Adderall XR

amphetamine-dextroamphetamine

Adderall XR is the extended-release version of the prescription drug marketed for the treatment of symptoms of deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Its manufacturer, Shire PLC, claims the component salts metabolize at different rates, imparting a “smoother” build-up and decline in the “speed” effect compared to amphetamine preparations comprising only a single salt.

The active ingredients in Adderall XR, marketed as “mixed amphetamine salts,” include a combination of dextroamphetamine and racemic amphetamine. Adderall XR is believed to work by blocking the re-uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals related to the reward centers in the brain. Slowing down these centers appears to “slow down” patients affected with hyperactivity disorders.

Adderall XR is one of the many ADHD drugs linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events in both children and adults, including heart attacks, heart failures, strokes, and sudden cardiac deaths. Children on ADHD drugs also may be at an increased risk for psychiatric adverse events usch as hallucinations, manic episodes, hearing voices, or becoming overly suspicious or paranoid.