Alex Sherwood

ENG 1201
Professor Nate Hellmers
8/3/2021

Why Not Adderall

Adderall is a commonly prescribed drug. It is a psycho stimulant that can

have many effects on the brain. It is most often used to treat patients with ADHD

(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). ADHD or attention deficit hyperactive

disorder, causes a lack of ability to focus. The drug has proved especially useful in

treating the disorder, but there are more than a few concerning side effects that

have been documented. Some of these side effects may force reconsideration of

using the drug. Recently I was diagnosed with adult ADHD. After speaking with my

doctor, we ended on a prescription of Adderall XR, a longer lasting form of the

drug. I was excited to start using the drug, but after thinking it over I become

tentative. I figured that it was best that I do some research on the drug. What I

found was that the side effects of Adderall are very numerous and alternative and

non stimulant treatments are a better option.

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 My concern was not sparked solely by the beginning of my research. As a

child I was prescribed Adderall to treat my ADHD. I took the drug in increasing

doses until 8th grade. It had always worked well to treat my ADHD and I was

tentative to quit using it. When I stopped using it, for a while I felt like I needed it

to function. It was very hard for me to focus without it. But the side effects were

so great at the time that I stopped using it. Now with the work load I have in

college; I have found that I cannot keep up. Thus, I sought medication again. It has

been a long time since I last used Adderall, but I was concerned about what it’s

effects may be on me now. The experience I had last time combined with the

knowledge that I will be on a higher dosage now than I was then, inspired me to

do this research. And now to pursue alternative methods of treatment.

There are many forms of alternative treatments for ADHD. One of the most

common is an elimination diet. This treatment consists of getting rid of certain

elements of your diet linked to ADHD symptoms. This often calls for eliminating

sugars and avoiding food with additives. Dietary, nutritional, and herbal

supplements are often used as well. There is also medication that is a non-

stimulant. This medication has been proven to treat ADHD without all the side

effects of taking a psychostimulant.

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 Adderall is composed of amphetamine salts. It affects the neuroreceptors

in your central nervous system. This results in “increasing the effect of serotonin

and dopamine” (Moffit et al.). It has been shown that those who have ADHD,

suffer from a lack of dopamine release, causing them to look for distractions to

trigger a release. The drug combats this and allows for the mind to stop seeking

stimuli. Because Adderall affects the CNT (central nervous system), It has many

side effects on the brain, personality, and body. These side effects may cause

someone to stray away from use.

One of the major side effects of the drug is the affect it has on appetite.

The way the drug works causes you to not want to eat as often. In a study

conducted on 568 individuals, 15% of those who showed adverse effects

experienced anorexia (Millichap). It is important to note that the 15% accounts

for those diagnosed with anorexia, but many others experienced weight loss. For

some it even has the opposite effect. Because the drug causes you to not eat for

extended periods of time, when it wears off it may cause you to eat more than

you should. This can lead to unexpected weight gain. And, because of disrupted

eating habits, you may also experience digestive problems and irritation.

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 Adderall also greatly effects sleep. One of the most widely known side

effects of Adderall is the lack of sleep. Because it is a stimulant, like caffeine, it

keeps you awake and does not allow your brain to rest. This is why it is used to

treat narcolepsy. Sleep deprivation can lead to stress, irritability and physical

harm. This can be a real problem for another reason. Because the medication

makes you feel energized, people will often get stuck in a cycle of taking Adderall

to combat sleep loss. The lack of sleep, combined with overuse of stimulants can

have coerce effects on the body and mind. This cycle can easily lead to abuse of

the drug.

Addiction is another major concern when using Adderall. “As Adderall

leaves the bloodstream, withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings may occur,

indicating a physical and emotional dependence on the drug” (Lautieri). These

withdrawal symptoms lead to users becoming addicted to the substance. What’s

scarier, is that you don’t have to abuse the drug to become addicted to it. As you

take a prescribed amount of Adderall, your body builds a tolerance to it. Usually, a

doctor will then prescribe a higher dose. If you build tolerance quickly, you could

easily reach a point in which you are taking a very large amount of the drug to feel

the effects. It may not be as hard as you think to end up abusing the drug. The

short film The Dark Side of Adderall and Other "Study Drugs" published by Films

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Media Group, documents a man named Randy who became addicted to Adderall

after being prescribed it. Randy was prescribed an average amount which quickly

wasn’t enough. After losing the intended effects, he upped his dosage. He would

continue to do this until he hit the highest dosage that could be prescribed.

Eventually this was still not enough, and he would overuse the pills and run out

before he could get more. This became a large issue because of the withdrawal

caused by the pills. When Randy runs out of pills, his withdrawal is so bad that he

is not able to function. This can lead to people further abusing the drug by using

more effective ingestion methods such as snorting or injecting it. When taken in

these large doses, “Adderall can cause psychosis and sudden cardiac arrest”

(Pietrangelo). There is a common misbelief that you cannot overdose on Adderall,

but this is not true. The drug can, and will, kill you if abused for too long. It has

been documented that abuse of the drug can often lead to cardiac arrest. This is

because the drug raises your blood pressure and increases your heart rate. When

these two things happen for extended periods, it is very taxing on the body.

Furthermore, “The damage that is done to the heart is something that

professionals believe cannot be undone over time“ (The Long Term Effects of

Adderall). This means that even if you stop abusing the drug, you will be left with

permanent health issues.

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 The most common misconception is that Adderall is not dangerous. In a

study conducted by Alan D. DeSantis and Audrey Curtis Hane at the University of

Kentucky, it was found that 81% of students interviewed believed that “use of

ADHD medication was either “not dangerous at all” or only “slightly dangerous.””

(Desantis). This is simply not true. The effects of these drugs can have very

adverse side effects. As previously mentioned, there is significant risk of

addiction. Furthermore, the risk of cardiac arrest and permanent heart damage

are also not incredibly low. Strokes and seizures have also been reportedly caused

by Adderall usage. Use of Adderall with other drugs or alcohol is also very

dangerous. This can very often happen by accident. Given that alcohol also

increases blood pressure, use of the two at the same time is incredibly dangerous.

This combo can lead to cardiac arrythmia (an abnormal heartbeat) that can be

fatal. Combination with an assortment of other drugs can also cause a great deal

of problems.

There are many reasons people believe Adderall is the best answer.

Namely, it’s effectiveness in treating ADHD. Adderall is very good at what its

designed to do. For many people Adderall allows them to focus for long durations

of time. I know in my case that was true. But the side effects heavily outweigh the

positive aspects of the drug. In my case, I was paranoid and anxious whilst on the

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drug. I would go long durations without eating. When I quit using the medication

in 8th grade, I weighed between 115-120 pounds. By sophomore year of high

school, I weighed almost 160 pounds. It is important to note that my height had

not changed. This is one of the most common side effects and my doctor even

told me my weight was unhealthy at the time. I also experienced heavy sleep loss.

I was getting so little sleep that my grades were suffering regardless of my

treatment. These are just a handful of reasons why alternative treatments are

better. They have been shown to help aid the effects of ADHD without all the side

effects associated with Adderall.

Elimination diets and supplements have been found to be effective in

treating ADHD. It was found in a study to test the use of herbal supplements on

ADHD that 53% of the children in the study showed beneficial results (Lake). It

was also found that “one-third of hyperactive children may benefit from some

form of an elimination diet” (Lake). Because these methods have been shown to

help in some patients, and they have no side effects, they are a much better start

than medication. If they do not work there is medication that is much better than

Adderall.

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 Non-stimulants are being used to treat ADHD. These medications do not

alter the brain in the same way that stimulants do but are still effective. A 2004

study found that “Non–stimulant agents have been shown to be effective in

treatment of ADHD” (Banaschewski). These medications also have very few side

effects. Because they are not amphetamines, they do not cause the side effect

associated with amphetamines. They are also not as addictive. It was found that

the most common prescription methylphenidate “leads very rarely to addiction”

(Zsigmond). It has also been found that “Nonstimulants don’t tend to cause

agitation, sleeplessness, or lack of appetite. They also don’t pose the same risk of

abuse” (Bhandari). This gives them a major advantage over Adderall and “they

have a longer-lasting and smoother effect than many stimulants, which can take

effect and wear off abruptly” (Bhandari).

Adderall has been proven to be effective in treating ADHD, but the side

effects are vast. Adderall has been shown to cause insomnia and lack of appetite.

It causes your blood pressure and heartrate to rise. In extreme cases heart attacks

and strokes can happen and may be fatal. There is also an alarming chance of

addiction to the medication. This addiction often leads to abuse and irreversible

damage. There is a common misconception that Adderall is not dangerous but it is

simply not true. Combination with other substances also poses a large threat.

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Alternative treatments have been shown to be effective in treating ADHD. The

implementation of dietary restriction and use of supplements has yielded

compelling results in case studies. Non-stimulant drugs have also been developed

to combat the unwanted effects of amphetamines. These non-stimulants do not

cause sleep loss or lack of appetite. The chance of addiction is also incredibly low

and people are less likely to abuse the drugs. These drugs have also shown a

longer lasting effects and do not leave the body quickly like amphetamines. The

use of Adderall simply has to many unwanted effects and possible consequences

and therefore alternative methods of treatments and non-stimulant medications

are the best route to treatment.

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 Works Cited

Ahmann, P., et al. “Safety and Efficacy of Adderall in Children Newly Diagnosed with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” NEUROLOGY, vol. 52, no. 6, Apr. 1999, p.
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"Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine". “Dextroamphetamine And Amphetamine (Oral Route)

Side Effects.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 1
May 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/dextroamphetamine-and-
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Banaschewski, T., et al. “Non-Stimulant Medications in the Treatment of Adhd.” European

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Berman, S M, et al. “Potential Adverse Effects of Amphetamine Treatment on Brain and

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Desantis, Alan D., and Audrey Curtis Hane. “‘Adderall Is Definitely Not a Drug’: Justifications
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The Dark Side of Adderall and Other "Study Drugs". [Electronic Resource]. Films Media Group,
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the Evidence Suggests.” Psychiatric Times, Psychiatric Times, 15 Oct. 2019,
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evidence-suggests.

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Lautieri, Amanda. “Long Term Effects of Adderall on Brain, Personality, and Body.” American
Addiction Centers, American Addiction Centers, 12 Apr. 2021,
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Moffit, Mitchell, et al. Your Brain On Adderall - The Study Drug. Performance by Max
Simmons, and Sel Ghebrehiwot, YouTube, ASAPSCIENCE INC., 4 Oct. 2018,
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Moore, Elaine A. The Amphetamine Debate: the Use of Adderall, Ritalin, and Related Drugs for
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