Adderall and Heart Health: Understanding the Risks

Your child may have side effects while the drug is active in their body — as little as 3 hours for some immediate-release stimulants and up to 24 hours for some extended-release non-stimulants. The outcome varies depending on the extent of heart damage and how early the condition is detected and treated. Some patients may recover partially or fully if Adderall is discontinued early, while others may experience permanent heart dysfunction 11,12.

Abnormalities described included aberrant origin of coronary arteries, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, bicuspid aortic valve and cardiac hypertrophy. It has been postulated that these anomalies could potentially be adversely affected by stimulant drugs. That’s because Adderall increases blood pressure and heart rate, putting users at risk of cardiovascular damage. Unfortunately, few people realize the dangers of excessive Adderall usage until it’s too late. Additionally, another study presented at the ACC’s Annual Scientific Session examined the impact of prolonged Adderall use on cardiomyopathy.

This is a particular problem if you have high blood pressure or an abnormal heart rhythm such as atrial fibrillation. If you don’t have any heart problems, Adderall is unlikely to give you one. Even without a perfect heart, you Adderall Heart Risks may still be able to take Adderall for ADHD.

But like other medications, it comes with possible side effects. On February 9, 2006, the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee of the FDA recommended a ‘black box’ warning describing the cardiovascular risks of stimulants used to treat ADHD (1). Very rarely, some kids have bizarre behaviors and higher blood pressure and heart rates. There is no evidence that Adderall causes long-term damage to the heart and withdrawing from the drug might reduce any cardiovascular issues experienced by the user.

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If you’re an adult with ADHD, it may be safe to take it every day but that depends on several factors. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. The FDA has also warned that there’s a slight risk that stimulant ADHD drugs could lead to mood swings or symptoms of psychosis — like hearing things and paranoia.

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Over time, this may contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure 2,3. Most previous studies assessing the safety of stimulant medications have focused on the first year or two of use and found no evidence of harm to the heart. Since many patients are prescribed these medications in early childhood and continue taking them into adulthood, this new study was designed to assess their potential to cause harm over a longer period of time, Gerard said. Cardiomyopathy involves structural changes in the heart muscle that weaken its pumping ability.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

You’ll notice this feeling more if you’re taking the drug and you don’t have ADHD or narcolepsy. You’ll need larger and larger quantities of Adderall to keep that euphoric feeling going. Exposure to the amount of amphetamine in Adderall can be higher for women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). This is because women and people AFAB tend to weigh less than men and those assigned male at birth (AMAB). When doses were not based on body mass, the amount of one amphetamine type in Adderall that a woman processed was 20%-30% more than a man processed. When the dose was adjusted for body mass, the amount of amphetamine processed for men and women was the same.

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The most commonly reported adverse cardiovascular effects are elevated blood pressure and heart rate, seen in both short-and long-term treatment trials. This rise is generally thought to be statistically but not clinically significant (7). It has been suggested that there is the potential risk that chronically and consistently elevated blood pressure and heart rate could contribute to later cardiovascular morbidity. Thus, it may be prudent to undertake ongoing blood pressure and heart rate monitoring for children who are on stimulants (8,9). Notably, the patient denied alcohol consumption and illicit drug use, which ruled out toxic cardiomyopathy.

Because of its stimulant effects, people use this amphetamine drug to stay up all night and prepare for exams or to increase their energy in the gym. Adderall has various side effects, ranging from mild to severe. Left heart catheterization revealed normal coronary vessels.

Common Adderall Side Effects

However, it is also frequently misused by adolescents and young adults without ADHD in an attempt to enhance academic performance, often without awareness of the potential risks 3. There are inconsistent findings to whether the side effects of Adderall are dose related. The overall incidence of adverse effects is low and comparable with other stimulants (4).

Let them know if you’re taking other medicines or supplements. Talk to your doctor honestly about your past or current drug abuse. If you don’t have a history of substance abuse, it’s unlikely you’ll go down that road. But if you do, you could be at risk for misusing your ADHD drugs.

• Despite the significant gap, the overall prevalence of cardiomyopathy was still quite low in both groups.
• Ten milligrams of Adderall XR is a typical dose for children between the ages of 6 and 17, according to the drug’s manufacturer.
• Most large studies have found no significant link between ADHD medications (including stimulants such as Adderall) and a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke in children and adults.
• They might crush the pills and snort them to get high, which can lead to a dangerous overdose.
• Early identification is essential, as discontinuing Adderall and initiating appropriate heart failure management can improve cardiac function and potentially reverse the condition in some cases.

Take the 2-minute quiz to discover how your brain naturally processes stress, focus, and recovery — and get personalized strategies to strengthen your mental resilience. Adderall is a preparation of mixed amphetamine salts indicated for the treatment of ADHD. Gerard said that it could also be helpful to study potential differences among different types of ADHD medications and different types of cardiomyopathies. Once you start taking your ADHD medicine, see your doctor for regular checkups to make sure you aren’t having any bad side effects.

• The overall incidence of adverse effects is low and comparable with other stimulants (4).
• Over time, this may contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure 2,3.
• For lots of people, the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.
• If you were misusing Adderall, the withdrawal effects will be similar to those above, though they could be more pronounced if you weren’t taking the drug for a medical reason.
• Your child may have side effects while the drug is active in their body — as little as 3 hours for some immediate-release stimulants and up to 24 hours for some extended-release non-stimulants.

They might crush the pills and snort them to get high, which can lead to a dangerous overdose. Stimulants boost the level of a chemical called dopamine in your brain to help you focus. But ADHD drug doses are too low for anyone to feel a “high” or to become addicted.

Healthcare experts recommend more systematic heart monitoring in clinical trials of Adderall users with ADHD to investigate the short- and long-term effects of the drug on the cardiovascular system. Admission laboratory results were unremarkable, except for an elevated BNP compared to the patient’s baseline, with normal thyroid function and troponin levels (Table 1). The urine drug screen yielded a false positive for methamphetamine due to cross-reactivity with Adderall, while tests for cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, methadone, cannabinoids, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines were all negative. Ten milligrams of Adderall XR is a typical dose for children between the ages of 6 and 17, according to the drug’s manufacturer. For an adult, a typical dose of Adderall XR is 20 milligrams, given once per day. Many children and teens with ADHD just take Adderall on school days and take a break on the weekend to lessen some of the side effects such as insomnia.