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Adderall
Side
effects and warnings
the Physicians' Desk Reference®
What is Adderall?
Adderall is the new name for a Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)/Amphetamine
composite medication which has been around for more than 20 years. This
formula was also used in a medication known as Obetrol, made in the past
by Rexar and developed for "diet control." It is a
single entity amphetamine product combining the neutral salts of dextroamphetamine
and amphetamine, with the dextro isomer of amphetamine saccharate and d,
I-amphetamine asperate.
Is it Addictive?
Adderall, like all amphetamines, has a high potential for abuse. If used
in large doses over long periods of time, it can
cause dependence and addiction.
Who should NOT take Adderall?
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Do not use Adderall if you have any
of the following conditions:
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Never take Adderall within 14 days
of taking an antidepressant classified as an MAO inhibitor,
including Nardil and Parnate. A potentially life-threatening spike
in blood pressure could result.
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Your doctor will not prescribe Adderall
if you have ever had a reaction to similar stimulant drugs. The
doctor will also avoid prescribing Adderall if you appear agitated
or are prone to substance abuse.
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If you have even a mild case of high blood
pressure, take Adderall with caution. Be careful, too,
about driving or operating machinery until you know how this drug
affects you. It may impair judgment and coordination.
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Adderall can make tics and twitches worse.
If you or a family member has this problem (or the condition
called Tourette's syndrome), make sure the doctor is aware of it.
Amphetamines such as Adderall have also been known to aggravate
symptoms in seriously disturbed (psychotic) individuals.
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At present, there has been no experience
with long-term Adderall therapy in children. However, other
amphetamine-based medications have been known to stunt growth, so
your doctor will need to watch the child carefully.
What are the most common Side
Effects?
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Inability to sleep, nervousness, restlessness, lack of appetite.
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Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting
or lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
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Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy, or chewing gum
may help.
Other possible effects:
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infections,
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insomnia,
loss of appetite,
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mental
disturbances,
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nausea,
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nervousness,
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overstimulation,
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rapid
or pounding heartbeat,
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restlessness,
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stomach
and intestinal disturbances,
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tremor,
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twitches,
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unpleasant
taste,
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vomiting,
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weakened
heart,
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weight
loss,
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worsening
of tics (including Tourette's syndrome)
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Adderall is classified as a
Schedule II controlled Substance.
This means:
(A) The drug or other substance has a
high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in
treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with
severe restrictions.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence.
WARNING
Adderall is an amphetamine. Amphetamines have a high potential for
abuse. They should be tried only for patients where all alternative
therapy has been ineffective. Long
term use can cause addiction and must be avoided.
Dextroamphetamine sulfate (Adderall) is a Schedule II controlled
substance.
What is a Schedule II
controlled substance?
The substances in this schedule have a high abuse
potential with severe psychic or physical dependence liability. Schedule
II controlled substances consist of certain narcotic, stimulant and
depressant drugs. Some examples of Schedule II narcotic controlled
substances are: opium, morphine, codeine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid),
methadone, pantopon, meperidine (Demerol), cocaine, oxycodone (Percodan),
and oxymorphone (Numorphan). Also in Schedule 11 are amphetamine
(Dexedrine/Adderall), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), phemnetrazine (Preludin),
methylphenidate (Ritalin), amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital,
fentanyl (Sublimaze), sufentanil, etorphine hydrochloride, phenylacetone,
dronabinol and nabilone.
Problems: Tolerance, extreme
psychological dependence, and severe social disability have
occurred. There are reports of patients who have increased the dosage to
many times that recommended. Abrupt cessation following prolonged high
dosage administration results in extreme fatigue and mental depression;
changes are also noted on the sleep EEG. Manifestations of chronic
intoxication with amphetamines include severe dermatoses, marked
insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes. The most
severe manifestation of chronic intoxication is psychosis, often
clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia. This is rare with oral
amphetamines.
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FDA
ALERT
2/09/2005
Sudden
Deaths in Children
Health
Canada has suspended marketing of Adderall XR products from the
Canadian market due to concern about reports of sudden unexplained
death (SUD) in children taking Adderall and Adderall XR. SUD
has been associated with amphetamine abuse and reported in children
with underlying cardiac abnormalities taking recommended doses of
amphetamines, including Adderall and Adderall XR. In addition,
a very small number of cases of SUD have been reported in children
without structural cardiac abnormalities taking Adderall. At
this time, FDA cannot conclude that recommended doses of Adderall
can cause SUD, but is continuing to carefully evaluate these data.
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