Drug Profile: Adderall

Manufacturer: Shire Pharmaceuticals

Generic Name: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine

Forms:  tablets, gel caps (immediate and extended release)

Appearance (What does Adderall look like?): Immediate-release tablets: round, orange, scored tablet with “30” on one side and “AD” or “d p” on the other (30 mg); round, orange, scored tablet with “20” on one side and “AD” or “d p” on the other (20 mg); oval, peach tablet with “15” on one side and “d p” on the other (15 mg); round, scored peach tablet with “12.5” on one side and “d p” on the other side (12.5 mg); round, blue, scored tablet with “10” on one side and “AD” or “d p” on the other (10 mg);  oval, blue tablet with “7.5” on one side and “AD” or “d p” on the other (7.5 mg); round, white tablet with “5” on one side and “AD” or “d p” on the other side (5 mg). Extended-release capsules: these will have imprints of “Adderall XR” or “SHIRE 381” on them as well as the amount of the dose (5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 mg); colors include orange, blue, white, and any combination of these.

Pharmacological Class: central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, amphetamine

Medical Uses:  Used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as for narcolepsy.

Mechanism of Action:  believed to increase norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and to regulate chemicals related to impulse control and hyperactivity.

Availability: Schedule II (Read Drug Scheduling and the DEA)

FDA Pregnancy Category: Category C  (Read FDA Pregnancy Drug Categories)

Addiction Potential:  high

Street Names: Beans, pep pills, dexies, double trouble.

Possible Side Effects:  hypertension, muscle spasms, feeling faint, blurred vision, convulsions, hallucinations, headache, chest pain, increased heart rate, insomnia, weight loss, poor libido, numbness, arrhythmia, strange taste in mouth.

Possible Withdrawal Symptoms: fatigue, depressed mood and moodiness, unusual cardiac rhythms, anxiety, headache, sweating, difficulty sleeping, irritability, dizziness, disorientation, strange sensations on one’s skin. Do not discontinue use without being under the care of a physician.

Warning Signs of Abuse: experiencing severe side effects; selling or trading the medication or other items for Adderall; not taking as directed; storing large amounts to always have on hand.

Signs of Overdose: aggression, panic, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, seizures, coma, muscle pain, hallucinations. Go to an emergency room or urgent care center if someone has overdosed on Adderall (Read Overdose).

Controversies Related to Adderall:

• Individuals who are in situations as part of which focus is important – such as college students preparing for an exam, truck drivers with a long day ahead of them, or athletes in competition – may abuse stimulants like Adderall (Read What You and Your Young Adult Need to Know about Campus Life, Athletes with an Edge: How Far is Too Far? and Then and Now: Past and Present Use of Amphetamines).
• This medication could be abused by children and teens who find it in the medicine cabinets of relatives and friends (Read Think Locking the Liquor Cabinet is Enough? Think Again).