Adderall, the brand name for drugs that are derived from amphetamine salts, has recently shown reports of serious and life-threatening side effects. Sold under the name Adderall and Adderall XR, it has been linked to fatal heart related side effects.
The FDA granted a patent for the extended release of Adderall in 2001 to Shire, the pharmaceutical company out of Ireland. In the US, Adderall XR is most commonly used and pharmacies filled over 3.5 million prescriptions of Adderall in 2010 alone. Making Adderall the most frequent and commonly prescribed drug for ADHD in the country.
Side effects that have been reported by the FDA of Adderall include:
- Sudden death in both children and adults
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Other cardiovascular problems
Adderall is part of the norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) drug class, and is believed to contain monoamine reuptake inhibitors. These inhibitors are designed to prevent released neurotransmitters absorption. It is sold in either immediate release tablets, or extended release capsules (Adderall XR). The doses for both of these come in 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 25mg, and 30mg.
Dopamine and norepinephrine are both used in the brain to regulate levels of stress, and having a shortage of dopamine to the brain will cause cognition problems. When using Adderall, this increases both their presence, which eases the symptoms of ADHD. Adderall has also been shown to be highly addictive. Adderall has been proven to cause patients to have physical chemical dependency when using it, which makes stopping difficult after an extended use of time without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The most extreme form of labeling given is a black box label, which was issued by he FDA against Adderall stating the high potential for abuse, most commonly amongst students in college.
In 2010, the FDA alerted the public stating that business online were selling 30mg Adderall tablets. However, the tablets that were being sold on the Internet were fake due to their fake content. True Adderall is made of amphetamine salts, the online version had contained acetampinophen and tramadol, both painkillers.
If you or a loved one has been suffering from symptoms while using Adderall or Adderall XR, you may have a legal case. There have been several lawsuits brought against the manufactures claiming they have been injured by ADHD related medications which included Adderall, Adderall XR, Concerta, and Ritalin.
Get the legal help you need today. You may be eligible to gain compensation for any pain or suffering you may have been caused by using Adderall.
My son is 16 years old and was diagnosed with Left Ventricular Dilated Cardiomyopathy in August of 2012. After extensive testing, including genetic testing we were told by the doctors that he is a mystery. He is currently on medications twice a day that help to lower his blood pressure and assist with the constriction of the heart itself. He has pvc’s as well. We were told that he will be monitored for the next two years but that a heart transplant could not be ruled out should he take a turn for the worse. In August he was admitted into the hospital in Alexandria and then transported by helicopter to children’s hospital in New Orleans. He was in a drug induced coma for a week to take some of the strain off of his heart. Prior to August, my son was an active member of the varsity football team at his high school and earned extra money by mowing lawns. Currently, he can’t lift any more than 20 pounds and can’t do anymore than briskly walk. I am afraid for his future in that he had always aspired to be in the military but with a heart condition I am sure that they will not accept him. We are now looking and college and the expense of all of that. We are thankful to still have our son with us, but are fearful everyday that the damage caused from 9 years of taking Adderall XR for his ADHD cannot be reversed. We were never informed of the long term side effects of this medication. My 20 year old daughter has also been on Adderall for years (I have since stopped her from taking it.).
[…] can create effects of anxiety, sleeplessness, mania, paranoia and even full-blown psychosis. Adderall has even been linked to heart failure and sudden death. Frequent use can also lead to unhealthy weight loss as many people take Adderall as a weight […]
I wish I never took this drug I wish they would take it off the market. I also wish the FDA would take all energy drinks off the market. Because of both of them I now suffer from anxiety and chest pains and quite possibly irreversible heart damage.
54 years of age two stents, two previous heart attack,,history of heart disease in my family, Psychiatrist diagnosis high functioning bi-polar, prescribed adderall ? Four months after awsome physical, massive heart attack, one third of my heart dead, coded three times, 45 minutes cpr, psychiatrist also prescribed imitrex for headaches caused by the adderall all with no cardiologist approval.Also, intense memory loss . Sacramento area where do we turn?