If you or someone you love has been given a prescription for Adderall, it is important to understand the long-term effects of Adderall and what risks that prescription brings.
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant prescribed to treat symptoms of impulse problems or ADHD. Sometimes it is used in conjunction with other medications.
What is Adderall Used to Treat?
Adderall is prescribed for children and adults. It is mostly given to treat ADHD, helping people improve focus and concentration. It is a stimulant, so it improves focus and concentration in people with ADHD by stimulating their central nervous system. While it does not fix ADHD, it can help reduce symptoms. Even when prescribed by a doctor, there are still long-term effects of Adderall for people who use it regularly.
- An average of 50 million prescription drugs were given to treat ADHD in 2011, up 40% from the year 2007.
- In 2021 adults became the biggest consumers of Adderall, while before, Adderall was mostly prescribed for children.
Adderall binds to your dopamine receptors and norepinephrine receptors in your brain and the epinephrine receptors in your adrenal gland. So, when you take your prescription, it gives your body a boost of chemicals that make you feel good in your brain. This helps improve your focus, concentration, and alertness, but it also means that you feel high or euphoric because of all the feel-good chemicals, which can lead to addiction.
Is Adderall Addictive?
Yes, Adderall is addictive. For many who are prescribed Adderall, there might be questions about the long-term Adderall use effects. Adderall is considered a stimulant. As a stimulant, it can increase anxiety, heart rate, blood pressure, and your risk of things like seizures. It is so addictive that you need a prescription to use it legally.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Adderall Abuse?
The long-term Adderall use effects will vary from person to person. Because the drug is a central nervous system stimulant, every time you take a prescription pill, your central nervous system is stimulated or activated. Your central nervous system controls many daily functions and can have a negative impact on how your body regulates temperature, how your muscles function, how you breathe, how your heart works, how your vision works, and other issues.
In most cases, long term Adderall effects start with regular side effects such as:
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Increased heart rate
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Weight loss
- Appetite changes
- Irritability or mood swings
- Headaches
The side effects are things that can compound with time. If, for example, you are using Adderall over the course of several months and you continue to deal with insomnia, loss of appetite, and irritability, those three symptoms might get worse the more you use Adderall.
More serious side effects can include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Hallucinations
- Hostility or aggressions
- Paranoia
- Pain
- Unexplained wounds
- Seizures
- Vision problems
- Muscle twitches
How to Find Adderall Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you love is dealing with the long-term effects of Adderall and looking for help, Laguna View Detox is here. Our facility focuses on supplying comprehensive treatment for drug addiction on a personalized level. We don’t just treat your addiction to Adderall, we treat your body, mind, and soul as one. A big part of this treatment plan is to help you detox from Adderall or any other drugs you are on.
After you have completed your detox, then you begin the long road toward recovery. This looks different for everyone. Your recovery might include personalized individual therapy and group therapy and family therapy to help better explore the family dynamics or communication issues that may have contributed to your drug use.
We supply treatment for coexisting disorders. If you have tried to self-medicate for things like depression, anxiety, or you have relied on Adderall long-term instead of other, drug-free coping mechanisms for your ADHD, our team of caring, compassionate professionals can help you rebuild your approach.
Our facility uses the most up-to-date, evidence-based practices as part of your ongoing therapy and aftercare plan. In addition to this, we use a handful of holistic therapies like yoga, meditation, sober activities, addiction education, and more. These holistic therapies give you the tools you need to deal with things like stress or triggers in your daily environment without turning to drugs.
Reach out to Laguna View Detox to get help with long-term Adderall effects today.