When the dosage is too high, stimulants can cause children or even adults to seem “spacey” or “zombie-like,” or to be uncharacteristically tearful or irritable (a condition known as emotional lability). In general, the best way to rein in these side effects is simply to lower the dosage.
Can Adderall cause emotional outbursts?
Long-term use of Adderall can cause other effects on mental health such as irritability, depression, mood swings, panic attacks, and paranoia.
What does Adderall do to a child’s brain?
They help your child pay attention, control impulses, and avoid risky behaviors. Stimulants boost the level of a chemical called dopamine in your child’s brain to help them focus. Dopamine rises in response to pleasure.
Can ADHD medication cause mood swings?
ADHD medication and moodiness
ADHD medication can play a role in mood swings. That’s especially true if those swings keep happening in the late afternoons or early evenings. Stimulant medications wear off around then and can sometimes cause a few hours of moodiness.
Does Adderall create mood swings?
Drastic mood swings or shifts in behavior may also accompany Adderall use. In some cases, the introduction of stimulant drugs may trigger panic attacks or even psychosis, which may include hallucinations or delusions.
Why does Adderall give me anxiety?
The increased brain activity that occurs when someone uses stimulants (like Adderall) can lead to anxiety. For some people, Adderall causes anxiety more indirectly. Since it increases feel-good neurotransmitter levels in the brain, people can experience negative feelings as the drug’s effects wear off.
Is aggression a side effect of Adderall?
Someone who is dependent on Adderall may have trouble sleeping and concentrating, notice a lack of motivation, and feel depressed, irritable, lethargic, or fatigued when it is removed from the body. Abusing amphetamines like Adderall may raise the risk of aggression and suicidal thoughts, according to ABC News.
Should a child take Adderall everyday?
Remember that ADHD isn’t usually just a school problem. If your child really functions better with medication, then it is probably a good idea to take it every day and not skip doses on weekends or other school holidays.
What happens to your brain when you stop taking Adderall?
When you quit taking the drug, your dopamine levels drop and your body and brain have to adjust to the change. Most people who take it as instructed don’t have any issues if they take a break from it. But if you use it too often or take too much, you might notice some effects when you stop.
What happens if you take Adderall without ADHD?
In people who don’t have ADHD, because Adderall produces an excess amount of dopamine, users may experience feelings of euphoria and increased energy levels, as well as possible dangerous physical and emotional side effects.
Why you should not medicate ADHD?
Despite the widespread belief that medications for ADHD are relatively safe, the research says otherwise. The research demonstrates that your child will likely have a side effect from the medication. Side effects range from reduced eating and growth, irritability, rage, and personality changes to psychotic behaviors.
Can ADHD cause anger?
ADHD is linked to other mental health issues that can also drive angry reactions. These include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and depression. People with ADHD may also have undiagnosed learning differences. Those challenges can add to stress.
Can ADHD be worse some days?
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and frustrated when you’re in the thick of a bad ADHD day. But bad days shall pass too. If they don’t, it might be helpful to reassess what’s throwing you off, says Matlen. Maybe your meds have stopped working for you or you’re experiencing symptoms of another condition.