Adderall XR

by: Danielle Panlaqui and Emily Tom

Normal Synaptic Transmission vs. Synaptic Transmission with Adderall

As a Result of the Adderall...

Adderall causes an increase of dopamine in the central nervous system. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which functions in the CNS to regulate an individuals mood. Dopamine affects sleep, mood, attention, and learning. Increased levels of dopamine causes psychoneurological changes to an individual.

How the Neurotransmitter Changes Affect Mood

Normally, neurons release dopamine which crosses the synapse to stimulate another nerve cell. The dopamine is then picked up by a transporter molecule and returned. Adderall triggers the release of dopamine and inhibits transporter molecules, preventing the return and reabsorption of dopamine. This causes an accumulation of dopamine, which then causes neuropsychological changes, such as increased alertness and insomnia.

crash symptoms: anger, anxiety, fatigue, depression, hopelessness, laziness, loneliness, slowed thinking, unfocused

Long Term Effects

Individuals who take adderall are likely to develop tolerance and dependency to the drug. Adderall abuse has also been linked with heart failure, anxiety, psychosis, and sexual dysfunction.

Side Effects

Nervousness Restlessness Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body Headache Difficulty sleeping Difficulty staying asleep Changes in sex drive Nausea

Physiology of Addiction
Adderall can cause addiction much in the same way cocaine does. Long term use of adderall lowers the baseline quantity of dopamine in the brain. When long term users do not take the medication, they feel intense dysphoria and depression.

Recent Study
Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants among College Students: Associations with ADHD and Polydrug Use (2008)
Amelia M. Arria, Ph.D., Kimberly M. Caldeira, M.S., Kevin E. OGrady, Ph.D., Kathryn B. Vincent, M.A., Erin P. Johnson, B.A., and Eric D. Wish, Ph.D. From the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD (Drs. Arria and Wish, Ms. Caldeira, Vincent, and Johnson) and Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD (Dr. OGrady)

This study examines nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NPS) among 1,253 first-year college students. Comparisons are made between non-users, nonmedical users, and medical users of prescription stimulants for ADHD (ADHD+), some of whom overused their medication.

Recent Study (cont.)

Results and Conclusions:
Of 1,208 students who were not using prescription stimulants medically for ADHD (ADHD-), 18.0% engaged in NPS. Among 45 ADHD+ students, 26.7% overused their ADHD medication at least once in their lifetime, and 15.6% nonmedically used someone elses prescription stimulants at least once in their lifetime. Among nonmedical users, NPS was infrequent and mainly associated with studying, although 15.6% used prescription stimulants to party or to get high. NPS was also associated with alcohol and marijuana dependence.

Physicians should be vigilant for possible overuse and/or diversion of prescription stimulants among ADHD+ patients attending college, as well as the co-occurrence of illicit drug use with NPS.

Bibliography
J, J. (2011). Writing in Biology (Brewer)BIOL312section1; Spring2011; Brewer Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst. What Effects Do Adderall and Suboxone. Retrieved from http://bcrc.bio.umass.edu/courses/spring2011/biol/biol312section1/content/what-effects-do-adderall-and-suboxone

Lee, J. (2010, September 16). Adderall Addiction. CHOOSE HELP. Retrieved from
http://www.choosehelp.com/addictions/adderall-addiction.html Lopez, L. (2012, September 6). This Is What Adderall Does To Your Body. Business Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2013, from http://www.businessinsider.com/effects-of-adderall-on-the-human-body-2012-9 Kapadia, N. (2012, February 8). USCience Review | Adderall Abuse and its Implications for the College Academic Community. USCience Review | Adderall Abuse and Its Implications for the College Academic Community. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from http://www-scf.usc.edu/~uscience/adderall_abuse.html