Adderall is a first-choice medication used to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It contains the instant-release (IR) forms of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts. The medication starts to work within 45 minutes, but only lasts for up to 4 to 6 hours, so you might need more than 1 dose each day. Common side effects include difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite. It’s a controlled substance because of its high risk of misuse and dependency.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a stimulant medication. It’s not exactly known how Adderall helps to improve attention and focus, but it’s thought to work by raising the levels of chemicals in your brain called norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.

What is Adderall used for?

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Narcolepsy (daytime sleepiness)

Buy Adderall Online dosage forms

Tablet

5mg

7.5mg

10mg

12.5mg

Typical dosing for Adderall

Your provider will adjust your dose based on how well it’s helping your symptoms and if you’re having side effects.

ADHD

Adults and children ages 6 years and older: The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once or twice per day.

Children ages 3 to up to 6 years: The typical starting dose is 2.5 mg by mouth once per day.

Children younger than 3 years old: Not recommended for this age group.

While there isn’t a recommended maximum dose, most people won’t need more than 40 mg per day.

Narcolepsy

Adults and children ages 12 years and older: The typical starting dose is 10 mg by mouth once per day.

Children ages 6 to up to 12 years: The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once per day.

Pros and cons of Adderall

Pros

First-choice medication for ADHD

Starts working within an hour after taking

Available as a lower-cost generic

Can use together with behavioral counseling or other non-medication therapies to treat ADHD

Cons

Has a risk of misuse and dependency

A controlled medication, so there are special requirements for getting the prescription filled

Dose needs to be raised and lowered slowly to avoid side effects and withdrawal symptoms

Not available as a liquid or patch form (unlike methylphenidate (Ritalin))

Pharmacist tips for Adderall

Take your first dose of Adderall as soon as you wake up to lower your risk of trouble sleeping at night.

Take Adderall exactly as prescribed. Don’t change your dose or stop taking the medication without talking to your provider first. Doing so can result in dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as daytime sleepiness, irritability, large appetite, trouble sleeping, and depression. If you want to stop Adderall, your provider will give you instructions to lower your dose slowly over time before you can completely stop taking it.

Adderall can be taken with or without food. Be careful of how much acidic things (e.g., fruit juice, citrus fruits, foods containing vitamin C) you eat or drink because they can affect how well the medication gets absorbed into your body.

It’s recommended to avoid alcohol while taking Adderall IR because it can make your ADHD or narcolepsy symptoms worse. Drinking alcohol with Adderall can also cause dangerous side effects, including alcohol poisoning and heart problems.

Avoid driving the first few days after you start Adderall and after dose changes until you know how this medication affects you. Adderall might cause blurry vision and affect how well you see.

Since stimulants like Adderall tend to lower appetite and might affect growth in children, make sure your child is eating well. If you or your child doesn’t eat enough food or if you notice concerning weight changes while taking Adderall, let your provider know.

Adderall might worsen tics and Tourette syndrome. Talk to a provider if you or your child has these problems so they can see if this medication is right for you or your child.

Accidentally taking too much Buying Adderall Online can lead to an overdose. Symptoms of an Adderall overdose include restlessness, confusion, depression, hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t real), and fever. It’s important for you and your loved ones to know how to recognize an overdose so it can be treated right away. Call 911 if you think an overdose has happened.

What are the side effects of Adderall?

With any medication, there are risks and benefits. Even if the medication is working, you may experience some unwanted side effects.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

Allergic reactions: rash; hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat

Heart problems: heart attack, fast heart rate, high blood pressure

Brain-related problems: seizures, stroke

Mental health-related problems: manic episodes, changes in thoughts or behavior, hallucinations

Serotonin syndrome: fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, fever, confusion

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your doctor know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common side effects

Upset stomach

Lower appetite

Dry mouth

The following side effects have also been reported:

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

Raynaud’s—cool, numb, or painful fingers or toes that may change color from pale, to blue, to red

Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing

Increase in blood pressure

Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, hostility, irritability, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression

Painful or prolonged erections

Seizures

Stroke in adults—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome)

What are the risks and warnings for Adderall?

Adderall can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options

Misuse and dependence

Risk factors: History of substance or alcohol use disorder | Taking more Adderall than prescribed | Suddenly stopping Adderall

Adderall has a risk of misuse and dependence. Misuse is when a medication is used differently than how it’s prescribed. Misusing Adderall raises your risk for serious side effects such as high heart rate, high blood pressure, aggressive behavior, and even thoughts of hurting yourself.