Combination of | |
---|---|
amphetamine aspartate monohydrate | 25% – stimulant (12.5% levo; 12.5% dextro) |
amphetamine sulfate | 25% – stimulant (12.5% levo; 12.5% dextro) |
dextroamphetamine saccharate | 25% – stimulant (0% levo; 25% dextro) |
dextroamphetamine sulfate | 25% – stimulant (0% levo; 25% dextro) |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Adderall, Adderall XR |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a601234 |
License data | |
Pregnancy category |
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Dependence liability |
Physical: none Psychological: moderate |
Addiction liability |
Moderate |
Routes of administration |
Oral, insufflation, rectal, sublingual |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status |
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Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
PubChem CID | |
IUPHAR/BPS | |
DrugBank | |
ChemSpider | |
KEGG | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
Adderall is a combination drug containing salts of the two enantiomers of amphetamine, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the phenethylamine class. Adderall is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is also used as an athletic performance enhancer and cognitive enhancer, and recreationally as an aphrodisiac and euphoriant. By salt content, the active ingredients of Adderall are 25% levoamphetamine salts (the levorotary or 'left-handed' enantiomer) and 75% dextroamphetamine salts (the dextrorotary or 'right-handed' enantiomer).
Adderall is generally well-tolerated and effective in treating the symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy. At therapeutic doses, Adderall causes emotional and cognitive effects such as euphoria, change in desire for sex, increased wakefulness, and improved cognitive control. At these doses, it induces physical effects such as decreased reaction time, fatigue resistance, and increased muscle strength. In contrast, much larger doses of Adderall can impair cognitive control, cause rapid muscle breakdown, or induce a psychosis (e.g., delusions and paranoia). The side effects of Adderall vary widely among individuals, but most commonly include insomnia, dry mouth, and loss of appetite. The risk of developing an addiction is insignificant when Adderall is used as prescribed at fairly low daily doses, such as those used for treating ADHD; however, the routine use of Adderall in larger daily doses poses a significant risk of addiction due to the pronounced reinforcing effects that are present at higher doses. Recreational doses of Adderall are generally much larger than prescribed therapeutic doses, and carry a far greater risk of serious adverse effects.