For people without ADHD, "taking these medicines may motivate you to perform better, but the end result is not better," says Asim Shah, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. "Your cognition is not better, your performance is not better."
In people who don't have ADHD, because Adderall produces an excess amount of dopamine, users may experience feelings of euphoria and increased energy levels, as well as possible dangerous physical and emotional side effects.
Dangers of misuse
Side effects can include “paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, and an irregular heartbeat, especially if stimulants are taken in large doses or in ways other than swallowing a pill,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
With optimized ADHD medication, people typically report an improved overall mood. They're less stressed, with less anxiety — usually resulting from higher productivity and fewer social challenges.
As many as 60% of individuals with ADHD symptoms in childhood continue to have difficulties in adult life. Adults with ADHD are more likely to be dismissed from employment and have often tried a number of jobs before being able to find one at which they can succeed.
Individuals with untreated symptoms may also be impulsive and say or do things without thinking about the consequences. This can lead to arguments and even breakups. People with untreated ADHD may also struggle with executive function skills such as organization and time management.
Under-treated ADHD increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, driving accidents, smoking, drinking, drug use, and more. In this respect, he casts ADHD's impact on longevity as a potentially huge public health issue.
For people without ADHD, who may be tempted to take Ritalin or Adderall as a study drug, this can end up making them feel jittery and anxious, causing them to focus too much on smaller, less-important details, while losing the bigger picture.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the medications used to treat it are associated with obesity. Stimulants lead to weight loss, while antipsychotics and antidepressants lead to weight gain.
Children on stimulant medicines can also develop side effects that could look like changes in personality. They may behave more excitedly or become more withdrawn. They may act more inflexible or develop obsessive-compulsive behaviors. They may cry more.
ADHD medications can be beneficial in treating the symptoms of ADHD, but they can also be addictive when misused.
But ADHD medications can also make things worse and cause severe side effects, including headaches, sleep problems, and a blunted appetite. Some people (including more than a few doctors) seem to assume that ADHD medication side effects are merely the price to pay for taking a prescription.
“Nobody has perfect memory… but for [people with ADHD], it's extreme. They feel like they're lost all the time,” Almagor said. He believes this is why people don't take ADHD seriously. “I think that's why some people don't respect the severity of what [a person with ADHD] can experience,” he said.
However, only with a specialist diagnosis can these medications be accessed. Whilst ADHD medications are highly effective, they are stimulants which are “controlled” drugs. You need a special type of prescription from a specialist ADHD clinician.
All stimulants work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain— dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, movement, and attention. The therapeutic effect of stimulants is achieved by slow and steady increases of dopamine, which are similar to the way dopamine is naturally produced in the brain.
Certain attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications can help treat a person's co-occurring anxiety, while others, including Adderall, may worsen it.
ADHD stimulant medications, such as amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (brand name: Adderall) and methylphenidate (brand name: Ritalin) normally suppress appetite and potentially contribute to weight loss/underweight status in children and adolescents.
Stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate and the methylphenidate-based drugs, can make you feel overconfident and disinhibited, induce feelings of anxiety, panic, confusion, paranoia, and even cause psychosis, which can lead you to put your own safety at risk.
While this might sound pleasant, too much of anything is never a good thing, and taking Ritalin without a prescription or medical condition can produce extreme and undesirable side effects.
Conclusion: In a group of children with ADHD taking methylphenidate, there was a significant increase in sleepiness a few hours after taking the medication, which may then have a significant impact on their learning.
Yes, ADHD is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). There are several types of disabilities, including but not limited to: learning disability. cognitive disability.
Memory problems such as forgetfulness and poor working memory are linked to ADHD. People with ADHD may have difficulty encoding and processing information in their working memory, which may lead to problems with long-term memory.
ADHD can reduce life expectancy by as much as 13 years, but its risk is reversible. Learn how to mitigate the risks in this video, with Russell Barkley, Ph. D.