by David Kramer

Created on: April 26, 2010

The drug Adderall is a Schedule II narcotic with an FDA black box label warning, commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD/ADD).   It is also a "drug of choice" on the streets, as an amphetamine (or upper), it speeds up brain processing which many college students feel it can give them an increased competitive edge academically.

The drug is available by prescription only, unless obtained illegally.  Like all drugs, prescription or not, caution should be exercised in using it.   This drug in particular should be used with caution due to serious adverse side effects.   The side effects include:

- Sudden death syndrome

- Loss of appetite (consequently weight loss)

- Dry mouth

- Difficulty sleeping

- Increases in blood pressure and heart stress (increase heart rate)

- Emotional changes

- Nausea, dizziness, diarrhea

- Uniary tract infections

- Fever

- Slow down of growth in children

- Tics

To name a few.  There have been many deaths, some reports as high as 85, due to the use of Adderall as prescribed, these counts could be even higher due to how the death was recorded and or reported.  Deaths can also be higher as a result of drug abuse but also recorded or reported against other causes (heart failure, or other drugs found in the system in conjunction with Adderall).

The drug is marketed towards people diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, and is named "add"-erall to market towards ADD/ADHD patients.  It is a schedule II narcotic which is the same classification other narcotics like cocaine fall into.  The FDA has issued a black label warning, which is the highest warning provided by the FDA typically used to identify drugs that have serious side effects including the potential for death.  The drug was pulled off the market in Canada for a period of time due to the number of deaths associated with Adderall.

The drug is manufactured by Shire Pharmaceutical, and comes in a variety of dosages from 5 mg to 30 mg and in both pill and capsule delivery forms. 

As mentioned earlier it is prescribed for ADD/ADHD, though there is no proven tests to identify a person with ADD/ADHD.  The disorder is not scientifically diagnosed like diabetes, though therapists who are questioned about drug therapy will often use the diabetes argument to support the need for drug therapy.   The argument states, "would you not use insulin to treat diabetes, why then would you not use a drug

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>