ADHD stimulant medications like Ritalin or Adderall appear linked to a heightened risk for cardiomyopathy (a weakening of the heart muscle), and the risk grows with time, new research shows. Stimulants can be addictive, and it’s possible to become dependent on them if your dosage isn’t monitored by a doctor. Adderall comes in either an immediate-release tablet or a time-release capsule (Adderall XR).
And over the longer term (six to 12 months), people taking stimulants did not experience heightened heart-related risks compared with the nonusers. Still, the findings highlight issues relevant to older adults and anyone at risk of heart disease. Due to these risks, doctors typically will not prescribe Adderall to people who have ever had drug or alcohol misuse or dependence.
- And over the longer term (six to 12 months), people taking stimulants did not experience heightened heart-related risks compared with the nonusers.
- Try keeping a list of the things you consume that may cause your heart palpitations.
- How long the withdrawal symptoms last depends on your dosage and how long you’ve been taking the drug.
- A person should avoid taking extra Adderall to try and fight the symptoms of a crash.
By enhancing these effects, this drug increases alertness and concentration. Some Adderall side effects, like dry mouth, don’t need medical treatment. You should tell your doctor right away about others, such as pain when you treatment national institute on drug abuse nida pee. Other options include a stress test, chest X-ray, and ambulatory cardiac monitor test. In some cases, your doctor may also want to run more invasive tests, like an electrophysiology study or cardiac catheterization.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Adderall
The side effects of Adderall alone can be overwhelming to deal with. Your doctor can help make withdrawal symptoms easier and find alternatives for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Whether addressing unmet needs in opiate dependence using Adderall as prescribed or recreationally, you have likely experienced heart palpitations. These alarming increases in your heart rate can make one feel like they are having a heart attack.
Additional treatments
Keep reading to learn more about how to relieve heart palpitations and when to speak with a doctor. If a person has been taking Adderall for some time or takes larger dosages of the medication, they may be more prone to experience an Adderall crash. When someone stops taking Adderall, they can reduce or completely avoid the symptoms of withdrawal by coming off the drug slowly, over the course of several months. Like most drugs, Adderall can also cause side effects when taken as prescribed. This drug causes different side effects in different age groups.
This is because it will raise your heart rate and blood pressure. Many people report feeling like they can’t catch their breath while their heartbeat increases. Sometimes it will feel like you have an irregular heartbeat or skip beats. These may be accompanied by chest pain, which increases the scariness level.
We present a unique case of AMI in an adult taking Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) and briefly discuss the literature relevant to the cardiovascular safety of CNS stimulants for adult ADHD. Patient pool in the above three observational studies was less selective as compared to randomized clinical trial but certainly healthier than the general adult ADHD population. The biggest limitation of Habel et al.’s study is consideration of only severe cardiovascular events that dampened the absolute conclusion in spite of big sample size. He did not have other symptoms or signs suggestive of pheochromocytoma or hyperthyroidism. He admitted occasional use of alcohol and marijuana (once a month) but denied the use of energy drinks or other illicit drugs. He had no known drug allergies and took no other medications other than mixed amphetamine salts.
Heart Palpitations: 10 Home Remedies for Fast Heartbeat
However, researchers were quick to note that cardiomyopathies are rare in the young, and even with ADHD medication use the absolute risk to any one patient remains very small. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact a doctor or emergency medical services immediately. An allergic reaction to Adderall may cause swelling of the tongue, throat, or face. This is a medical emergency and requires prompt emergency medical treatment. The medication alters certain naturally-occurring chemicals in your brain by enhancing the effects of neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and, to a lesser degree, serotonin. There’s no way to know how well a medicine will work for you.
Tips for a healthy heart
When Concerta wears off and leaves your system, symptoms of ADHD may hit you even harder than before you took it. Your doctor likely needs to make changes with your medication. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Adderall only for the indication prescribed. Heart palpitations have many causes, some of which are benign and may go away on their own. It is best to speak with a doctor if a person has palpitations that are frequent, long lasting, or bothersome.