Luxe Recovery is a world-class treatment center in the heart of Los Angeles that treats a wide variety of substance addictions as well as co-occurring mental health disorders in a luxurious facility that is full of all the amenities an individual would need to remain comfortable.
What Is Adderall?
Adderall is a prescription medication that is a combination of the stimulants amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. The medication works by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. This helps to improve focus, sharpen attention, and control impulses.
Adderall is available in two forms. It can be taken in an immediate-release formulation, where the effects will last between 4 to 6 hours. Taking the extended-release formulation results in effects lasting up to 12 hours.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration classifies Adderall as a Schedule II controlled substance. What this means is that it has recognized medical usage while also having a high potential for abuse and addiction.
What People Take Adderall For
Healthcare professionals prescribe Adderall to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). ADHD is a disorder that is primarily characterized by having difficulty paying attention, being hyperactive, and being impulsive. It commonly starts in childhood and can persist into adulthood.
The medication is also prescribed as a treatment for narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder that is characterized by excessive sleepiness during the daytime, disruptions to sleep patterns, and uncontrollably falling asleep during the day even if they got enough sleep the night before.
By stimulating the central nervous system, Adderall can help individuals with narcolepsy stay awake and focused throughout the day.
What Are the Side Effects of Adderall Use?
While Adderall does have legitimate medical uses as an ADHD medication, it can come with a number of side effects. These side effects can include:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Xerostomia (Dry mouth)
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Tremors
Because the medication is a stimulant, Adderall addiction can also lead to cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and irregular heart rhythms.
Chronic abuse of the medication can also lead to cognitive impairments such as memory problems, difficulty learning, and impaired decision-making.
Adderall does not only have physical and cognitive side effects. Taking the medication can also result in emotional side effects such as irritability, mood swings, paranoia, and even thoughts of suicide.
Given the side effects listed above, it’s important that Adderall, like any prescription medication, only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
An Overview of Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a general feeling of being empty inside.
Many individuals who have depression can lose interest in things they once enjoyed. People who have depression are not just sad; they have a mental health condition that requires medical intervention.
There are also several subtypes of depression, with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) being the most common form.
As it stands, it is not fully understood what causes depression, with some forms such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) being caused by changes in the weather and others such as Postpartum Depression (PPD) believed to be caused by hormonal changes after giving birth.
Symptoms of Depression
Mental health disorders such as depression are sometimes referred to as invisible illnesses because there are often no outward signs that a person is struggling.
Sometimes, they can be so invisible that an individual who has depression may not even realize it themselves.
It’s been said that depression’s most common symptoms are persistent feelings of sadness and emptiness, but there are a number of other symptoms that can indicate depression.
Many people with depression often feel worthless, and they will be incredibly critical of themselves.
Depressed individuals may also experience changes in their appetite and lose weight as a result. Conversely, some will attempt to self-medicate with food and gain weight. Some will also be unable to fall asleep, and others will sleep far too much.
How To Treat Depression
Depression is generally treated with a combination of therapy and prescription medication, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-norepinephrine
Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), and Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs). Many people who are diagnosed with depression are also encouraged to make lifestyle changes such as managing stress, engaging in regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, regularly getting enough sleep, and avoiding alcohol and drug abuse.
Can Adderall Cause Depression?
Adderall is believed to cause depression. The FDA lists depression as an adverse side effect of Adderall use. It generally occurs in individuals who misuse Adderall or take it without a prescription.
There is, however, some ambiguity as to whether or not Adderall does indeed cause depression. Some research suggests that individuals who already have depression are more likely to misuse drugs such as Adderall.
The FDA also warns individuals who have preexisting mental health conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, the symptoms of which can include depressive episodes, to be thoroughly screened before taking the medication.
Adderall abuse can also exacerbate underlying conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Adderall as A Treatment For Depression
Off-label treatment is when doctors use a drug to treat a condition for which its use has not been approved, and they are never considered first-line treatments.
That said, while depression is a rare side effect of Adderall use, the drug can also be used as an off-label treatment for depression.
This is usually done when other treatments have proven ineffective at mitigating symptoms. Using Adderall as an off-label treatment is commonly done when an individual has been diagnosed with ADHD, when the patient’s depression also presents with the symptoms of ADHD, or when the patient presents with extreme fatigue or a lack of motivation.
A stimulant like Adderall can increase energy levels and improve focus, which may indirectly alleviate some depressive symptoms.
Is There a Link Between Adderall and Depression?
It is believed that an individual may develop depression if they were to suddenly stop taking the medication after using it for an extended period of time and in high doses.
This is likely because these individuals have become addicted to alcohol, and going cold turkey has caused them to experience depressive symptoms as part of their withdrawal.
With withdrawal, the rule of thumb is that whatever effect the substance has when ingested, the opposite will happen when it is detoxed. As Adderall is a stimulant, its withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia and fatigue, which can exacerbate depressive symptoms.
Is There a Link Between ADHD and Depression?
It’s estimated that around 30% of children who are diagnosed with ADHD, who are likely to be prescribed Adderall, also have a comorbid mood disorder such as depression, and some experts believe that half of the people with ADHD will be treated for depression at some point in their lives.
There’s also some overlap in the symptoms between ADHD and depression, with both presenting with fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
Some research also suggests that individuals diagnosed with ADHD are up to 4 times more likely to develop depression than the general population.
ADHD can also cause people to struggle with their school, work, their relationships, and other facets of daily life. This can cause frustration and lead to ‘secondary’ depression. It can also cause low self-esteem and give individuals a negative self-image.
Ultimately, it would appear that while Adderall can be the direct cause of depression as a side effect of its use in rare cases, there’s a much stronger connection between depression and the withdrawal of Adderall, especially after prolonged addiction.
However, the connections between the medication and ADHD, the condition for which Adderall is used to treat, seem to be strongest.
Face Prescription Drug Addiction and Depression With Us
Prescription drug addiction can feel almost like a betrayal. The medication that is supposed to help someone can become another burden they must bear.
If you’re struggling with a prescription drug addiction, you don’t have to bear that weight of it alone. Contact us now, and we’ll not only help you get the weight off your back; we’ll also treat co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression.
