
- The drug can help reduce daytime sleepiness in people with this condition.
When Adderall is dispensed from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. This date is typically one year from the date the medication was dispensed. The half-life of Adderall varies depending on a person’s age, liver and kidney function, and other factors.
Alternatives for ADHD
If necessary, a doctor may then increase the daily dose by 5 mg at weekly intervals. Children aged 3–5 years should begin with a starting dosage of 2.5 milligrams (mg) per day. If necessary, a doctor may increase the daily dose by 2.5 mg at weekly intervals to establish the minimum effective dosage. Caffeine in foods and beverages such as coffee might add to the stimulant effects of Adderall. This can increase the risk of stimulant-related side effects such as anxiety, nervousness, trouble sleeping, and others. Adderall helps improve concentration and focus in people with ADHD.
Serious side effects
And if you have high blood pressure, taking Adderall could make it worse. Your doctor may want to check your heart and blood pressure before prescribing Adderall to make sure it’s safe for you. Adderall can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions.
Professional information for Adderall
For children 6–12 years in age, a doctor may prescribe Adderall at an initial dosage of 5 mg per day. They may increase the daily dose by 5 mg helping someone with a drinking problem each week, stopping when they find the optimal dosage. For adults with ADHD, the starting dosage of Adderall is 5 mg once or twice per day.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. To find programs that may help lower Adderall’s cost, search Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds. Also, if you’re having trouble opening your medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to put Adderall in an easy-open container. Your pharmacist may also recommend tools to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.
The purpose of such expiration dates is to guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. You should not breastfeed while taking this medication. Adderall can pass through breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This medication should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the potential risk.