Adderall Weight Loss

Adderall weight loss is a growing trend where people take medication in order to help with losing weight.

Article Contents

What is Adderall?

Adderall weight loss has steadily gained popularity for its ability to curb one’s appetite and possibly lead to weight loss. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves Adderall for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, if one uses Adderall without a prescription or at a higher dosage than what the doctor prescribed, they may develop dangerous side effects.¹ Many doctors prescribe Adderall to treat ADHD along with narcolepsy. The drug affects the central nervous system since it combines amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Amphetamine works in the body and brain, elevating the effects of neurotransmitters. Dextroamphetamine changes certain quantities of natural substances in the brain. The effects of these drugs help one stay focused, calm, and control certain behavioral problems as well.²

Understanding Adderall Uses and Classifications

According to the U.S Library of Medicine, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine are ideal for treating narcolepsy specifically, which is a sleep disorder that causes sudden sleep attacks and excessive daytime sleepiness.³ Though the FDA approves Adderall, the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies the drug as being in the same category as oxycodone and cocaine, meaning that the substance can be highly addictive.

Adderall and Weight Loss

Many people prefer a fast-working drug to the tiresome hours of exercise in order to help them lose weight. If you are planning to use or are actively using Adderall, you might have the following concerns:

Does Adderall Remove Appetite?

If you are wondering whether Adderall weight loss helps to lessen your appetite, it does. The drug has numerous other side effects as well, but loss of appetite is one of the more notable ones. But why do you lose your appetite? Adderall increases the amount of dopamine the body releases into your brain. When you take Adderall, the increased dopamine signals your body that you are full when you might not be. Because many of us do not eat when we are not hungry, continuing this process leads to weight loss.

Can Adderall Cause Weight Gain?

If you are taking Adderall alongside other medications, it may offset the weight loss abilities of Adderall. Some medications like SSRI antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics contribute to Adderall weight gain because of side effects including slow metabolism, increased appetite, and altered hormones.⁴ When you quit or try to reduce the amount of Adderall you use, you will likely develop withdrawal symptoms. This is because your body is already used to the drug, and it may cause you mild to severe symptoms depending on your drug use history. Withdrawal from Adderall weight loss may cause sleep impairment side effects as well. Studies show that less sleep leads to increased weight gain and appetite.

Adderall’s Effects on the Body

If you use Adderall as prescribed, you can gain positive results like staying calmer and focused. Like most any other stimulant, however, Adderall can become addictive; hence, only use it with a doctor’s supervision or prescription. However, even with the prescription, the drug may still cause you the following side effects:

• Headache
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Constipation

Potential Serious Side Effects

Adderall weight loss can also lead to more serious side effects like:

• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Depression
• Trouble breathing
• Skin problems
• Increased heart beats
• Troubled sleep
• High blood pressure
• Mood swings
• Hair loss

Adderall Misuse for Weight Loss

Many Adderall weight loss stories link the drug Adderall for their success. However, the FDA has not approved Adderall for weight loss purposes. Misusing Adderall for weight loss is risky because it impacts your brain’s dopamine system. Your doctor may prescribe Adderall off-label to help you lose weight. Therefore, your doctor must prescribe the right dosage of Adderall and closely monitor you to ensure the drug stays safe and effective. Please note that Adderall causes serious side effects, especially for people struggling with heart problems. Other serious health warnings of Adderall misuse include:

High Risk of Dependence

The FDA labels Adderall with a serious boxed warning stating that the drug has a high dependence rate. Dependence on Adderall means you are psychologically and physically dependent on the drug to function normally and stay alert and productive. You may be at a high risk of developing an Adderall addiction if you regularly use Adderall at non-prescribed doses. Adderall increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain. Norepinephrine impacts your brain’s response to events, especially how you react to outside stimuli. Dopamine takes this reaction and creates a rewarding effect that causes you to require high doses of the drug to function normally. But, when the effects of Adderall wear off, you feel mentally foggy and tired.

Paranoia

Misusing Adderall for a long time can lead to substance-induced psychosis. If you take unprescribed Adderall to do better in school, lose weight, or concentrate, you are at a high risk of developing dangerous, abusive behaviors. People with ADHD take Adderall to boost the low levels of dopamine present in their brains. However, a person without ADHD increases dopamine to risky levels that can induce anxiety and euphoria.

Sudden Death

Adderall affects various systems of your body, including the central nervous system, and can impact motor function as well. Adderall may also trigger tremors, strokes, or seizures in addition to restlessness, overstimulation, and dizziness. Adderall for weight loss affects your cardiovascular system by increasing your heartbeat, harming heart tissues, or elevating blood pressure. A destructed heart tissue may prevent blood supply to the heart muscles leading to death.

Malnutrition

Since Adderall causes appetite loss, it is possible to struggle with unintentional anorexia or unhealthy weight loss. When you don’t eat enough food, you suffer from malnutrition that may affect some of your vital organs.

Serious Heart Problems

High doses of Adderall may increase your blood pressure and cause stroke and heart problems. If you have underlying cardiovascular problems, you should consult your doctor before self-medicating with stimulants. See a doctor if you notice signs of addiction or dependence on Adderall.

Do Not Use Adderall for Weight Loss

Apart from the above side effects, using it as a weight-loss drug has other consequences as well. It is difficult to maintain your weight loss unless you keep using Adderall. This process easily leads to tolerance and dependence on the drug, which requires you to take higher doses to achieve the previous results. Secondly, if you stop using Adderall after a long time, you may develop withdrawal symptoms. It worsens because you can gain more weight than you initially had because of the rebound hunger symptoms. Consult with your doctor if you must use Adderall and make sure you manage any side effects that the drug elicits.

Contact Iris Healing® for Support

If you or your loved one is experiencing the impact of drug misuse or addiction, it is important to know that there are resources available to support you. You are not alone. At Iris Healing®, we can ensure that you receive the necessary tools, support, and techniques to maintain sobriety and wellness.

Resources

1. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/adderall-and-adderall-xr-amphetamines-information#:~:text=Adderall%20and%20Adderall%20XR%20%28amphetamines%29%20Information%20%7C%20FDA,are%20medications%20used%20to%20treat%20attention-deficit%2Fhyperactivity%20disorder%20%28ADHD%29
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcolepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20375497
3. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601234.html
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825

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