Many of my friends take Adderall while they drink. What are the possible health risks of doing this? I know Adderall is a stimulant, so can you drink much more alcohol while on it without feeling the effects as much?

Dear Reader,

Adderall is a prescription drug in the amphetamine class used for treating Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It works mainly on the neurotransmitter, dopamine. Adderall is a stimulant; however, when it is prescribed in normal doses for people with ADD and ADHD, it works by helping them maintain their attention for a longer duration, allowing them to study or work more effectively, without experiencing the medication's "speed-like" effects.

When combining alcohol with Adderall, people find that the depressive effects of alcohol are lessened. For this reason, some people take Adderall before or while they are drinking, so that they can party for longer, allowing them to drink more and not get the "sleepy, drunk-like" feeling earlier on. So, basically, Adderall allows people who are drinking to party much longer into the night and decrease the likelihood of sleeping or passing out.

It is important to note that using stimulants like Adderall to prolong drinking can result in a person consuming unhealthy, and potentially dangerous, amounts of alcohol. If Adderall is in your system and blocking the depressant effects of alcohol it is much easier to miss your body's warning signs that you've had enough to drink; possibly to the point of developing alcohol poisoning. To offer a simple answer to your complex question — it's not advised to mix alcohol and Adderall without a proper prescription and a conversation with your health care provider.

Now, what can happen to a person who uses Adderall without a prescription? Side effects from taking this drug when it is not prescribed for someone may include:

Short and Long Term Psychological Effects

• paranoia
• psychotic episodes
• anxiety
• severe depression (upon withdrawal)

Adverse Physical Effects from Short Term Use

• nausea/vomiting
• insomnia
• weight loss
• palpitations
• headaches

Chronic Physical Effects from Long Term Use

• convulsions
• irregular heartbeat
• fevers
• malnutrition/weight loss
• tremors and muscle twitching

Based on what you have written, it's not clear if you have a prescription for Adderall, and if so, for what diagnosis. For your own personal health and safety, it makes sense to not combine Adderall with alcohol. Although there have been no studies combining alcohol and Adderall, alcohol seems to exacerbate many of the above side effects.

In addition, it is unhealthy and unsafe for anyone to take any prescription drug outside of the purpose for which it was prescribed for him/her by his/her medical provider, as someone may have serious adverse reactions to the misuse of these drugs.

• Long-term use of Adderall has been shown to alter brain function permanently, as irregular blood flow in the brain can cause chronic convulsions and tremors.
• A person may not know the dosage of Adderall that s/he is taking when using another's prescription. If the prescription is written for someone who weighs more than that person, one can easily take too high of a dose, placing oneself at risk for acute adverse effects.

It seems as though you and your friends want to find ways to prolong your nights out, but combining Adderall and alcohol is the not the way to go about it. Drinking your beverages a bit more slowly, alternating with water in between, and eating before and while you are drinking will help you keep going all night long.

Alice

Related Q&As

Is it okay to drink alcohol while on Zoloft?

Burning the candle at both ends — Using stimulant drugs to study

Will past experimentation with drugs lead to permanent brain damage?

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks — safe or risky?

Adderall, alcohol, and alternative treatments for ADHD

Hangover helper — and tips for healthy drinking

Snorting Adderall and Ritalin