Do your parents know you use Adderall?
I know a student who uses Adderall to study for exams. She easily got a prescription from her family doctor, and didn't talk to her parents as she is over 18. As an old grumpy instructor, I have a problem with students taking drugs to get better grades. But I'm even more concerned because she is not receiving regular medical care from this doctor, so when she has fainting spells or panic attacks (and she does), neither her parents nor the ER doctor can connect this to her use of stimulants.
The American Heart Association has put out a warning to parents about ADHD stimulant use for children who may have a cardiac disorder. But do parents of college students who take Adderall or its equivalent know their children are taking this? How many of you have friends who use these regularly?
Present one of the following: Share some online research on "study drugs," share an example of use and abuse in your own circle of friends (be careful about names) and connect that to an online warning about the drug, or share an educated opinion from a major news source about this phenomenon.
32 comments:
I found out from my research that Adderall was first marketed as a weight loss drug under the name "Obetrol." Without even reading more, it makes me question the safety of using it for something as unrelated to weight loss as studying.
What I found most disconcerting about the drug is that continued use can lead to tolerance for the drug. Increasing the dosage leads to the same effect, so basically, it turns into a never ending cycle.
http://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/education/studydrugs.html
I know quite a few people that take adderall regularly even though they are not prescribed it. They think they need it to study. Some of my girlfriends even take it to loose weight. None of their parents know that they are taking adderall because they do not have ADHD. They have been taking it regularly for weight purposes than now they need to up the dosage because they have become immune to it which makes it even worse. According to
http://www.drugs.com/adderall.html
adderall causes high blood pressure which I have seen is true because one of my friends who looks healthy on the outside actually has high blood pressure and it probably is from taking adderall.
I found out from my research that Adderall was first marketed as a weight loss drug under the name "Obetrol." Without even reading more, it makes me question the safety of using it for something as unrelated to weight loss as studying.
What I found most disconcerting about the drug is that continued use can lead to tolerance for the drug. Increasing the dosage leads to the same effect, so basically, it turns into a never ending cycle.
http://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/education/studydrugs.html
Please disregard the first comment under "claudia." I forgot to sign in.
Working with kids, I have become acquainted with Adderall and its effect on children. It's a sad fact that Adderall is being overly prescribed for kids who act out. Instead of talking with the kids and trying to figure out what is happening in their lives, such as family problems, teachers and other guardians are claiming that these kids have ADHD, and should take Adderall to control them. Many kids on Adderall aren't really diagnosed with ADHD, but are still forced to take the medicine, and are forced to deal with the side effects, such as fainting, arrhythmia, increased blood pressure, and more. The fact of the matter is that kids are kids, and it should be normal for them to act out every once in awhile, and not be able to sit through an entire class without some fidgeting or loss of focus.
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/adhd/a/adderall.htm
I know quite a few that take many medications such as Adderall to enhance their brain power, reduce stress, and reduce sleepiness. What's more shocking is the ability of people to acquire such drugs without any prescription from their doctors. On top of this, students who take such drugs refuse to inform their parents and this leads to many complications.
As mentioned before, I have several friends that use ADHD, Provigil, and even Ritalin. These drugs help them concentrate and stress less when exams and papers come around, and for a majority of them using these is a regular thing. Despite the side effects of these drugs which include headaches, drowsiness, etc, they continue to use them just so they can do better in school.
An online researh article that I came across showed that from a survey of 1400 people, more than 20% used such drugs for non-medicinal purposes. Their main reasons for using such drugs were the ability to focus, concentrate, and improve memory. Another research article I came across had a similar survey but it was done on scientists. Out of 1427 scientists that participated in this survey, a whopping 60% of them used such drugs DAILY.
The research I came across on the internet was very shocking to me because using such drugs to enhance brain-power is similar to athletes using steroids. And yes its true that people can access these drugs easily, we as responsible citizens should promote programs that help students succeed on their own abilities rather than them succeeding by using performance enhancing drugs.
1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/10/2213110.htm
2. http://chronicle.com/news/article/4292/many-academics-use-drugs-to-enhance-their-brain-power-survey-suggests
Adderall is just one of many amphetamine derivative drugs that is abused by students from high school to college. It has been stated in the research literature that "amphetamine, as with cocaine, can induce symptoms similar to those seen in obessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and phobic disorder."
http://www.adderall.net/
There are many other drugs similar to adderall which have been around for several decades. See list:
Adderall amphetamine plus dextroamphetamine
Benzedrine amphetamine
Biphetamine amphetamine plus dextroamphetamine
Desoxyn methamphetamine
Dexedrine dextroamphetamine
Dextrostat dextroamphetamine
Vyvanse dextroamphetamine
with lysine (lisdexamfetamine)
Unfortunately, there are many intelligent people who abuse drugs and eventually lead to failure or death. The story of Mozart's demise from drugs and alcohol abuse is just one famous example. The book about Mozart entitled Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music is an interesting read.
I have heard of students using Adderall to help them focus, but they do not consider what effects the drug truly has on them. Without talking to a doctor and taking a medication which is for a problem you don't have can only be harmful to your health and will come with dangerous side effects. It serves their purpose of helping them focus, and since it results in better academic performance, it becomes a regular thing to do.
One of the posts mentions that over 60% of scientists take drugs for non-medical purposes. The article I found talks about how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced ways to stop scientists from using such drugs. It talks about how athletes are looked upon for "doping" but "brain doping" has been ignored in recent years. NIH is working together with other organizations to create international rules regarding brain enhancing drugs among scientists.
This was surprising to me because I was aware of drug use among students and athletes, but I never thought about scientists and "professionals" using brain enhancing drugs. Link to the article:
http://www.eyeondna.com/2008/04/01/
more-scientists-need-brain-enhancing
-drugs/
Adderall is very popular among college students. I know a couple people who use Adderall and have grown a dependence on it. In the Los Angeles Time's article, "Generation Adderall", David Rabie, a third year at UCSB, discusses the use of adderall among college students. He questions the morality of using Adderall. He argues that adderall is a source of cheating on exams and should be discouraged among students. They are drugs that are being abused and should be forbidden as steroids are forbidden to athletes. Adderall.net describes the some side effects. Common side effects include anxiety, addiction, nervousness, headaches, insomnia, loss of apetite, and dry mouth. Overdose side effects include restlessness, tremor, agression, hallucinations, panic states, hyperreflexia, personality changes, high blood pressure, rapid heart beat, kidney damage, and much more. Clearly, something must be done to discourage students from taking aderall.
1. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-hew-myturn10mar10,1,3474807.story
2. http://www.adderall.net/
Adderall, now known as the "study drug" is normally perscribed to people who have been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD. It was first intended as a diet drug which is why one of the most common side-effects of adderall is the lost of appetite. it has recently been used as a recreational drug because it is a stimulant. college students are at risk of using this drug by snorting it. I dont know anyone that us these study drugs but i do know many people who drink energy drinks like they are water. These also have side effects but not as severe as the one that come with Adderall, but then again it is not as effective. One of the worse problems with the use of the Adderall is dependence and addiction
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/drugs/adderall.htm
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/122107dnnatbraindoping.3761ad89.html
I had heard about Adderall before, but never realized how big of an issue it was it today's society. The article I read mentioned how "more than 10,000 college students found 4 percent to 7 percent of them tried ADHD drugs at least once to remain focused on exams or pull all-nighters. At some colleges, more than one-quarter of students surveyed said they had sampled the pills." This stat really shocked me at how prevalent this drug is used amongst people of my generation. The article goes on to talk about how the drug increases ability to concentrate, grasp things, stay awake, and be more efficient. It has even shown results of better exam scores. No wonder so many people would be drawn to the drug. Just like any other drug,though, Adderall has its own share of side effects. It results in increase heart rate and high blood pressure. It also causes headaches, insomnia, and loss of appetite.
Although many users say it isn't unfair to take them, I personally believe that it does give an unfair advantage to students who take the drug.
Ritalin, another study drug commonly used by students such as Adderall, is highly dangerous and fairly easy to access. Prescriptions for Ritalin have increased six-fold in the last ten years and have very dangerous effects. Some of these effects include decreased blood flow to the brain, disruption of growth hormone, permanent neurological tics, addiction and abuse, psychosis, depression, insomnia, agitation, social withdrawal, and much more. Furthermore, "the person is put at risk primarily for cardiac arrhythmia...Then there's irregular beating of the heart--which can cause sudden death," says Dr. Lawrence Miller. All of these effects make using Ritalin and other study drugs highly dangerous and not worth the risk. I have seen a friend experience some of these effects from using study drugs, like insomnia, agitation, and social withdrawal. She also experienced depression after the drug wore off.
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/06/15/study_drugs_-_use_of_these_dangerous_new_drugs_is_skyrocketing_among_the_a+_student_crowd.htm
http://chiropracticresearch.org/NEWSRitalindangers.htm
I had completely forgotten about the abuse of adderall among high school and college students until I read this post. I remember in my junior year of high school my friend Rebbekah (name changed) told me about how her friend's younger brother has ADHD and has to take adderall. She said she took some before and as a result she was working harder and concentrating better. Her case is the only case that I actually know about. However, I recently saw this Korean commercial on TV for pills that help with concentration. With the amount of value the Korean-American community puts on education and studying, I wouldn't be surprised if those pills were a weaker form of adderall or some other "study drug." Also, if there are commercials for these pills on TV I am sure that some of my friend's parents have gotten a hold of a bottle to feed to their children in hopes of higher grades, GPAs, and SAT scores. According to The Washington Post ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/09/AR2006020902325.html ), the FDA announced that some drugs, including ADHD and antidepressant drugs, should carry the "black box" warning. "Black box" warnings warn of severe risks including sudden death. Less than 10% of prescription drugs carry "black box" warnings. It astonishing that my friends could be taking a drug that could possibly kill them. Especially, the fact that the availability of such a drug is even more accessible through Korean drugstores scares me. The 10% of 10 year old boys and the increasing rates of adults that are using Adderall are just increasing, which could result in more sudden deaths. I am sure that the students and my friends that use this "study drug" don't know the severe risks that could possibly occur, which is good that the FDA has put "black box" warnings on them.
After doing some research, along with the aforementioned side effects and that people have used the drug for weight loss purposes, I discovered from this site
http://www.focuset.com/Adderall_a/135.htm
that studies have shown that more competitive schools use the drug more and that students with lower GPA's and who are in fraternities and sororities are shown to use the drug more than those with higher GPA's and who are not in these groups. The site also discussed how students form dependencies on the drug as they are impressed with the intensity of focus produced from adderall and they lose confidence in their ability to perform without it. I can connect this issue with a personal friend of mine who has been using the drug to study for the past several years, both during his undergraduate education and now during his graduate education. I know that my friend is quite intelligent and does not necessarily need adderall to do well in school. However, I believe, just like the article stated, that my friend has come to rely on adderall since it has consistently produced good performance or has coincided with his good performance. I feel that taking adderall has become his security blanket, and possibly a placebo, when it comes to studying for school.
I have heard about students at UCI who take Adderall to study but never used to think anything about it until this fall quarter. My roommate was studying with a friend who took Adderall and as they continued to study throughout the night the Addreall user started to act really weird. One moment he would be reading his book and then the next he would freak out to the point where it seemed like he was having a panic attack. From reading from this site: http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,6025%7CAmphetamine%2Band%2BDextroamphetamine,00.html
I have learned that taking Adderall is dangerous and it seriously should NOT be taken by people who do not need to use this medication. Risking your life in these situations where the students parents also don't know what medication there children are taking is risky because if anything were to happen your parents and family doctor may not be able to save you.
I know of many students that take adderall to study. There has never been a greater amount of pressure for students to receive high grades. Adderall seems to be the solution to many of their problems. It allows the student to not only get the mind stimulus they believe but it gives a student a sort of placebo effect. Students seem to be more inclined to study and actually focus when they are on adderall. Students across the country have used adderall as a studying aid. This article shows problems in Georgetown.
http://media.www.thegeorgetownindependent.com/media/storage/paper136/news/2004/11/10/News/Adderall.Use.And.Abuse-799443.shtml
I've had a few friends who take Adderall to help them concentrate when cramming for a midterm or final. Initially, I thought that this drug never really had any effects on an individual until I came across this site:
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/rx/rx-mono.aspx?contentFileName=Add1008.html&contentName=Adderall&contentId=16
Most typically, using Adderall may lead to serious addiction and possibly result in heart failure or even sudden death. That is probably one of the biggest problems that I see in using Adderall. I don't necessarily condone people taking adderrall to study better but if they are aware with what they're getting themselves into, then I think it's perfectly fine. However, if an individual doesn't know his or her's health history, most notably with the heart, then there is some serious problem here. People who have high blood pressure should not use this drug as it may further lead to some serious effects. Other physical effects include abdominal cramps, nausea, panic, and diarrhea.
It is obvious that this drug can also help an individual who is suffering from ADHD. But if this drug is missued, then it is that individual's fault in my opinion. Like any other drug, it can be very helpful if used correctly but very deadly if missused.
http://www.topcolleges.com/news18.html
This article discussed the trend of students taking stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin to increase their scores on SATs. I knew that this problem existed, but I did not realize on how large of a scale, or that in many instances, parents are pressuring their children to take the pills to do better on tests. I find this problem extremely unethical for several reasons, mainly that there is so much pressure on students to get into a good college that they are willing to cheat using a drug to possibly do better. In addition to a moral problem, this could also lead to drug dependence and/or tolerance, as well as a variety of other health effects. The fact that students can easily get prescriptions is also troubling, it seems that there should be more stringent regualtions on who is able to procure a prescription. Overall, I think this problem needs to be brought to the attention of teachers and parents, in the hopes of preventing students from entering a dangerous path of cheating and drug dependency. It is also a sad mark on our society that students feel so much pressure that they are willing to cheat and take drugs illegally in the hopes of doing slightly better on a test.
In addition to Adderall, there are study drugs students use such as Vicodin between exams and after so they may "relax" and "take a break." Like Adderall, Vicodin is a common, addictive, and dangerous on-campus trend. Vicodin is an acetaminophen and hydrocodone combination and is prescribed for pain relief. Due to the drinking nature of college students, the acetaminophen or tylenol in the drug can cause severe liver damage or failure as well. An overdose of Vicodin is proved to be fatal. My roommate told me about someone from the dorms that took a large dose of this opioid due to high psychological dependence and abuse. The boy had symptoms such as shallow breathing, seizures, hallucinations, and almost fell into a coma before he got to the hospital. His reason for taking Vicodin--“It made studying bearable.” He received common symptoms of an overdose, but other side effects include hyperventilation, bleeding, constipation, bruising, fatigue, muscle twitches, dark urine, clammy skin, vomiting, and hot flashes. I’ve learned that Vicodin is actually a derivative of Opium--Hence, the need to take Vicodin in a time of stress for a feeling of euphoria. In addition, Vicodin is known by many names such as Lortab, Norco, Lorcet, Zydone, and Anexsia. For additional information, I found an interesting article about the death of a teenager due to overdose.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/APC0101/804220482/1979
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/article/vicodin-addiction-abuse-and-treatment_42.html
http://www.drugrehab.net/drug/vicodin_abuse.php
I know a few of my friends, mostly bio majors, use Adderall especially when midterms come. They usually use it to cram a lot a day or two before the midterm or final. They have told me that when they take it, all they want to do is study and focus on what's in front of them. They would just lock themselves up in their rooms and study all day and night. They won't want to sleep and won't get distracted at all. However, the pill has a time period in which it will last. I heard the pill only lasts about four hours. My friends do not seem to abuse the pill, they only use it when they think they need a bit more extra help. However, that may be a sign of addiction, they may feel they are only able to focus when the pill is taken.
This article shows how the abuse of such drugs like Adderall can be prevented through talking to children about it.
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1202D8B5651CD6D8&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=3
i first heard of adderall last quater when my roomate told me that people in our hall was taking this drug to focus more during midterms and finals. Before then, i didnt know that using drugs to study was so popular in college. Since it seemed easy to get a hold of the drug, i thought it was pretty safe and actually thought that i might try it if i need to cram for an exam. however after reading the side effect on http://www.prozactruth.com/adderal_effects.htm that this drug is very dangerous. and students shouldnt get dependent on it especially when this usual dosage of the drug can cause sudden deaths and stoke and heart attacks. i feel like most people who use it seem to be bio majors or is majoring in some field in science because they are the ones who have to be competitive and study hard, but shouldnt it be even more obvious to them that drugs can have serious side effects?
Another "study drug" that I have heard of people taking is Hydroxycut Hardcore. This is not prescribed so it is easier to get and I know a few people who take it - but take more during finals, midterms, etc.
In my research of Hydroxycut I discovered that Hydroxycut Hardcore is the only Hydroxycut product that has not been discontinued since the FDA banned Ephedra.Hydroxycut Hardcore is "essentially a caffeine pill with some “proprietary blends” thrown in. Hydroxycut Hardcore contains a ALOT of caffeine. Each suggested dosage has the equivalent of over 3 cups of coffee.". By the way, the reccommended dosage is 3 pills 3x a day. The side affects of this are increased blood pressure, heart rate, headaches, dizziness...
This information was from http://www.w8lossreviews.com/Hydroxycut.php
It is crazy that the dosage is so much, I have a friend that doesn't really take in caffeine (no soda, no coffee..) and when she took ONE of these - she had bad side affects. Not only did her hear rate start to go really fast but also she had a minor panic attack and couldn't sleep at all.
This "drug" may not be as detrimental as Adderall but because it is an over the counter drug it is much easier to get and too much of it can have very bad side affects.
I first heard about Adderall when I was in high school. Because my brother was already in college at the time, I would hear his friends talking about it. At the time I had strong feelings against it because i felt as if it was a very harmful drug like coke. Unfortunately, ever since I began college, hearing about people taking Adderall is just totally normal to me and it is pretty alarming how available this prescription drug is. It is said that 1 in 10 teens take Adderall.
Used to treat ADHD, Adderall is now used so often anything from weight loss to studying. I know a girl who took Adderall and stayed up for 3-4 days straight without sleeping. 3-4 days without sleep is very detrimental to ones health. Also, those who are taking Adderall without a prescription and blind to its effects on themselves. What some people are not aware of is that if is it taken with other stimulants, it can place more stress on the heart. Other sideeffects include liver problems and psychotic reactions.
https://tv.ku.edu/news/2005/05/02/adderall-under-the-table-not-over-the-counter/
The entire "study drugs" phenomenon is fairly new to me. I think it's comparable to the energy drink craze but obviously more serious and severe. Apparently, it is not difficult at all to get a prescription for study drugs like Ritalin and Adderall. I am surprised because I would think that doctors would be cautious when prescribing these drugs since they are mainly used for ADHD and narcolepsy. According to this ABC news article, all students need to do is fill out a questionnaire and they were given prescriptions without any other tests or evaluations.
Adderall may seem like the ultimate wonder drug since it can be used for concentration, wakefulness, and also dieting; it was initially marketed as a diet pill in the 1960s. Doctors claim it is safe for people who are correctly prescribed but not so much for the non-prescribed users. Some common side effects are loss of appetite, dehydration, stomach pains, nausea, headaches, sweating, and involuntary movements. Although these side effects do not seem serious, Adderall can be addictive in heavy doses since it is a stimulant.
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Health/Story?id=814896&page=1
I know a lot of people who take adderall to stay up late and study for tests. I would say about 75% of my friends have taken it and still do regularly take it to help themselves with school. One of my good friends has ADHD and gives out adderall whenever we need it. Also some girls from high school I know have taken it for weight loss.
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/library/drugs/adderall.htm
I found this article very interesting because it shows how easy it is to get it. However the rise of the dosage is very alarming. I am still yet to try it because I just don't think it can give you that much of an edge.
The abuse of prescription drugs amongst teens is still less common than the use of marijuana, but it is still higher than the use of other drugs. Prescription and over the counter drug use has become a common form of drug abuse amongst teens and not just college students.
The people who have taken Adderall say the drug helps then concentrate for hours, but keeps them awake for long periods of time as well. After their finals were over, they were exhausted because they weren't able to sleep. Insomnia is a common side effect when taking Adderall.
A reason why the Adderall use is so rampant is because of its readily available, and because they want to do what it takes to get a better grade on their Final.
http://www.drugfree.org/Files/Full_Teen_Report
http://www.drugfree.org/Files/Full_Teen_Report
These studies talk about other types of drugs that are commonly abused by teens in addition to study drugs.
I actually happen to know a couple people who have taken Adderall as a means to help them study for their various college exams. These friends of mine use this drug to decrease the amount of stress level they feel and increase their brain power to retain all the information needed to study for their exams. This drug is extremely seductive and when abused can contribute to the deterioration of one's physical and mental health. Adderall works like ecstacy or speed, the "high" lasts for no more than 24 hours and cause "powerful effects on the central nervous system" (Dr. Eric Heiligenstein) Other than that, the side effects i've personally observed from my friends that have taken Adderall include shortness of breath, anxiety, weight loss, headaches, high blood pressure, and mood swings.
below is a link that provides more information on Adderall and how it seduces more and more college students to take the drug to increase their educational performance.
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Health/story?id=814896&page=1
I have many friends that take adderall and many are unaware of the side effects of this drug. I also know a couple people who have pretty good access to this stimulant and use it, not on a regular basis but to study for finals. I just think it's amazing how easily controlled substances can be obtained by people who aren't even diagnosed with any trace of ADHD.
My friend told me of a bad "trip" on adderall. He said he took 3 pills and got a very sick feeling of nausea, stomach cramps, and dizziness.
http://www.drugs.com/adderall.html
I have many friends who I presume take Adderall, but there's one of them who I know for sure takes it (in this blog we will call him "Jim"). Jim is a good friend of mine who attends UC Irvine. He has never had any medical trouble with his heart of anything like that, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen to him. Jim only uses the drug before midterms and finals. Those are the only times where I have actually seen him use it. He has actually offered me some to try out for a few tests, but I turned away his offer. I never really knew what it was, but even if I did I still wouldn't have taken it. Now that I know a little bit about this powerful drug I can tell you that it is dangerous. The following link provides warning signs of Adderall as well as uses, side effects, precautions, interactions, and over dosage:
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-63163-dderall+Oral.aspx?drugid=63163&drugname=Adderall+Oral
I now know about the potential dangers of the drug and I will try to coax my friend away from it as soon as I possibly can.
Although I believe alot of the students are aware of the use of Adderall as a study drug, but most do not acknowledge the use of it as a party drug. Students are finding that when taking Adderall in combination alcohol, they can "drink like a fish", and not pass out. I know several people here at UCI that partake in using Adderall for the high, and to party. I have seen students who pop/insufflate Adderall and as a result are full of energy, and end up consuming probably five times the number of alcoholic drinks that night as they would have been able to otherwise. In fact, the high availability and relatively low prices has created almost a new-age alternative to cocaine.
http://thedartmouth.com/2007/02/02/mirror/allnight/
I did my research on the drug Ritalin. It is a prescribed drug given to people with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Ritalin helps people concentrate better, therefore college students like to take it to focus on studying for an exam. One of my sister's friends have taken Ritalin before taking the SATs. His younger brother has ADD, so the access to the pills was quite simple. He told me that it helped him stay awake and pay closer attention to studying instead of being distracted. However, for the next few days, he lost his appetite and sleep.
According to William DeJong, executive director of the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse, "It's [Ritalan] so overprescribed that it's more available to abuse." Many times, doctors overlook concentration problems and social behavior of young children and prescribe Ritalin as an easy solution. These pills often fall into the wrong hands and become a source of a mental high, harmful alternative for products like caffeine, and a product to make money off of.
http://ndsn.org/feb98/trends.html
After reading this blog, I was reminded that I know many people who use this drug inappropriately. I personally have never used this stimulant, but I know many friends who use this stimulant during finals.
An example of an incidence of a friend using Adderall is a co-worker of mine using this drug to study. This person told me that he/she became very consumed in his/her studies that he/she forgot to drink water for a very long period of time and ended up becoming dehydrated.
The example above relates to the the online information about this stimulant in that people who do not medically require this drug could face serious harm for taking it. While this friend only became dehydrated, he/she could have had a more serious cardiac effect such as increased blood pressure, arrhythmias, or congenital heart disease. What this friend should have done to safely use this stimulant would have been: 1. to have a physical exam 2. family medical history examination 3. electrocardiogram 4. and monitoring of cardiac symptoms.
While it is unsafe to use this stimulant when it isn't needed for normal functioning, it is imperative for a person to make sure his or her body won't have a violent reaction to the drug.
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