They don't put labels on the bottle for you ADHD scripts unless it's Vyvanse(because that goes through the gastrointestinal tract first and then becomes the active drug in your liver. For obvious reasons, this isn't a good thing. However; the problems that occur when mixing amphetamines or similar drugs and alcohol are usually the fact that the stimulant properties of ADD meds will mask the effects of alcohol. Therefore, younger people typically drink far more than usual, and this is wherein the dangers lie. People may feel like they're more sober than they actually are which leads to driving when they're far past the state of a drunken oblivion. It's obviously not safe to mix the drugs, but ADD meds usually help people fight their impulsive addictions like alcohol abuse.
To SueAnne, sorry that your son is having so many problems. If he is indeed snorting the meds, right there that should cause you to get him help. They're not made for this(and the fillers are especially nasty on the sinuses.) His drinking may be caused by his meds. Some ADD meds don't work for certain people. If adderall isn't beneficial to him, try another one. He needs to quit drinking, if he refuses, you really should get him into some sort of treatment plan. The fact that you are his only support right now shows that you care, and alcoholism is a really difficult addiction/disease or whatever you want to call it. You can't abandon him so he can fend for himself until he gets help(quits drinking, stops abusing his meds or gets on ones that work for him, and has a better outlook on life and a higher self esteem.) The in-patient care programs they offer in rehab really can help. Make sure it has people around his age, and he might really get involved, make friends, and be active in all the meetings they offer. It helped for me anyway, but I never had low self-esteem, and wanted to get help with my drinking. Depression is a Good luck, and remember he needs you, no matter how much it seems that your efforts aren't doing anything.
Bottom line is alcohol and adderall aren't necessarily horrible for you if you are healthy, fit, and aren't misusing adderall. They can easily lead to different addictions and social problems, but not being on Adderall makes other addictions much worse. Mixint them both can gave a synergistic effect to really lower inhibitions, and cause people to do many stupid things.
SueAnn,
My wife and I have been through similar struggles...an adult child with various drug abuse problems who moved back home to "get back on their feet".
A book we found to be very helpful is "Setting Boundries With Your Adult Children", by Allison Bottke. It focuses on how we as parents can keep our sanity in the midst of the chaos surrounding us.
LeslieVernon introduced a key concept in her post that I consider the real issue with ADHD prescriptions today. As a PharmD student we looked at the interactions between amphetamine (adderall) and alcohol, as well as methylphenidate (ritalin) and alcohol. To date, there is NO CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH on the interactions between ADHD medications and alcohol. Adderall and ritalin are amazing drugs when used correctly, but they are constantly condemned by a mass media that focuses on instances of abuse and misuse. The problem is not the medications, it is the discretion of those who use them.
To SueAnn, I sympathize for your situation. Based on the symptoms and behavior you see in your son, it is clear that he has developed an addiction and dependance on alcohol and amphetamines. Adderall is not very addictive when orally administered, however when taken intranasally the effect is much more brief and intense. The rapid onset and subsequent crash is almost identical to the effects of cocaine. In fact, their mechanisms of drug action are very similar (especially cocain and ritalin)...the primary difference is the route of administration. The rapid onset creates an intense stimulation of the dopamine "reward pathway" that characterizes addiction and dependence.
I'm adding this to elucidate the addictive nature of snorting these drugs. Using them with alcohol is not physiologically dangerous, but it is a probable indicator of drug addiction/dependence. Your son seems to be addicted to the altered consciousness offered by these drugs. Everybody responds differently to different forms of treatment, so I wouldn't know what to recommend. To start, I would speak to his doctor and pharmacist. He shouldn't be prescribed these drugs if they aren't helping him in life; the behavioral medicine doctor that diagnosed his ADHD should be aware of his behavioral tendencies and stop prescribing drugs to an addict! Counseling and substance abuse programs are also good options.
Best wishes on yours and his road to recovery!
So this article is essentially saying that it is dangerous to ingest alcohol while on adderall or other similar stimulants because of stupidity. For those persons that are responsible enough to know their own bodies, and know their alcohol limits, I think that mixing these two is not irresponsible.
While we're on the subject, why does everyone hate on Adderall all the time? It's a cocktail of multiple amphetamine salts and it was designed to be more stable, and provide a more constant doseage of medication... Just because some medication is abused more by students, doesn't mean that it is more dangerous than it's close substitues such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) or... anyone remember straight Dextro? The side effects weren't even worth it.
If Adderall's parent company didn't push to shove it down the throats of every single kid who doodles in class or has personaility traits, and market it to every single college student who wants to stay awake for 18 hours at a time, then we wouldn't hear about it in the first place.
If Adderall keeps getting this coverage then it will be gone, and those who need it, like myself, will suffer. This article plays into same fallacy of "guns don't kill people, people kill people" which is also like saying that forks are responsible for making people fat.
Maybe, just maybe... As a medical website you should cover issues like this instead of blindly talking about substances the way you do. I am a college student who needs Adderall in a very real sense, and I also drink. I do both responsibily. Where do I sign to get my cookie/medal?
Saw your comment and had to respond. Where to begin?
The reason why I wrote this particular article was because of the heated discussion which had kept going on now for three years in response to a mother's inquiry about how alcohol might interact with her son's adderall. You can read in incredible detail other's opinions and experiences about this topic.
Let's tackle your response here:
You said: So this article is essentially saying that it is dangerous to ingest alcohol while on adderall or other similar stimulants because of stupidity. For those persons that are responsible enough to know their own bodies, and know their alcohol limits, I think that mixing these two is not irresponsible.
You are incorrect in your interpretation. It may be dangerous to drink alcohol while taking Adderall because the individual may experience adverse side effects when combining these two substances. You chose the word "stupidity." I did not.
So let's get this straight. You believe that drinking alcohol and taking Adderall is responsible if the person knows their body and alcohol limits. Yet taking Adderall may change this equation. How would you define "drinking responsibly" while taking Adderall or any other stimulant? Care to quantify your answer?
You said: While we're on the subject, why does everyone hate on Adderall all the time? It's a cocktail of multiple amphetamine salts and it was designed to be more stable, and provide a more constant doseage of medication... Just because some medication is abused more by students, doesn't mean that it is more dangerous than it's close substitues such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) or... anyone remember straight Dextro? The side effects weren't even worth it.
I am not sure how this is relevant to this discussion. Who is "hating" on Adderall specifically? It is true that this particular medication has been in the media and news for some years now because there is a growing population who are using it illegally. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports an association between alcohol use and using Adderall without a prescription: "Among full-time college students aged 18 to 22, those who used Adderall® nonmedically in the past year were more than 1.5 times as likely as their counterparts to have used alcohol in the past month (95.4 vs. 63.0 percent), more than twice as likely to have been binge alcohol users (89.5 vs. 41.4 percent), and more than 3 times as likely to have been heavy alcohol users (55.2 vs. 15.6 percent)." Instead of "hating on Adderall" maybe it is more that parents are concerned about their teen or college aged child is mixing Adderall with another substance such as alcohol.
You said: If Adderall's parent company didn't push to shove it down the throats of every single kid who doodles in class or has personaility traits, and market it to every single college student who wants to stay awake for 18 hours at a time, then we wouldn't hear about it in the first place.
So you believe that Adderall is over-prescribed. This is a viewpoint shared by others. Yet what does this have to do with a discussion about mixing alcohol and Adderall?
You said: If Adderall keeps getting this coverage then it will be gone, and those who need it, like myself, will suffer. This article plays into same fallacy of "guns don't kill people, people kill people" which is also like saying that forks are responsible for making people fat.
I am not following your logic. My article is not responsible for the many people who abuse Adderall without a prescription. In addition, we aren't saying anything to discourage people from taking Adderall with a prescription. There are many children, teens, and adults who find this medication effective. What my article is saying is...you may be taking a risk if you combine alcohol and Adderall based upon what we know. There are some people who may not realize that there can potentially be adverse effects in combining these two substances.
Will these adverse effects happen to everyone 100% of the time if they combine alcohol and Adderal? No. Nobody can say that and nobody has. Yet there is a risk. We would be irresponsible if we didn't point out that risk.
If you can find a doctor, scientist, medical professional or otherwise who says there is no risk to combine these substances, we welcome their statement. Otherwise saying, "Ztwizzy says it is okay to drink and take Adderall if you do it responsibly" doesn't really cut it.
When we talk about these topics we have to rely upon two things...one is the existing research and medical opinion and the personal experience. Perhaps there are people out there who will be just fine combining Adderall and alcohol. But the problem is...how do we know which ones will be okay and which ones will end up like this fellow who had severe heart problems after ingesting alcohol while taking Adderall? This was a young man who was twenty years old with no history of cardiovascular disease. If you go to forums talking about this topic, you will see a plethora of stories where individuals who have taken both substances together experienced a range of adverse effects and they quite often warn others not to mix them.
Everyone metabolizes alcohol differently. Telling people to just drink responsibly and take Adderall has no practical or useful meaning.
This is a choice. People will make their own choices regarding what they take or do not take. You have made yours. But it is important to know the risks. And that is what we are doing here...telling people that there may be a risk of combining these two substances.
You said: Maybe, just maybe... As a medical website you should cover issues like this instead of blindly talking about substances the way you do. I am a college student who needs Adderall in a very real sense, and I also drink. I do both responsibily. Where do I sign to get my cookie/medal?
Cover which issues exactly? Responsible usage of Adderall and alcohol? If you have ADHD and you have been prescribed Adderall....by all means share your story here. Write a sharepost about your experience. But preface it with..."this is my personal experience." Talk about what it means for you to drink responsibly and how old you are.
I think your anger is misplaced...in that you feel that perhaps the media is portraying college aged people as irresponsible. I can see how you might get mad...and also seeing the drug which is helping you...get some negative coverage. But this doesn't mean you are bad or that anyone is calling you a drug addict or an alcoholic. You have to separate your personal experience with the intent of articles such as this one. The intent is to help and inform and is not some personal injustice towards you.
Let's hear your story...write a sharepost....tell us what it is like to take Adderall...tell us how it helps you. This is going to help others more than...an attack. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Thank you for your comment.
I am a mature adult in my 50's taking 10mg of Adderall daily. My doctor has never cautioned against drinking alcohol. I do know my own limits and rarely have more than a single drink. My judgment is not impaired by the Adderall. In fact I think more clearly with it. That is the point of taking it.
This article reminds me of the old tales in the 60's and 70's about smoking marijuana. Unfortunately, because they were so exaggerated and easily disproven by nearly anyone partaking, the more important and accurate cautionary messages about more dangerous drugs like LSD and other psychedelics were disbelieved to serious ill-effects.
Please, speak more accurately. It is not necessary to never imbibe alcohol while taking Adderall. It is quite important to refrain from over-indulging. Maybe Adderall can mask the effects of alcohol leading someone experimenting to base choices on poor information. That simply means that other info needs to be the basis for decision making. Ex: no more than one drink in an hour, or two in an evening, etc. adjustable based on body weight and food.
Gross over-generalizations, or misrepresentation of facts do more harm than good. Education is key. I am willing to bet the college age kids mentioned know how to count.
It may not teach a few of them to read, however. If you had done so, you would find that the article has already said much of what you are claiming to be new advice.
In the end, it is left for each person to lead their life. This article only presents what information exists about mixing the two substances.
What doctors, scientists and researchers are in league to keep the two apart? What financial benefit is in it for them to advise not to mix the two? Not report problems with these or any other substances?
Who does it benefit to report problems or harmful side effects? Why would they form a conspiracy to advise from taking both? I take a medication which advises against drinking grapefruit juice. Should I ignore it because I think I will not be affected? Because some group hates grapefruit juice and wants it's sale and distribution eliminated? It's up to me yo yake the risk or not.
This article does not say what you say it does. The language is quite clear, all the information has a basis. The purpose of the article is to show that there may be substantial risk to one's health in abusing either, and/or both substances.
Nowhere does this post insist you are not free to control your own destiny. It seems a few people drive by these type of sites, drop a load of innuendo and misinformation, insult the author, and we never hear from you again. Do you have ADHD and have you been legally prescribed Adderall?
Because Adderall does help some people, and it is being abused by some who may well create a serious problem for those who are helped by the drug; and have been prescribed the medicine by a doctor who knows the patient, who has weighed the risk of introducing a potentially harmful substance into the patient, because the benefit outweighs that risk. It does not eliminate the risk, and it may well be harmful to that patient and society, if that patient takes another substance known to interact negatively with the prescribed medication.
You do what you want, but you cannot promise everyone that if they follow your advice, to abuse drugs "responsibly," they will be fine.
So either people coming here, believe you, and the conspiracy to prohibit mixing the substances for some hidden reason, or they take accurate information presented by the author and weigh the risk in their own minds and go from there.
You sited this in your reply to the poster;
“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports an association between alcohol use and using Adderall without a prescription: "Among full-time college students aged 18 to 22, those who used Adderall® non-medically in the past year were more than 1.5 times as likely as their counterparts to have used alcohol in the past month (95.4 vs. 63.0 percent), more than twice as likely to have been binge alcohol users (89.5 vs. 41.4 percent), and more than 3 times as likely to have been heavy alcohol users (55.2 vs. 15.6 percent)."
I believe one could argue that someone using any drugs "non-medically" is much more likely to be using and abusing other substances, including alcohol. Adderall may contribute to the “no off switch” in those without legitimate need for the drug but for those that need it there are a whole lot of factors surrounding that particular problem, including the ADHD itself!
And for those not actually abusing the drug there is also the statistic that those with ADHD are 1.5 times more likely to develop substance abuse problems in the first place. So I counter that report with a report from a team of Harvard researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital stating; “Our study, which is one of the largest set of longitudinal studies of this issue to date, supports the association between ADHD and substance abuse found in several earlier studies and shows that the increased risk cannot be accounted for by coexisting factors such as other psychiatric disorders or family history of substance abuse,” says Timothy Wilens of the MGH Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, who led the study. Among the ADHD participants in the studies, 32 percent developed some type of substance abuse, including cigarette smoking.”
The study also said, “Questions have been raised about whether specific aspects of ADHD such as impulsive behavior, cognitive problems, school problems, accompanying conditions such as bipolar disorder or conduct disorder, or family factors were actually responsible for the risk.” and after combining information from a study of boys and of girls with a decade of follow-up information they came to this conclusion; “Among the ADHD participants, 32 percent developed some type of substance abuse, including cigarette smoking, during the follow-up period, while only 25 percent of control participants had substance abuse problems. Factors such as gender, cognitive difficulties, mood disorders, school problems, or family history of substance abuse did not impact the risk. The only additional diagnosis that had an effect was conduct disorder, which tripled the risk when combined with ADHD.”
So this article is essentially saying that it is dangerous to ingest alcohol while on adderall or other similar stimulants because of stupidity.
That's what I read too. If I were prone to binge drinking, I'd be able to get closer to alcohol poisoning if I were taking a stimulant. But someone with adult ADD treated with Adderall or Ritalin has no more to worry about if the drinking is limited to a beer or two than an adult not taking stimulants. It's not like Lipitor and grapefruit juice, or any of those other combinations where something magnifies something else, or blocks absorption, or cross-reacts. It sounds more like drinking strong coffee with your booze (or drinking them together before that got banned.)
If it's recommended you not use alcohol while taking adderall then you shouldn't be doing it. If someone does have a legitimate need for adderall then that should be the focus and alcohol should be avoided. Now, if college students and others think adderall is fine becasue it helps them focus and they get it illegally that is a problem. Unless you really are ADD then you should nto be using amphetamines of any kind because they can be dangerous and they are hard on your heart and otehr organs.
yea it can be dangerous. but in my case i think differently. i used to be a horrible alcoholic and since i got prescribed adderall i don't drink nearly as much. and i'm so thankful that i am not the way i used to be. i'm not saying it's healthy just that adderall has helped me overcome my old ways. it might sound weird but im being honest.
OK well you stopped drinking and are now taking speed...hmmm...not a good switch in my opinion, your heart is now at risk...also you cannot take adderall long term so you will eventually be onto something else if you end up seeing the error in your ways, you need to address the root of the problem...real talk here there are no studies yet how adderall affects someone long term so please do not think that you "have figured it all out" now that you are taking amphetamines instead of drinking, odds are you were safer as an alcoholic
James, James, where do I begin? She, like myself and many others, are now "taking speed" because it has been prescribed for us by a licensed psychiatrist. Not quite the same thing as illicit usage of amphetamines purchased on the black market. Her heart is at risk, but that is because she was a binge drinking alcoholic for many years. She would be at much greater such risk if she were still bingeing, n'est-ce pas?
I've taken Adderall for my ADD for ten years now, and it is still proving to be a Godsend for me. Additionally, after finding my appropriate dosage regimen, I stopped using cocaine and drinking to come down from that, as I had for 18 years prior. It's well known in our community that many people with serious substance abuse issues who have entered 12-step programs in a serious and committed manner, but who have failed to maintain long-term sobriety, are now no longer burdened by the horrors of addiction. The "one size fits all" requirement in AA and NA ignores the critical issues of abnormal brain chemistry and subsequent attempts at self-medication. By restoring the brain's chemistry to a more normal state, the need to self-medicate (read: abuse) drugs and alcohol is diminished or eradicated in many. The article mentions a figure of 84% reduction in usage, which is pretty spectacular, don't you think?
Your post is full of bold statements which reveal a lack of any level of specific knowledge or experience about these conditions and issues. Please do not continue to pontificate in this manner. Thank you.
I have been taking Adderall for over 10 years (60mg) and it continues to be an effective and necessary drug for me. I have never had any adverse side effects, and yes, I drink on occasion with Adderall, but I do not have any desire to drink to excess. If anything, I drink much less since I have been taking Adderall. As for comments asserting that Adderall can only be taken effectively for a limited time, they are incorrect as blanket pronouncements. Maybe some people have to switch drugs, but many of us are safe and happy with our long-term use of this life-saving/life changing drug.
This information, while relevant, is hardly conclusive. These are dangers associated with consuming alcohol while on Adderall, not empirical facts about the interaction of the two substances that provide a consistent or even a measurable threat to health.
Just because it increases the risk of dangerous alcohol abuse during "normal" alcohol abuse is hardly a reason and adult with ADHD shouldn't enjoy a glass of wine or two at dinner.
The conclusion that one categorically should not use these two substances in conjunction is heavy handed and over reaching. One should be aware that Adderall can have an effect on the perception of intoxication, but it is disingenuous to simply state that its inherently dangerous regardless of dose, individual, or circumstance.
Hi there
I want to first commend you on your well reasoned and articulate response. You definitely share some good points here. Let me just highlight your comment so I can respond.
You said: This information, while relevant, is hardly conclusive. These are dangers associated with consuming alcohol while on Adderall, not empirical facts about the interaction of the two substances that provide a consistent or even a measurable threat to health. Just because it increases the risk of dangerous alcohol abuse during "normal" alcohol abuse is hardly a reason and adult with ADHD shouldn't enjoy a glass of wine or two at dinner. The conclusion that one categorically should not use these two substances in conjunction is heavy handed and over reaching. One should be aware that Adderall can have an effect on the perception of intoxication, but it is disingenuous to simply state that its inherently dangerous regardless of dose, individual, or circumstance.
You are very right in saying that there is little in the way of empirical facts about the interaction of Adderall and alcohol. So this means we have to go on what we do have. What we do have to go on is that there may be a risk of combining these two substances. It is just like with saying there may side effects to taking a particular medication. Will everyone experience the stated side effects? No. But it doesn't mean you don't report them.
You don't say whether or not you are an adult with ADHD and whether or not you are taking Adderall and consume alcohol while you are taking Adderall. If this is your personal experience we would greatly appreciate your take on this from your firsthand point of view. However, regardless of your personal experience, this does not translate that just because you have not experienced adverse effects from combining alcohol and Adderall does not mean someone else may not.
Here is the problem I am having with your argument. You use the term "normal alcohol abuse" yet what does this mean? We all metabolize alcohol differently. To make a blanket statement that it is okay to drink two glasses of wine and take Adderall really doesn't give us any practical advice. Why is this okay? Because it was okay for you? So many factors go into how alcohol may affect an individual including the person's weight, how quickly they metabolize alcohol, what they have eaten, other substances they have taken and so forth. How big is the glass of wine? How much Adderall is the person taking? We don't know all these variables.
It would be irresponsible for us to say that it is okay to drink two glassses of wine and take Adderall. We cannot make that statement.
Here is some information about Adderall from our site:
This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely.
So we know that Adderall can cause these particular side effects. What is the likely conclusion one can come to about adding alcohol to this mix? Do you think that alcohol is going to make this particular side effect better or worse?
In addition there is a precaution stated that if you have a personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol that you need to report this to your doctor if you are considering taking Adderall. The wording is a bit vague because what constitutes "regular use of alcohol"? I would personally approach this safely and discuss with your doctor any alcohol usage.
On this fact sheet they state that alcohol is a substance which may interact with Adderall.
There are many articles out there which warn about the potential risk of taking Adderall in combination with alcohol.
Dr. Jeff Benson, for example, writes about how Adderall and booze make for a nasty combo.
Here is an article published in The Lantern entitled, Alcohol, Adderall a Dangerous Mixture.
On AddictionBlog.org there is an article about Adderall and Alchol: What Happens When you Mix Them.
There is nothing out there in the literature that I can find which states that it is okay to combine Adderall and alcohol. If you can find something we would like to see it. If you can find any studies which show that drinking alcohol and taking Adderall is safe we would like to see those. If you can find a doctor who says that this combination is safe, we would be glad to hear from such an expert.
I understand that Adderall has received a lot of bad press due to the number of people who are using this medication without a prescription. I hear some of you when you say that this bad press is adversely affecting the person who is prescribed this medication and needs it. I understand that some of you may not wish to be associated with this, perhaps at times, sensationalized perspective of college kids running wild and misusing drugs and alcohol. We understand that many of you are responsible adults who are taking Adderall as prescribed and that many of you are not abusing alcohol. We get that. We hear you.
Yet this empathy cannot translate into making exceptions to say...it is okay to drink alcohol and take Adderall under certain conditions...when we don't know if it is okay. You are very right that there is not much out there in the way of research on this topic and there should be.
I do want to state clearly part of our terms of service which states:
The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
This is very important for people to understand that a web site can never replace the advice of your doctor or medical professional.
This is my final suggestion on this matter: Talk to your doctor about any alcohol consumption if you are taking Adderall. This means the two glasses of wine as well.
Your doctor can advise you as to your risks.
Everyone is free to make their choices about what they take or do not take. It is up to each and every patient to do their homework and research the risks associated with taking medication and combining medication with other substances including alcohol. It is your choice. We are simply pointing out the risks as we know them at this time.
Be safe.
i found this ironic. i got a DWI the first night i ever started taking vyvanse. fortunately my lawyer got it dropped to reckless driving, but this is no joke. ive always been able to handle my alcohol much better than most, and barely felt drunk that night. i had even stopped drinking about 4 hours before i got the DWI. i felt perfectly ok to drive, like i had only had 2-3 beers, but ended up passing out in the whataburger drive through somehow after i realized i had no money. next think i know im completely delirious and a cop is banging on my window with ems behind him. the alcohol doesnt start to hit you very hard until the medicine starts to wear off during the night.
You should probably cite your sources better for this study supposedly by the 'Boston Hospital' and Harvard Medical School. There is no such thing as 'Boston Hospital' - there's Massachusetts General, Boston Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, New England Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, etc.
Hello Nonny
Good point. I took a direct quote from Eileen Bailey's article and that is why it is phrased in this way.
Here is the link to the original research and the hospitals where the research was conducted included: Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School.
I will make this correction within the post as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to point this out to me.
I wonder if these parents know that they are getting their children addicted to speed (amphetamine) at such a young age. Drugs are no substitute for parenting.
I am 60 years old and have had a lifetime of problems with every type of substance. I also drank excessively at one point in my life. I used methadone to get off opiates stopped drinking (both over 15 years ago, and used adderrall to
titrate off of meth. I did this on my own and now I no longer abuse drugs. I have adhd but I no longer need a drug to control it. I was able to accomplish this because I found two doctors who helped me. They believed in me and my recovery
worked very well. The adderrall allowed time for my brain to heal. I tried 12 step, rehab, counseling, religion. What it boiled down to was learning how to forgive
a mother who beat me unmercifully and a father who watched it happen. I gradually saw an improvement in my self esteem. I have a supportive wife, and two outstanding children who communicate and love me unconditionally. There was a time when I actually had a scrip for desoxyn which is pharmacuetical meth.
Until we take the dope out of criminals hands, decriminalize it, and stop imprisoning people we are angry with(and I do not include robbers or violent offenders) make them pay restitution, give them incentives for staying clean.
Make jobs available, we will lose this war. How many companies hire actors for voiceovers who have multiple convictions yet will not give anyone a chance with a drug history. Come on people wake up. Prohibition never worked
James,
I love it when someone makes a statement with absolutely no knowledge of what they speak. Having two children raised identically in the same home, and one being diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, I can tell you that you haven't a clue. I was one that fought the ADHD label for my child for years until it reached a point where we weren't sure it he would even graduate. ADHD meds have been his salvation - they have helped him gain some confidence and he now feels like he's able to conquer college. THEY IN NO WAY WERE A SUBSTITUTE FOR OUR PARENTING. As for addiction; these are low dose meds and are closely monitored by his physician. Please do yourself a favor and do research before posting in the future.
Very poorly written article. Adderall can mask the depressive effects of alcohol so potentially one could drink enough alcohol to induce alcohol poisoning without being aware that one was so heavily intoxicated. The article implies that any
consumption of alcohol with adderall is unsafe. We don't need sensationalism on such topics. When so called experts, by the way I don't see any medical credentials listed for the author, make such sensationalistic claims, it can turn off the very people who could benefit from scientific knowledge, mainly young, college age adhd patients.
The use of adderall "decreased the use of illicit drugs by 84%"...uh yeah...how about because its a narcotic and drug addicts and drug users often will replace one drug for another. Adderall is like prescription cocaine. Someone who uses cocaine will not feel the need to continue to use cocaine, when they are taking prescription cocaine...thats pretty much what you are saying...so...gee...thanks captain obvious. I know people who have lost years of their lives due to an addiction to this drug. Took them a long time to come back from it. Shame. I would use caution in giving this drug to your children. I personally would NEVER give it to mine given what I know from my personal experience.
Adderall is not a narcotic - it's a stimulant.
I'm a healthy professional late-20-something with ADD, who takes 10mg Adderall/day. I wonder if drinking ONE beer on the weekend is going to kill me... hasn't yet.
I agree with the majority of commenters - where it gets dangerous is when people consider binge drinking (i.e. drinking TO get drunk) as "regular drinking". I'm not saying just younger adults and teenagers - I know plenty of people older than me who do this every weekend. You, dear reader, could be one of them. And binge drinking, regardless of medication use, is dangerous (too lazy to cite studies now, but it does contribute to stroke).
How about everything in moderation, unless the author can provide hard evidence, aside from anecdotal instances, where adderall and small amounts of alcohol (one serving, let's say, with a serving being any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of "pure" alcohol. - from http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/WhatCountsDrink/WhatsAstandardDrink.asp).
Yes, alcohol is a poison in large quantities. So is sugar. So is fat. So is vitamin A.
The "dangers" of mixing alcohol and adderall as listed here are the same as the "dangers" of mixing larger doses of caffiene with alcohol. Outside of the single case that was mentioned of a young person going into cardiac arrest, there was no indication that mixing the two was harmful except in cases of obvious abuse of one or both substances. Even in the description of that single case, it wasn't mentioned whether the person was abusing alcohol or adderall, or whether they were using them in normal smaller doses.
Obviously mixing the two will be harmful when one or the other is being abused. A prescribed dose of adderall with regular casual drinking hasn't been found to be more harmful than using just one or the other seperately in the same amounts. A better warning would be to avoid abusing either substance. There's no evidence in this article that simply using both substances is irresponsible.
I went through a short period (a couple of weeks) during which I was taking Ritalin and during that time went out with friends on a couple of occasions. One night I passed out and burned a huge hole in a friend's leather sofa. Earlier in the day, I had been offered a position with a new start-up company with great potential. The CEO made the offer and he seemed really excited about my coming on board. That was until 3 AM the next morning after I had called his cell phone 5 times between !:45 and 2:30 to thank him and once again tell him and his wife (who answered the first call) how enthusiatic I was about the new position. I was fired by 3:30 AM. Ritalin and alcohol - not a good idea.
I'm 35 and I've taken Ritalin, Dexedrine, Cylert, Methlyn, Phentermine . . .etc for ADD since I was 19. I got through high school relatively okay but when I got to college I needed it to get through Accounting, Economics & Statistics as the course load required my sophmore year of college. I also partied my A$$ off. Now, let me tell you why you don't want to mix Alcohol & Adderall. For the same reason you don't want mix with the above drugs mentioned. Alcohol is a depressant these other's are stimulants. If you mix the two there is an excellant chance of stroking out. Obviously your heart could also stop causing myocardial infarction and death. Now if that isn't a good enough reason not to take these two mixed together you probably have a death wish coming. Use common sense. Don't do both.
Those who take Adderall need to know at least this one thing. Adderall is the brand name for amphetamine, same with Ritilin. To find out for yourself, just have the phamacist give you the generic form of the non-extended release type of Adderall. Right there on the lable that is pasted to the perscription bottle you will see these words, "amphetamine salts." The street name for amphetamine is 'speed.'
It is ironic that an adult who is caught in possession of the same drug that is perscribed to a seven year old child can find himself doing a stretch in prison that can last a couple of years. One of two things is wrong. If it's bad enough to send an adult to prison then surely it doesn't belong in the body of a child.
On the other hand, if it's safe enough to give to a child in elementary then why is it so bad you can go to prison for possessing it as an adult? Without getting too technical, the drug acts as an epinephrine (adrenaline) reuptake inhibitor. Epinephrine is an excitatory neurotransmitter and no one knows why a drug that is excitatory has a calming effect on over active children.
Personally, I think it's a very risky proposition. Whether the benefits outweigh the risks has yet to be determined because there isn't sufficient long term data. I fear that what is really happening is that we are using our own children as subjects in medical experiments.
I have, and have had, a viscious case of ADHD from my earliest school years. At that time the term 'ADHD' hadn't been invented and was not recognized. I didn't start taking Adderall until I was in my mid-fifties. It helps, but there are very unpleasant side effects. I'm ambivalent. The main point I'm trying to make is that people shouldn't think that these drugs are 'medicine' like antibiotics are medicine. It is speed, pure and simple.
Thanks for your comment. I feel most of the docs keep prescribing medication until one sticks and this doc apparently felt that Adderall was the best choice. Supposedly I had ADHD and she was an expert in this area. This medication brought me up then down. However, the side effects were not worth it but at least she helped me wean off the medication unlike some of the other docs who kept pushing medication. It also depends on the individual as I find myself functioning better without the Adderall and the side effects.
I have been taking generic Adderal for almost 10 years (perscribed) , and in that time I have had an adult beverage or more on many occasions. I go out to dinner with my wife and may have 2-3 drinks, and I have never, ever, passed out, had a heart attack, or died. And on a few occasions I have even drank too much but yet continue to live. So either I am a superhero (doubtful, but plausable) or not everyone has to become LDS when they have ADD. Like anything, legal or illegal, if you do it to excess it can be harmful. And things affect different people in different ways. If you just started taking a medication, maybe you shouldn't try to do everything you used to do until you get a feel for it and what it does to your body. I think if Adderall and drinking were going to kill me, I would already be dead. In fact, I took Adderll the morning of my half marathon a few weeks back, ran hard for two hours and spent the night celebrating with a few beers. If my heart can take that, I will probably survive. I guess I just feel sorry for you mortals that can't drink anymore.
I would suggest people don't drink and take adderall. A good friend of mine did this and ended up killing someone because she drove thinking she wasnt that drunk and she was in fact wasted and blacked out...She is in jail now...life is ruined. Person she killed life is ruined, both families suffering...tragic. And she never had any issues prior to this. she just took a pill someone gave her that was supposed to help keep her awake...yes she is naive...but this could happen to others who drink and take amphetamines...and not to mention drive after that.
As an adult who is prescribed Adderall (I am in my 30's) I really have not any problems with drinking in the evenings. I don't take a very large dose. I am not out to abuse my medication. I have severe executive dysfunction, coupled with severe social anxiety. I take adderall during the day so that I can be at least slightly more functional than I would be otherwise...and I have severe anxiety at night working a job where I am exposed to a great deal of sensory overload. I have never passed out. I have never had heart problems...I never take more Adderall than I am comfortable taking and I only drink enough to numb my anxiety. I am not a very social person. I do not really "party"...it is a great stress for me to interact with people. Drinking in the evenings when it is my job to be around people helps to take the edge off...I do not understand what I am doing wrong.
Here's the article in a nutshell:
1. Adderall and alcohol don't mix!
2. Why not?
3. Because you shouldn't drink alcohol while taking Adderall!
That's it: no facts, no specifics, no research, no nothing.
"Merely Me," this is not journalism, and whoever oversees content at HealthCentral is not doing their job either.
I'll post this as a guest, rather than registering. If this is representative of the quality of the information on this site, I don't want to waste any more of my time here.
-TNH
Our adult daughter takes prescribed adderall for ADHD, and it has helped her immensely with focus for her college classes. Her increased ability to focus and study for classes has markedly improved. She is home for summer break at present, and we are very concerned about her alcohol intake. We have noticed that when she drinks alcohol she becomes verbally abusive and out of control. She even seems somewhat parnoid. She, of course, denies this, but we have been the brunt of her alcohol induced verbal diarrhea. We knew she was having problems at times at school since there have been a few reports of outlandish behavior, but this is beyond comprehension. We have really noticed a correlation between her diagnosis and treatment with adderall and this behavior when drinking. She drank on occasion before starting adderall, but was not out of control like now.
I am a Chemical Dependency Counselor and hypnotherapist. It is hard to see how drug use is reduced by using a potent drug. Of course, the intended meaning is "illicit drug use is reduced." But replacing "street " drug use with a 100% pure medical drug, is often not an improvement. It substitutes dependency and or addiction to a powerful stimulant that can cause severe problems down the road. Better living through chemistry is still better living through chemistry. I deal with this and other prescription drug problems on a page dedicated to them n my website.
Tons of information on this and hypnotherapy here. hypnohotshot.
hypnosis hypnotherapy Los Angeles
mixing adderall and alcohol is a bad idea? really? and the sky is blue you say? Of course it is a bad idea to mix amphedimines with barbitutues! unless you wanna have a REALLY good time of course, just ask any recreational drug user. Maybe putting your child on mind altering schedule 2 ampheimines before their brains have a chance to develop isn't such a good idea either. And lets not even get in to the hypocrisy of preaching the "don't do drugs, drug are bad, kiddies, unless the drugs help you pass a spelling test or get you sit down and shut up" message. How are your children supposed to grow up with any kind of moral compass or sense of self when you addle their brains with chemicals and then preach that they aren't "performing in the normal range" aren't good enough or smart enough with out chemical assistance? But don't do drugs, are bad! Way go, thats good parenting!
Adderal is a drug. Albeit prescribed, but still a form of speed. And 100% pure, so the potential for dependency and or addiction is high. Hard to see how substituting one drug for another reduces drug use. Like other medicinal drugs, it has it's place and function. But as prescriptions for psycoactive, (mind-altering) drugs became the largest single group of prescriptions in the not so long ago, a question is, "Why are there such increasing numbers of people who need these substances to live?" hypnosis & hypnotherapy Los Angeles
Of course thir not going to mix so well if used together.Aderall is nothibng more than pure pharmacutical grade meth pure and simple.A lot of people will go out of their way to get their hands on it because it's pharmacutical speed for lack of a better terminology for it.People like to use it while partying because they can drink a whole lot more than usual and not get drunk.It's definitely a very wise thing to avoid using though especially if you's not being given it to you by you'r doctor needles to say
Of course thir not going to mix so well if used together.Aderall is nothibng more than pure pharmacutical grade meth pure and simple.A lot of people will go out of their way to get their hands on it because it's pharmacutical speed for lack of a better terminology for it.People like to use it while partying because they can drink a whole lot more than usual and not get drunk.It's definitely a very wise thing to avoid using though especially if you's not being given it to you by you'r doctor needles to say
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I am a Mom of a 30 yr old who is on medication for adhd. He was diagonosed in 2nd grade. It has been a long road for him as well as myself. His sister feels he is "snorting" his prescription & abusing other drugs. He is living in my home (again). I have found empty liquor bottles behind the TV, and other places. We have discussed his inability to control his actions when drinking, but he continues. He has not worked more than two weeks in nearly a year & has been living with me for the past 8 months. Right now he is feeling like he is unsaveable. I know that no matter what I say to help boost his self esteem he will continue to wallow in his self disgust. I seem to no longer have any effect on getting him to see things in a positive light and to try to fend for himself. I am at my wits end, this is also affecting the relationship between myself and significant other. My next step is to go to an alanon support group. Any suggestions to help get him on his feet and on his own would be greatly appreciated. As much as friends and family would like to see me use tough love with him, I know this is not the right approach. I am his only real support at this time. I want to see him become his own best form of support.
There is pastor out in Seatle called Mark Driscoll. You can download his sermons by typing in mars hill on google. Once your there download his sermons on proverbs. I know this is probably not the answer you are looking for but if you are truly at your wits end you really have nothing to lose.
Alcoholics Anonymous has helped me loose the cravings to drink and feel "saveable". He might need to shop around for meetings that fit him and find a sponsor that he can relate to.
Good luck to both of you
Alcoholics Anonymous has helped me loose the cravings to drink and feel "saveable". He might need to shop around for meetings that fit him and find a sponsor that he can relate to.
Good luck to both of you
Yes, you are the reason for your son's failure. Treating him at 2 years old? ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? Have you taken any of these medications????? If so, then you would know that it is WRONG to give to a young child. Failure at it's best....treating a kid because you do not have what it takes to control him. Congrats!
Stupid, she said since 2nd grade, not 2 years old. Clearly you don't know most children have ADHD by the 2nd grade or on their way to developing it.
i guess someone need to give you some because i see you can't comprehend what you read or can you read.....When someone enters 2nd grade they are not 2 yrs old......
Unlike that idiot poster who criticized your parenting skills and said you failed your child, just know that you most certainly DID NOT FAIL HIM by choosing to have him medicated for his ADHD starting in the 2nd Grade. Don't listen to that guy...that's what you refer to as a 'fool,' so their opinion really is worth less than nothing. OK, so like you mentioned, I definitely recommend going to a support group like al-anon or narcotics anonamous or alcoholics anonamous. These sorts of groups are great because it allows you to connect with others who are facing similar problems and offers a lot of valuable insight and knowledge on how to deal and cope with this issue you're having with your son. It sounds like your son's hit a BIG bump in the road and is perhaps suffering from substance abuse, alcoholism, and probably even depression, which can stem from abusing Adderall/other stimulants and definitely from abusing alcohol. That's like throwing gas on a fire! My suggestion to you (other than attending some kind of support group) is to confront your son on the matter; DON'T directly accuse him of "snorting" his Adderall, as accusations lead to confrontations, but rather, confront him and say something like: "Is everything alright with your ADHD treatment right now, because you haven't seemed like you've been OK lately?" Or..."How is your medication working for you right now, because you don't seem to be doing too well on it?" The key is to slowly build up to the serious accusations without being overly-confrontational when you finally get to the serious stuff you want to talk to him about. Slowly peel away at him like an onion, speaking to him in a loving and caring way. Hint to him that you'd be willing to help him get treatment for his potential problem should he need it (which it sounds like he does). Adderall is a VERY POWERFUL amphetamine and can cause heart problems, especially when mixed with alcohol, which carries plenty of its own problems. If push comes to shove and things get ugly, threaten him with eviction if he doesn't shape up and pull himself together. Perhaps stage an intervention with his family and freinds in attendance. Now that I think of it, given the circumstances he's faced with (with his being depressed and all), I don't know if kicking him out would be the best thing to do. Perhaps he's got a serious case of depression and is self-medicating? Getting him to the appropriate doctor and being prescribed the right med(s) could make a world of difference. Or stopping the Adderall and alcohol could maybe do the trick, since they both can cause depression, especially since long-term abuse of Adderall is a sure-fire way to make a person feel depressed. You could always tell him that you'll rat him out to his doctor and tell him/her that you suspect he's snorting his meds, which would essentially be cutting off his supply to his drugs (unless he gets it off the streets). Like I said earlier about kicking him out--doing this would FORCE him to clean up his act and get his life together (at least one would hope). Also, in addition to seeking help from a support group, I also suggest you contact your area's mental health professionals/authorities and ask them what you should do with your son. Maybe he could be involuntarily commited to a psychiatric ward. This is a pretty heavy-handed approach, though. Perhaps a nice and sweet girlfriend would be all that he needs to set him straight??? Best of luck to you! --offtohawaii
To the idiot poster who criticized this person's parenting skills: They said the "2nd GRADE" you effing idiot! What the heck is your problem? HOW DARE YOU cast judgement on this person and criticize their having their child medicated at an early age. It's none of your mother-freakin' business the way this person's raised their child, so shut your face. You're not in their shoes and I'm almost POSITIVE you haven't got a child of your own, so keep your mouth closed if you know what's good for you. Have your own children and raise them how you will, just don't go around criticizing the way other people choose to raise their kids; it's none of you concern what a parent medicates their child with
A.A. is the best way. I too had drug and alcohol problems in my youth. I was a hopeless alcoholic, who never should have seen the 21st century. Alcoholcs Anonymous RELIEVED me of my addictions. It was taken away from me, and now I don't even think about it. Best of luck to you, since this is making all of you ill. This is a family illness, and will wipe out everything in front of it. But believe this. No one suffers more than him.
adderall is not that bad, its easy to quit. just think about how sucky it is to crash, and that will give you motivation to quit. You can smoke pot to help with the come down. adderall sucks, i dont know why anybody would use it besides for help with term paper. ADD is manageable, its not fatal. Its just at personality, like a temperament. you know college and term papers is not for everyone. we still need ditch diggers
just kidding, there are plenty of great jobs that dont involve college. go to a trade school, or start your own business
First things first, God isn't going to help your son, only a swift kick to the a** will.
You can't put your faith in a guy who isn't there, and you can't ask your son to do the same, especially if he doesn't have faith in himself.
He's probably depressed because he knows his mom gets on the internet and talks sh*t about his depression.
Oh that's right, imagine that, when things get that bad, the ADHD takes a back seat. The more you morons fumble around with the concept, the more damage you do.
Also, this article never specifically mentioned why (at a biological or chemical level) alcohol and Adderall do not mix.
Sounds like someone read the label and postulated for themselves.
I have to agree, my nephews 30 year old dad is the same way. He can't keep a job and has been in and out of the loony bin. His mom got him on this stuff and other drugs from a very early age.
you're coddling him. He likes to get drunk and stoned. A thirty year old with a working body should have a job and an apartment.
Your precious snowflake needs to grow up. Tell him if he gets a job he'll be able to afford better drugs. And that he can do them in his own place.
looks like you shoulda thought twice about giving your 2nd grader cocaine at such a young age... o sry did i say cocaine, i meant a meth...
looks like you shoulda thought twice about giving your 2nd grader cocaine at such a young age... o sry did i say cocaine, i meant a meth...
I know this is a very difficult time in your life. Nothing what you expected when you first brought your son home from the hospital right? We love our children and have such high hopes for them. Especially when they become adult. Even though he has ADHD, does not give him a free meal ticket. I love the show "Intervention" on A&E. They explain that an addict cannot exist on their own, without the help of someone giving them, money, food, paying for their expenses etc. They will never hit their rock bottom if someone is there helping them stay in their addiction. Their is also a relationship you two may share known as "co-dependancy". You have made him the center of your universe and you feel this need to save him from himself. I am no expert but, I was married to an alcoholic and was in this same vicious cycle. My world evolved around him and his mood swings. Go to Al Anon meetings...they are the best. If your other half can go with you that is better yet. If you two stand together and give this kid some tough love....you may save his life. "You can love your child to death". as they say on the show "Intervention". I had a son with some drug problems and I understand the pain this can cause. He has been on the road to recovery over this past year. It isn't easy but, there is hope. Good luck to you and God Bless. There is also a recovery program in Chicago that you may check on. It is Christian based and free if they accept you into the program.
When you support a "Drugoholic" you are supporting his illness. So being his only support you are the primary supporter of his behavior. The illusion is that the solution for your problem is for you to help him change. But as one primary component of chemical dependency is an inability/refusal to take responsibility for their life/behavior, so the more of it you take the less he takes, thus you are feeding his avoidance/evasion/denial. The very thing he needs you are taking away by your enabling behavior. As the father of one addict brought to me for treatment finally said, when he "got it", "When I have a headache, it's futile for me to try to get him to take an aspirin." Get yourself to Alanon and help yourself, and he may or may not get better, you don't have that control. hypnosis & hypnotherapy Los Angeles
I'd like to give my input I guess, I'm an adult of legal drinking age and I've been perscribed adderall for ADHD within the past year, prior to getting perscribed Adderall, I already was beggining to have a distaste for drinking (especially enough to get me legally drunk) the side effects, hangovers, etc.. just no longer felt worth it for the 1 night of I guess you could say (fun). I noticed that whenever I combine the 2, my hangovers are often amplified, even when I dont drink much at all.
My best guess is that when on Adderall, you don't get as deep of sleep when your not, so your irregular sleeping prevents you from resting off the hangover as well.