Is Adderall Bad For Your Heart? Adderall Effects On Heart (Risk & Side Effects)
One of the most common issues that patients face while taking prescribed medications is dealing with the side effects of the medication. Adderall is a kind of medication that can show its consequences when the patient overdoses on it. One of the side effects of Adderall can be how seriously it affects our cardiovascular system. The heart and the central nervous system have a direct relation, and Adderall is a CNS stimulant. You would want to know: if the medication is good for your heart, or is Adderall bad for your heart; if you are using the drug for ADHD.
How Bad Is Adderall For Your Heart?
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a stimulant medication that treats ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine are two powerful salts which help in its mechanism. One can find this drug with other names like Mydaysis, Adzenys XR-ODT, Adderall XR, and Dynavel XR. Patients can also use it for a sleeping disorder called Narcolepsy. Adderall is FDA-approved for both issues, but it is labelled as a Schedule II controlled drug due to its high risk of abuse. One can find it in medical stores as immediate-release or extended-release tablets, or as capsules and solutions, but it comes only with a doctor’s prescription.
What is The Mechanism Of Adderall?
There are two salts in Adderall that play a crucial role in its mechanism. Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are those salts that stimulate dopamine and noradrenaline together. The drug enters the system and inhibits the receptors of the two chemicals. This process releases the neurotransmitters of noradrenaline and dopamine into the system. As these neurotransmitters reach the brain, they trigger the frontal lobe of the brain responsible for our focus and decisions. This makes us much more attentive, and ADHD patients are immensely calmed by this effect. But as a stimulant, Adderall affects the central nervous system too. It has strong side effects on many organs of our body, the heart being one of them.
How are Adderall and Heart Problems Related?
We have to know how the heart and the central nervous system are related first. The brain helps in regulating heart rate through the medulla oblongata, that is responsible for breathing and blood pressure too. The brain receives different signals from the heart and it depends on how it beats. Slow heartbeats resonate emotions like relaxation or sadness. The faster ones indicate stress or excitement. Now, when you take Adderall, it overstimulates the central nervous system and it causes anxiety and similar effects. When you have anxiety, the stress hormones start releasing adrenaline, which initiates a “fight-or-flight” response that often increases the heart rate. This makes the brain perceive that there is a threat to the heart.
How Long Does Adderall Increase Heart Rate?
Adderall has two different forms of tablets: Immediate-Release (IR) and Extended-Release (XR). The increase in heart rate totally depends on these two forms of the stimulant drug. If you take Adderall IR, the heart rate will remain increased for 4-6 hours. That is the amount of time it works effectively in our system. For Adderall XR, it’s 10-12 hours, and our heart rate is going to stay raised for that long. This is why doctors do not prescribe Adderall for patients who are already suffering from heart conditions. Normal ADHD patients must adhere to what the doctor has prescribed, but overdosing on Adderall will affect their hearts negatively.
Why is Adderall Bad for Your Heart?
The reason to avoid Adderall when you are a heart patient is to make sure you do not face the bad consequences of the drug even in normal doses. But if you are on an Adderall overdose, then you are putting your heart at major risk. Your heartbeats can be way too fast if you use Adderall uncontrollably. It can affect your cardiovascular system by weakening your heart muscles, causing irregular rhythms, vessel constriction. This condition is called cardiomyopathy that happens because of amphetamine exposure. The most dangerous instance is when you overdose on Adderall when you have heart problems. A series of serious heart events like strokes, arrhythmias and heart attacks can take place.
Safety Measures For the Heart While Using Adderall
We can take up some safe measures before or when we are using Adderall to make sure our heart is not affected. Here are the things you can keep in mind while using the stimulant drug.
- Have a full assessment of your heart by a cardiologist.
- Tell your ADHD doctor about your heart issues or if anyone in your family has it.
- Call your doctor if you feel pain in your chest.
- Avoid caffeine drinks like soft drinks or coffee.
- No alcohol because it can increase cardiovascular issues.
- A healthy diet and regular exercise help in maintaining a good heart.
Alternatives If Adderall Affects Your Heart
You can switch to other medications for ADHD if you have faced issues in your heart due to Adderall. Mind you, do not change the medication on your own. Consult your doctor and then stop using Adderall, or else do not even think to stop the medication. Let’s take a look at the Adderall substitutes.
Prescribed Alternatives
Non-Prescribed Alternatives
- Piracetam
- Citicolin
Natural Alternatives
- Ginseng
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Omega-3 Fish Oil
- Iron
- Magnesium
- L-Theanine
- Zinc
- L-Tyrosine
Conclusion
Adderall will affect your heart rate even if you take the right dose. So you have to take the medication carefully. Yes, Adderall has its effects on the heart, but it is only bad for the heart when it is misused. Follow the safety measures, and Adderall will only do its job, that is to treat your ADHD and narcolepsy.