ADD/ADHD / Question
Published: April 17, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
i take adderall. when i started the therapy it worked well, but now, when i take it, i will often get very tired or just freeze up and become uncomfortably zoned out. how is this possible if this is suppossed to be a stimulant?
Signed: Is My Adderall Working Right?
Dear Is My Adderall Working Right?,
Like any medication, Adderall has numerous side effects. Although the symptoms you are describing are not what you would expect from a stimulant, they may well be adverse (negative) side effects of the Adderall.
It is great that you are interested in learning about how your medication is supposed to affect you. The best person to answer your question is your doctor who prescribed the medication because he/she knows your overall health condition the best.
Adderall is in the amphetamine class (or central nervous system stimulant) of medications used to treat conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). More specifically, Adderall contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, both of which are stimulants. This combination is used to:
- Improve a patient's attention span.
- Increase his ability to follow directions.
- Decrease distractibility among children ages three and older.
- Decrease impulsivity, stubbornness and aggression.
It is important to speak with your physician to ensure that the dose that you are taking is correct and that you are not suffering from an adverse affect. Often, medications like Adderall work well as part of a complete treatment plan that includes therapy.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers; the risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
