What is Adderall?
Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The drug combines the nervous system stimulants amphetamine and dextroamphetamine to change the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Adderall is marketed as having the ability to help patients increase their attention span, stay focused on an activity, and control behavior problems.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly referred to as “ADHD” or “ADD”, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ADHD is characterized by symptoms including impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity. People with ADHD may have trouble functioning at work, school, social settings, and even in the home. The CDC estimates that up to 9% of children in school have been diagnosed with ADHD.
What’s the Problem?
ADHD has become a controversial issue as more and more people are diagnosed with the condition and placed on dangerous prescription medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin. Some question whether the ADHD diagnosis is reliable and whether doctors are over-prescribing medications to patients who may not need them.
Additionally, ADHD drugs like Adderall can cause a disruption in heart rhythm and increase the risk for severe cardiovascular and psychological problems. Because the medication is amphetamine-based, Adderall also has a high risk for addiction and dependency.
Adderall Side Effects
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Uncontrolled physical movements (i.e. fidgeting, teeth grinding)
- Sudden vocal outbursts
- Severe changes in mood or behavior (unexplained agitation, aggression, depression, mood swings)
- Seizures
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular problems
- Psychiatric disorders
- Sudden death
- And more
Adderall Black Box Warning
The FDA in 2007 ordered “black box” warnings to be added to the labeling of all ADHD medications warning of potential cardiovascular risks. The agency said it had received reports of serious adverse events in patients who took standard doses of ADHD drugs, including cases of sudden death. New guidelines were ordered for Adderall and other ADHD drugs.
Symptoms of Adderall Addiction
- Requiring increasingly larger doses to feel the effects of Adderall
- Wanting to cut down on use but not having the ability to do so
- Taking the drug despite knowledge of the harm it’s causing
- Not being able to complete tasks without Adderall
- Spending large amounts of time and money obtaining, using, and recovering from Adderall
- Being unable to feel alert without the drug
- Neglecting normal or important activities in favor of using Adderall
- Suffering withdrawal symptoms when not using Adderall
Do I Have an Adderall Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Adderall Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one was injured by the side effects of Adderall, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.