Can Adderall Cause Anger? Here’s What Adderall Does
Posted by Prescription Hope - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Mon Jul 10 2023)
Adderall brings many benefits to children and adults who suffer from ADHD, but can Adderall cause anger or symptoms related to anger?
In this article, we’ll examine the role of Adderall, as well as the potential side effects, with a focus on anger caused by the use of Adderall. But let’s start with a quick summary, then get into more of the details.
Can Adderall Cause Anger? Adderall abuse can cause angry or violent outbursts. Side effects of Adderall can include anger and irritability. Adderall is a stimulant containing equal parts of racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. As with any drug, the size, weight, and length of time taking the drug impact the effects felt.
With this brief answer in mind, so you can understand more on why Adderall can cause angry feelings, let’s examine a little more closely what Adderall actually is.
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a drug most commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is the trade name for a combination drug containing four salts of amphetamine.
The mixture is composed of equal parts racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
Adderall belongs to a group of medicines called stimulants, which work by increasing activity in the brain, particularly in areas that play a part in controlling attention and behavior.
Adderall helps to improve concentration and focus. As a central nervous system stimulant, it can also have the same effects on people without ADHD.
Let’s first look at what ADHD is and whether that contributes to angry feelings.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most common childhood neurological disorders.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, attention-deficit or sometimes known as hyperactivity disorder (ADHD for short), is a behavioral disorder that affects up to 1 in 20 children in the USA.
Children with ADHD tend to be emotional, sensitive, and feel things very deeply. They can also have difficulty regulating those feelings. This can cause them to cry easily or feel intensely angry.
Does Adderall make you angry?
As Adderall is a trading name for amphetamine, we will go on to examine more thoroughly how amphetamines work and whether they’re likely to cause anger in those who are prescribed it.
What is amphetamine?
It is a prescription drug in many countries, and unauthorized possession and distribution of amphetamine are often tightly controlled due to the significant health risks associated with recreational use.
When we are looking at whether or not amphetamines, or Adderall, has the capacity to cause anger in their users, it’s worth noting that the effects of any drug can vary widely from person to person.
How amphetamines affect a person depends on many factors, including their size, weight, and health. Its effects can also depend upon how long a person has been taking the drug and whether they have built up a tolerance to it.
The effects of amphetamines or Adderall, as with any drug, also depend on the amount taken.
What is Adderall used to treat?
For those wondering whether Adderall is likely to cause feelings of anger, it will help us to look into the kinds of illnesses and disorders it is used to treat.
Adderall is used mainly for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
It can also be used as:
- An athletic performance enhancer
- Appetite-suppressant
- Cognitive enhancer
In some cases, Adderall may be used to treat certain sleeping disorders, such as narcolepsy, to help you stay awake during the day. However, it should not be used to treat tiredness or reduce the requirement for sleep by people who do not have a sleep disorder.
What kind of drug is it?
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants.
Adderall can help to:
- Increase your ability to pay attention
- Stay focused on an activity
- Control behavior problems
It may also help you organize your tasks and improve your listening skills.
Stimulants increase concentration and energy levels while decreasing the need for sleep and suppressing the appetite. Adderall increases the activity of several neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and especially dopamine.
How does Adderall work?
Adderall works to immediately speed up activity throughout your nervous system by increasing concentration and alertness.
However, those who are not suffering from ADHD could have grandiose feelings, such as viewing themselves as more competent or intelligent than they really are, and can cause impulsive or violent behavior.
As part of your research, be sure to check our article on Adderall vs Vyvanse.
Why would a stimulant make you angry?
Effects can be positive when Adderall is taken as intended, but for people without ADHD or who use the drug without medical supervision, the effects can cause the following anger symptoms
- Violent fits
- Extreme irritability
- Aggression
- Abusive behavior
Adderall offers a tempting source of energy and euphoria that can temporarily alleviate the pain of mental illness. Over time, however, it can make mental health issues worse.
According to mental health experts, in some cases, Adderall can even cause mental illness by altering brain chemistry and causing you to behave in ways that could make your life more difficult.
For example, an abusive outburst might cause difficulties in your relationships and may lead to further depression.
Adderall dose too high can cause irritability
When the dosage is too high, stimulants can cause children or even adults to act dazed, eerily out of touch with reality, or uncharacteristically irritable.
This condition is known as emotional liability.
As a general rule, lowering the dosage of Adderall is a simple way to reduce these feelings of anger and emotion.
If you’re having difficulties with your current dose, we recommend speaking to your doctor about this. However, if you’re currently being prescribed Adderall and struggling to afford the medication bills, then we may be able to help.
Simply enroll now with us here at Prescription Hope, and we can potentially obtain your meds for just $60.00 per month per medication through Prescription Hope’s medication access service.
On the subject of new prescriptions, here are the important questions to ask when getting a new prescription.
Are there any other side effects of taking Adderall?
In children diagnosed with ADHD, Adderall can not only cause anger and irritability, but it does also have other side effects, which include:
- Sleep problems.
- Decreased appetite.
- Delayed growth.
- Headaches and stomach issues
How is Adderall prescribed?
If Adderall is prescribed for ADHD, Make sure your child receives a thorough evaluation by a qualified provider. An evaluation should include:
- A full physical exam by a pediatric primary care provider
- Evaluation by a child provider that has experience and training in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD (this could include a pediatric or family primary care provider, child psychologist, child psychiatrist, or child psychiatric nurse practitioner)
- An interview with the parents and child
- Careful evaluation of other problems that may be contributing factors.
Also check our article on factors concerning expiration times of Adderall.
Closing
We hope this has provided some vital information for your questions regarding Adderall. Before taking any action, we always recommend consulting with your doctor or a specialist in order to ascertain if and how Adderall would work for you and your circumstances.
For more questions regarding your specific condition, always consult your healthcare provider.
If you’re having trouble affording any of the medications you’ve been prescribed, visit our home page to learn more about Prescription Hope’s medication access service, compare the costs of your current prescriptions, and see how we can help obtain your medications at a cheaper price. Fill out an application today and start receiving Brand-Name prescription medications at your doorstep. Call us at 1-877-296-HOPE (4673) to speak to one of our representatives, we’re always happy to see how we can help.