Adderall

• Storage instructions...
  Store at room temperature in a tight, light-resistant container.

What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you or your child to continue taking Adderall.

• Side effects of Adderall may include:
  Depression, dry mouth, heart attack, high blood pressure, hives, impotence, overstimulation, rapid or pounding heartbeat, seizures, stomach and intestinal disturbances, stroke, sudden death, weight loss

• Side effects of Adderall XR may include:
  Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, infection (including viral), insomnia, loss of appetite, mood swings, nausea, nervousness, vomiting, weakness, weight loss

Why should Adderall not be prescribed?

Do not use Adderall if you have any of the following conditions:

• Heart disease
• Hardening of the arteries
• High blood pressure
• High pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
• Overactive thyroid gland

Never take Adderall within 14 days of taking an antidepressant classified as an MAO inhibitor, including phenelzine sulfate. A potentially life-threatening spike in blood pressure could result.

Your doctor will not prescribe Adderall if you have ever had a reaction to similar stimulant drugs. The doctor will also avoid prescribing Adderall if you appear agitated or are prone to substance abuse.

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Special warnings about Adderall

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If you have even a mild case of high blood pressure, take Adderall with caution. Be careful, too, about driving or operating machinery until you know how this drug affects you. It may impair judgment and coordination.

Adderall can make tics and twitches worse. If you or a family member has this problem (or the condition called Tourette's syndrome), make sure the doctor is aware of it. Amphetamines such as Adderall have also been known to aggravate symptoms in seriously disturbed (psychotic) individuals.

If the problem is attention-deficit disorder, the doctor will do a complete history and evaluation before prescribing Adderall, taking particular account of the severity of the symptoms and the age of your child. If the problem is a temporary reaction to a stressful situation, Adderall is probably not called for.

At present, there has been no experience with long-term Adderall therapy in children. However, other amphetamine-based medications have been known to stunt growth, so your doctor will need to watch the child carefully.

If your child has a heart condition, an amphetamine like Adderall should generally not be used. Sudden death has been reported with amphetamine treatment in children with heart problems.

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Possible food and drug interactions when taking Adderall

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If Adderall is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Adderall with the following:

• Acetazolamide
• Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine maleate
• Drugs classified as MAO inhibitors, including the antidepressants phenelzine sulfate and tranylcypromine sulfate
• Drugs that make the urine more acid, such as Uroquid-Acid No. 2
• Glutamic acid (an amino acid related to MSG)
• High blood pressure medications such as, guanethidine, hydrochlorothiazide, nifedipine, reserpine, terazosin hydrochloride, and verapamil hydrochloride
• Lithium
• Major tranquilizers such as chlorpromazine and haloperidol
• Meperidine
• Methenamine
• Norepinephrine
• Propoxyphene
• Seizure medications such as ethosuximide, phenobarbital, and phenytoin sodium
• "Tricyclic" antidepressants such as desipramine hydrochloride, imipramine hydrochloride, and protriptyline hydrochloride
• Vitamin C

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Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

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Heavy use of amphetamines during pregnancy can lead to premature birth or low birth weight. Avoid taking Adderall unless absolutely necessary. Amphetamines do find their way into breast milk, so you should not take Adderall while breastfeeding.

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Recommended dosage for Adderall

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Whether the problem is attention-deficit disorder or narcolepsy, the doctor will keep the dosage as low as possible.

ADDERALL

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Children 3 to 5 years of age: The usual starting dose is 2.5 milligrams daily. Each week, the doctor will raise the daily dosage by 2.5 milligrams until the condition is under control.

Children 6 years of age and older: The usual starting dose is 5 milligrams once or twice a day. Each week, the daily dosage may be increased by 5 milligrams. Only in rare cases will a child need more than 40 milligrams per day.

The doctor may interrupt therapy occasionally to see if the drug is still needed.

Narcolepsy

Adults : The usual total daily dose ranges from 5 to 60 milligrams, taken as 2 or more smaller doses.

Children under 12 years of age: The usual starting dose is 5 milligrams daily. Each week, the doctor will raise the daily dose by 5 milligrams until the condition is under control.

Children 12 years of age and older: The usual starting dose is 10 milligrams daily, with weekly increases of 10 milligrams daily until the drug takes effect.

ADDERALL XR

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Children 6 years of age and older: The usual starting dose for children taking Adderall for the first time is 10 milligrams once daily in the morning. At weekly intervals, the doctor may increase the daily dosage by 5 or 10 milligrams, up to a maximum of 30 milligrams a day.

Children already taking regular Adderall are prescribed a single dose of Adderall XR equal to their previous daily total.

Adderall XR has not been tested on children under 6.

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Overdosage

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A large overdose of Adderall can be fatal. Warning signs of a massive overdose include convulsions and coma.

• Symptoms of Adderall overdose may include:
  Abdominal cramps, assaultiveness, changes in blood pressure, confusion, diarrhea, hallucinations, heightened reflexes, high fever, irregular heartbeat, nausea, panic, rapid breathing, restlessness, tremor, vomiting

If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency treatment immediately.