Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesBefore Taking Adderall XRPrecautions and ContraindicationsDosageSide EffectsWarnings and InteractionsAlternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Before Taking Adderall XR
Precautions and Contraindications
Dosage
Side Effects
Warnings and Interactions
Alternatives
Close
What is the most important information I should know about Adderall XR?You should not take Adderall XR if:you have a hypersensitivity to stimulants, hyperthyroidism, moderate to severe hypertension, or cardiovascular disease; oryou have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the previous 14 days.
What is the most important information I should know about Adderall XR?
You should not take Adderall XR if:you have a hypersensitivity to stimulants, hyperthyroidism, moderate to severe hypertension, or cardiovascular disease; oryou have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the previous 14 days.
You should not take Adderall XR if:
Adderall XR is the extended-release version of Adderall. Half the dose takes effect immediately, and the other half takes effect in about four hours.
Thegeneric versionis called amphetamine salt combo XR, and is made up of a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts.
How Is ADHD Treated for Children and Adults?
Uses for Adderall XR
Adderall XR is FDA-approved to treat ADHD. (Notably, the immediate-release version of the medication is also approved to treat narcolepsy.) It may be prescribed for use in children age 6 to 12, adolescents age 13 to 17, and adults.
Adderall XR isn’t intended as the sole treatment for someone with ADHD. This medication is often combined with psychological, social, and/or educational interventions to help someone learn how to cope with their ADHD characteristics. Your doctor may recommend implementing those interventionsbefore prescribing Adderall XR.
Off-Label Uses
While Adderall XR is only FDA-approved to treat ADHD, some research indicates it may be useful in treating children with co-occurring ADHD andoppositional defiant disorder (ODD).Stimulants, in general, may be used as an adjunct fortreatment-resistant depression, though the research is not clear on their efficacy.
It’s important to note that these medications should not be taken without a doctor’s supervision; they can be habit-forming and carry risks and contraindications.
A prescription for Adderall XR will likely involve being evaluated for ADHD. If your child is 16 years old or younger and is being examined for the condition, their doctor will look for signs and symptoms.
There’s no single diagnostic test for ADHD. A diagnosis requires the use of medical, psychological, educational, and social resources, and it’s made based on the doctor’s evaluation and on the person’s history.
Symptoms of Inattention
Among the signs a doctor will look for are these:
Symptoms of Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
These can include:
Diagnosing ADHD
Before making adiagnosis of ADHD, a doctor will also need to determine if your child:
These diagnostic criteria differ for adolescents age 17 and older and in adults. In those cases, five of these symptoms are enough to make a diagnosis, and some symptoms may look very different in an adult compared to a child.Hyperactivity in an adult, for example, may involve reckless driving and fidgeting during meetings, and adults with ADHD may find themselves drawn to active jobs that don’t require long periods of sitting or being still.
Talk to your doctor about all medications, supplements, and vitamins that you currently take. While some drugs pose minor interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether the pros of treatment outweigh the cons in your case.
Diagnosing ADHD requires a variety of resources and a comprehensive patient history and evaluation, and Adderall XR should be used as part of a total treatment plan. Other treatment measures may include psychological, educational, and social support.
Non-drug interventions are often helpful for people with ADHD, and medication should be used only when those interventions fail to resolve symptoms. Your doctor’s willingness to consider stimulant medication may depend on how chronic and severe your symptoms are. Amphetamines carry a risk of overdosage, so the smallest amount possible should always be prescribed.
Who Should Not Take Adderall XR?
Adderall XR should also be avoided if you’ve takenmonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)within the last 14 days.
Stimulant medications can increase blood pressure and average heart rate. While some people may experience larger increases, on average, this amounts to a 2 to 4 mmHg increase in blood pressure and an increased heart rate of approximately three to six beats per minute. Alone, these increases aren’t likely to lead to serious consequences, but people taking stimulants should be monitored for larger changes in blood pressure and heart rate.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Extra caution may be warranted for people with certain underlying cardiovascular conditions, such as:
Before starting Adderall XR, your doctor should complete an assessment to check for any family history of sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia and conduct a thorough physical exam to check for cardiac disease.
Anyone currently taking a stimulant should undergo an immediate cardiac evaluation if they experience symptoms like:
Mental Health Conditions
Stimulants may also carry risks for people with pre-existing mental health conditions. These can include:
Before beginning any stimulant, it’s important that you or your child are screened thoroughly for the presence of any existing psychiatric condition, particularly psychosis and bipolar disorder.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Stimulants carry a low risk (about 0.1%) of causing psychotic or manic symptoms in children or adolescents without a prior history of those conditions. Symptoms may include:
If symptoms occur, discontinuation of treatment may be appropriate.
Aggressive behavior is a common symptom seen in children with ADHD. Although there is no evidence that stimulants cause aggressive behavior or hostility, patients who are starting treatment for ADHD should be monitored for increased aggression or hostility.
Understanding Anger in Children With ADHD
Adderall XR carries other risks that you should be aware of. For instance:
Adderall XR Dosage
Adderall XR is administered at the lowest effective dose, and dosages depend on the therapeutic needs and response of each individual. Generally, it’s titrated at weekly intervals to ensure that it’s well-tolerated. Your doctor should regularly reevaluate your prescription to ensure its long-term usefulness for reducing your symptoms.
Patients who are taking divided doses of immediate-release Adderall (such as twice daily) may be switched to Adderall XR at the same total daily dose taken once daily.
In children who are between the ages of 6 and 12, medication is often started at 10 milligrams (mg) once daily in the morning.The dosage may be adjusted in increments of 5 or 10 mg at weekly intervals. There may be times when a physician decides to start the dose at 5 mg once in the morning.
The maximum recommended dose for children 6 to 12 years of age is 30 mg per day.Doses greater than 30 mg per day have not been studied in children, and Adderall XR has not been studied in children under 6 years of age.
In adolescents with ADHD who are between the ages of 13 and 17, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg per day. The dose may be increased to 20 mg per day after one week if their ADHD symptoms are not adequately controlled.
In adults, the recommended dose is 20 mg per day.
Adderall XR comes in capsules with several dosage options, each with differentiating color combinations:
All listed dosages are according to the manufacturer. Check your prescription, and talk to your doctor to make sure you are taking the right dose for you.
Modifications
The entire contents of a capsule may be sprinkled on a small amount of applesauce just before taking. The mixture should be swallowed immediately and should not be chewed. This may be particularly helpful for young children who are resistant to taking the medication.
How to Take and Store Adderall XR
If you forget to take your medication, take it as soon as possible. Take caution when taking it in the afternoon, however, as it may interfere with sleep when it’s taken too close to bedtime. You should also avoid doubling up on this medication—if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your normal schedule.
Overdosesare possible with this medication, and they can be fatal. Symptoms include:
If you believe that you or a loved one has overdosed on Adderall XR, seek help immediately. In the United States, you can contact thePoison Control Centerat 1-800-222-1222 or call 911 right away for help.
Store Adderall XR at room temperature (59 F to 86 F). This medication is a controlled substance and should be kept in a secure, safe place in a tightly closed container.
Since Adderall XR is a controlled substance, you should consider planning ahead if you need to travel. While Adderall XR is approved for use across the United States, you may need to comply with different drug labeling requirements while traveling from state to state.
Your safest option may be to keep your medication in its original, prescribed container and ensure that you travel with roughly the amount you need—don’t bring a large number of extra doses. If you plan to fly, you should keep your medication with you in a carry-on bag or purse, rather than checking it.
Traveling internationally with Adderall XR presents different problems, as this medication is not legal in certain countries.Check with the foreign embassyin your destination to determine if your medication is restricted in any way; if so, you’ll likely need to comply with strict requirements for documentation. You should also speak with your doctor about what to do if you run out of medication while abroad.
Side Effects of Adderall XR
Adderall XR has a number of possible side effects, which can range from mild to severe. It is important to talk to your doctor about what to expect while taking Adderall XR, and you should always keep them informed about any new or unexpected reactions you experience.
Common
Side effects can vary depending on age. For children age 6 to 12, the most common are:
In adolescents age 13 to 17, the most common side effects include:
Common side effects for adults are:
Severe
Severe side effects of Adderall XR can include:
If you are taking too high of a dosage of Adderall XR, you might experience symptoms like:
Adderall XR Warnings and Interactions
Adderall XR is a Schedule II drug (meaning it has a high potential for abuse) and a controlled substance. It carries risks of abuse and dependence, which may be higher if you’ve experienced asubstance use disorderin the past. It’s essential that you follow your doctor’s orders and do not increase the dose, take it more often, or use it for a longer period of time than is prescribed.
If you decide to stop taking Adderall XR, you should work closely with your doctor. Quitting cold turkey may lead towithdrawal symptoms(such as severe tiredness, sleep problems, or mental/mood changes like depression). Withdrawal symptoms are more likely if you have used this medication for a long time or in high doses.
You should only decrease your dose or discontinue your medication under the supervision of your physician.
Interactions
Adderall XR may interact with other medications and cause serious side effects, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about any prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you or your child take.Tell your doctor if you or your child takes:
Other Warnings
Adderall XR has not been evaluated for use in children under 6 years of age or in older adults.
If you are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant, discuss your options with your doctor. While it’s not clear if Adderall XR is safe to take during pregnancy, data from animal testing show that there is a possible danger to the fetus, and there are well-established side effects for infants born to mothers with a dependency on amphetamines.
That said, Adderall XR may be used during pregnancy if the benefit to the mother outweighs those potential risks. Nursing mothers, however, should not breastfeed while taking this medication, as amphetamines can travel through the breastmilk.
It’s important to remain under the care of a physician while taking Adderall XR. Your doctor can ensure you remain safe and free from serious side effects while evaluating your dosage and long-term treatment plan.
What to Know About Vyvanse and Adderall for ADHD
Alternatives to Adderall XR
Together with the immediate-release version of Adderall, other commonstimulants used to treat ADHDinclude:
6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Adderall XR label.Spencer TJ, Abikoff HB, Connor DF, et al.Efficacy and safety of mixed amphetamine salts extended release (Adderall xr) in the management of oppositional defiant disorder with or without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children and adolescents: A 4-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, forced-dose-escalation study.Clin Ther. 2006;28(3):402-418. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2006.03.006Malhi GS, Byrow Y, Bassett D, et al.Stimulants for depression: On the up and up?Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016;50(3):203-207. doi:10.1177/0004867416634208Vital Record, Texas A&M Health.You Asked: What does Adderall do to your body?American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD.Food and Drug Administration.Medication guide Adderall XR.
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.Adderall XR label.Spencer TJ, Abikoff HB, Connor DF, et al.Efficacy and safety of mixed amphetamine salts extended release (Adderall xr) in the management of oppositional defiant disorder with or without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children and adolescents: A 4-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, forced-dose-escalation study.Clin Ther. 2006;28(3):402-418. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2006.03.006Malhi GS, Byrow Y, Bassett D, et al.Stimulants for depression: On the up and up?Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016;50(3):203-207. doi:10.1177/0004867416634208Vital Record, Texas A&M Health.You Asked: What does Adderall do to your body?American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD.Food and Drug Administration.Medication guide Adderall XR.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Food and Drug Administration.Adderall XR label.Spencer TJ, Abikoff HB, Connor DF, et al.Efficacy and safety of mixed amphetamine salts extended release (Adderall xr) in the management of oppositional defiant disorder with or without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children and adolescents: A 4-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, forced-dose-escalation study.Clin Ther. 2006;28(3):402-418. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2006.03.006Malhi GS, Byrow Y, Bassett D, et al.Stimulants for depression: On the up and up?Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016;50(3):203-207. doi:10.1177/0004867416634208Vital Record, Texas A&M Health.You Asked: What does Adderall do to your body?American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD.Food and Drug Administration.Medication guide Adderall XR.
Food and Drug Administration.Adderall XR label.
Spencer TJ, Abikoff HB, Connor DF, et al.Efficacy and safety of mixed amphetamine salts extended release (Adderall xr) in the management of oppositional defiant disorder with or without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children and adolescents: A 4-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, forced-dose-escalation study.Clin Ther. 2006;28(3):402-418. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2006.03.006
Malhi GS, Byrow Y, Bassett D, et al.Stimulants for depression: On the up and up?Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2016;50(3):203-207. doi:10.1177/0004867416634208
Vital Record, Texas A&M Health.You Asked: What does Adderall do to your body?
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association.ADHD.
Food and Drug Administration.Medication guide Adderall XR.
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