School is back in session and so is the drug called Adderall.
Adderall was originally made for people with ADHD because of it’s effectiveness of targeting the frontal lobe of the brain. The medication blocks the reuptake inhibitor of dopamine from the neural synapses and increasing the uptake into subsequent neurons. The increased dopamine flow in the frontal cortex then allows the brain to carry on its executive functions as a normal brain would, thus counteracting the effects of ADHD.
Why do students feel the need to take these pills before their classes when they don’t have ADHD? Many students admit to actually seeing doctors and purposefully exaggerating symptoms of ADHD to acquire medication because of the focus it gives them in the class room.
Yes, Adderall does make you more alert, it’s also is used as a weight loss pill because it decreases the appetite. It’s also used to increase sexual desire, decrease tiredness and of course to increase focus and productiveness.
What students don’t know is to what extent the side effects have on your body. These are nothing to joke about. This list is all the side effects of Adderall when you are on the drug:
- Anorexia
- Dry mouth
- Chronic thirst
- Development of sleeping disorders
- Sudden weight loss
- Mood swings
- Emotional changes
- Nausea with vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Risk of infections
- Unexplained fevers
- Heartburn
- Chest pains
- Impedes growth of children
Off Adderall side effects and sometimes while still using:
- Depression (because of withdrawals)
- Amphetamine psychosis (with extreme abuse with the drug)
- High rate of suicidal thoughts or actions
- Sudden confusion or displacement
- Tightness in the chest with pain spreading throughout the back and arms
- Heart palpitations
- Inability to breath or shortness of breath
- Feeling of depression
- Behavioral changes such as being more aggressive or shy
- Won’t remember performing an action or don’t understand things as well
- Experiencing visual, auditory or sensory hallucinations
- Feeling restless and continually having to move
- Seizers or black out periods
- Sudden rash’s or hives