What to do if you mix alcohol and Adderall?

Adderall

Adderall is a stimulant drug. It is commonly used to manage the symptoms of ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults. As more people are diagnosed with ADHD, more people are being prescribed Adderall. Adderall is a schedule 2 drug. That means it is a controlled substance with a high potential for addiction and abuse. Adderall comes with risks. Learn about Adderall abuse and the hazards of mixing Adderall with alcohol further in this blog.

Can I take Adderall with alcohol?

Adderall is a mixture of stimulant drugs, dextroamphetamine, and amphetamine, and alcohol is a depressant. This doesn’t mean that both the substances cancel each other out. Instead, Adderall and alcohol compete with each other in your body. This effect can lead to severe problems listed below.

Alcohol poisoning:

Adderall can dull the symptoms of being drunk. So people who use alcohol and Adderall together are usually not aware of how much alcohol they have consumed. This can cause over-drinking and related consequences such as risky behavior and alcohol poisoning.

Heart problems:

Adderall and other stimulant medications carry some risk of heart problems. The risk is higher if you take Adderall with alcohol. When used together, alcohol and Adderall may raise your heart rate, increase body temperature, cause an irregular heart rate, and increase blood pressure.

Behavioral issues:

Drinking a lot can reduce your inhibitions. It will also lead to aggressive behavior. Adding Adderall to the mix will increase both these effects. Therefore, you should not drink alcohol during treatment with Adderall. Mixing the two leads to dangerous impacts on your body, but it can also make your ADHD worse.

Can Adderall cause neurotoxicity?

Abuse of Adderall can be highly hazardous because the drug can have neurotoxic effects. Adderall neurotoxicity causes damage to the nervous system, and in the case of Adderall, it indicates neuron and nerve damage caused by high levels of dopamine. Adderall increases the serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Dopamine is directly linked to feelings of happiness.

Adderall can be considered neurotoxic in high amounts, as Adderall’s disruption damages the dopaminergic system.

Drug interaction Adderall with Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Lexapro?

Prozac and Adderall:

Unless closely monitored by your doctor, you should not take Prozac and Adderall together. Adderall and Prozac can result in serotonin syndrome, a potentially severe condition when you take them in combination. It has significant health risks. Some common symptoms are dizziness, hallucinations, muscle twitching, agitation, increased heart rate, and nausea.

Adderall and Wellbutrin:

Taking Wellbutrin can increase the blood levels of amphetamine such as Adderall. This means that even taking your regular dose of Adderall can result in unexpected side effects or enhanced agitation when combined with Wellbutrin.

Adderall and Lexapro:

Adderall is a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Lexapro is escitalopram. Talk to the doctor before taking escitalopram together with amphetamine. Escitalopram will increase the effects of amphetamine, and side effects such as nervousness, jitteriness, anxiety, racing thoughts, and restlessness have been reported. Combining these drugs will also increase the risk of a rare but severe condition known as serotonin syndrome, including symptoms like seizure, hallucination, confusion, fever, muscle spasm, incoordination, nausea, diarrhea, excessive sweating, blurred vision, and shivering.

Adderall and alcohol withdrawal:

Alcohol and Adderall do not mix, yet many people purposefully or thoughtlessly take both together, putting themselves at risk for severe health consequences. These consequences may include withdrawal from alcohol and Adderall if you quit taking them suddenly. Mixing Adderall and alcohol may lead to escalating consumption of both, and if withdrawal develops, treatment can offer the only path back to good health.

Untreated withdrawal symptoms of alcohol or Adderall withdrawal can put a person’s life at risk in multiple ways, and any delay in seeking withdrawal treatment could lead to a disastrous outcome. Pharmaceutical drugs are generally safe as long as they are using strictly according to their prescriptions.

Adderall and alcohol craving:

Adderall and alcohol have a high potential for abuse. If you mix alcohol and Adderall, suddenly quitting them can lead to psychological and physical cravings that sometimes feel unbearable. Symptoms may include extreme fatigue, heart rate disturbances, increased appetite, sleep difficulties, anxiety, hallucinations, irritability, suicidal thoughts, abnormal drug dreams, and short-temper. However, various techniques help cope with these cravings. Cravings are a normal part of your recovery process, and you do not need to feel guilty or ashamed about them. Awareness about your cravings is the first step towards learning new coping methods.

Adderall and alcohol fun:

Many people mix alcohol and Adderall for fun or recreational purposes of feeling euphoric and high. The effects of mixing alcohol and Adderall only last a few hours, but prolonged use can lead to long-term organ damage, such as severe liver problems and memory issues. Alcohol can also make your ADHD worse.