☕️ Hello friends, today we are going to talk about Adderall.
If you have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, you are usually taking medication to help you handle symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
But medications like Ritalin and Adderall can affect more than just your attention and behavior.
A common question about ADHD medications is: Does Adderall help you lose weight? In today’s newsletter, we’re going to talk about this drug (Adderall) and its effects on our metabolism and weight loss.
I. What is Adderall, and How does it work?
Adderall is a brand name for a stimulant drug that is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.
When someone with ADHD takes Adderall, they may experience side effects like:
- Increased alertness
- Higher energy levels
- Improved focus and concentration
- Increased heart rate
- Higher blood pressure
- Longer attention span
- Improve ability to finish tasks
Because of these effects, Adderall is more commonly known as the ”study drug” or the ”future drug”. It is used on many college campuses by students who want to improve their focus, even if they do not have ADHD.
II. Does Adderall help you lose weight?
Adderall can help you lose weight, but it is not prescribed as a weight loss drug. Weight loss can be a side effect for some people taking Adderall. This is mainly due to unwanted side effects such as:
- Dry mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
Other side effects of Adderall can include:
- Heart palpitations
- High blood pressure
- Irritability
- Depression
- Blurred vision
- Allergic reactions
- Loss of interest in sex
- Hair loss
- Muscle damage.
You can also have panic attacks and personality changes. Long term misuse at high doses can lead to mental health condition similar to schizophrenia.
Using Adderall to lose weight is therefore considered a serious mistake.
III. Adderall Abuse can lead to addiction
Some people refer to Adderall as “legal meth” because as a prescription drug, you can legally take it as long as you have a prescription. This has pushed many people to fake their ADHD symptoms just to get the drug. There have been stories online about young women doing this because they need Adderall to stop gaining weight.
However, many of these people taking Adderall are not aware that Adderall can be addictive. If you keep taking the drug, your tolerance will increase, which means you will need a higher dose over time to experience the same effects. This could lead to Adderall dependence and addiction.
In addition to abusing Adderall to lose weight, some people abuse Adderall to improve their mental abilities. College students have used amphetamines to help them study and get better grades. Older adults may use amphetamines to improve their memory or energy. All of these uses can lead to harmful side effects and substance use disorders.
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