I found a complete surge of adrenaline and ecstasy flow through my brain as I tackled factoring, science notes, and a four-page paper all in one night. And when that night's homework was done, I did the next night's. I was on a role, and I couldn't stop.
After that, I began to use Adderall whenever I had a lot of studying to do. I also used it to help me focus during exams. Adderall is popular in my school, where it's highly competitive. Everyone is competing against each other for scholarships and it definitely gives you an extra edge over students who don't take it. As much as I was initally against Adderall, I cannot deny the fact that it's completely effective.
It's my morning cup of coffee, only nobody told me the insidious side effects. Adderall has been, on and off, a part of my life since sophomore year in high school. Currently, I am a rising sophomore at a top 20 university out of state, and the decision not to stay clean plagues me every time I take a pill in the morning. At first, I used it in the same way as many other students, to crank up study sessions or to meet a strict deadline.
By junior year, it had progressed to something much more than that. I started taking Adderall every single morning, just to wake up, and to give me enough energy to last through the day. On those long, foggy days I'd forget to take it, my mind would be in sleep mode, dozing in class and drifting in thought. While I had no problem giving these "study pills" to friends, I'd always warn them of the side effects, the reliance, the memory problems that inevitably resulted, and the harsh mood swings that they often brought on.
My warnings seemed about as hollow as their acknowledgments of them. I knew and still know that they do more harm than good, as my moods can change on a dime and my memory is worse and worse, but getting a decent grade on a test that others seem to effortlessly ace seems worth it.
Adderall hasn't become a study drug to me, it's become a way of life. The standards of a top ranked school have that ability to cloud my judgement, and though I'm completely aware of it, I know there's not much I can do. Though I can feel my heart beating faster than normal when I take just half a pill, the thought that my habit could be ruining my body is only fleeting, and I return to my work, just like everyone else around me.
The immense pressure put on students by parents and educators has made taking speed a socially acceptable thing. Let me say first off that I take full responsibility in choosing to take Adderall as a study drug. It definitely helped me get good grades during finals, but plenty of students get good grades without it, and I would understand if somebody in my classes felt cheated because I took it.
That being said, the immense pressure put on students by parents and educators has made taking speed a socially acceptable thing. My whole life I've been told that, no matter how smart I am, the only way to be successful see: acceptable is through academic excellence.
Now, would my parents be upset that I've taken study drugs? Probably, and that's just symptomatic of the problem. The parents and educators in this article who express shock at kids using study drugs ought to look in the mirror; they are equally responsible. College is harder to get into today than it was and it is much more stressful and difficult once you get in. Change your unrealistic expectations or take the My Kid is an Honor Student bumper sticker off your minivan.
The crash was a minor side effect to me. I merely felt exhausted and a bit shaky. Well worth it, I would think. High school pressure is everything. And when you go to one of the top high schools in the Chicago suburbs, you'll do anything that you can to put yourself above the other students.
As with any other stimulant, it can cause sweating, higher blood pressure and heart rate, weight loss, and a reduced appetite, nausea, and blurred vision. Engineered to be a less intense, powerful, and euphoria-inducing stimulant, it is quite popular in the US.
With that being said, it is activated via digestion, so it cannot be snorted, taken intravenously, or inhaled like Adderall or Ritalin, eliminating the possibility for avid drug users to abuse the substance like a narcotic. Modafinil, also known as Provigil, is an FDA approved medication meant to treat narcolepsy. However, people use it for a heightened sense of awareness, improved cognitive function, improved memory, quicker reaction times, and even weight loss.
While not having as large of a range of long-term effects that other prescription drugs do, Modafinil can reduce brain plasticity and hinder memory development in growing brains youth. Studies have proved that Concerta can improve cognitive function and sharpen the working memory, as well as heighten focus and reduce fatigue.
The FDA warns us of addiction and dependency risks regarding Concerta. A stimulant by nature, the prolonged use can cause addiction and the typical withdrawal symptoms will ensue; abnormal sleep patterns, depression, anxiety, cold and hot sweats, etc.
Studies have proved that it can improve cognitive function and help with focus, forgetfulness, and low energy levels. Bacopa Monnieri is a supplement meant to improve thought processes, memory retention, and reading comprehension.
It has been proven to improve cognition and focus—although it is not, by any means, a popular supplement. Few studies have been executed on Bacopa Monnieri. However, those without such conditions can experience an improvement on their ability to complete cognitive tasks and higher energy levels. A group of pilots took the pill in a controlled study which concluded that it improved memory function. All pilots were healthy prior to ingesting the pill. Every study drug is going to interact with the brain in its own way.
Typically, amphetamine-based stimulants the generality for stimulant drugs stimulate the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters live in the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain responsible for executive functioning, which is why these increases in cognitive performance ensue.
The heart rate increases, driving blood pressure upwards. The metabolism activates, breathing shortens, and your body begins to act as if it is experiencing a non-intensive form of exercise. This is because Concerta releases the drug slowly over time, while Ritalin releases all of drug at once. Because of this, your dopamine levels are increased slower than they are with Ritalin. They can discuss this risk with you and review all of your treatment options. In clinical trials , decreased height and weight were seen in children taking Concerta.
After 3 years of treatment with the drug, children were shorter by an average of 2 centimeters about 0. Those taking Concerta also had a lower body weight by an average of 2. You possibly can. Concerta is a stimulant medication that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Before starting Concerta, your doctor will make sure that your heart is healthy enough for you to take a stimulant medication.
If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, or a history of heart attack, your doctor may do extra testing to be sure your heart is healthy enough for you to take Concerta. Adults have a higher risk of heart problems while taking stimulants. Adults with certain heart problems should avoid taking stimulant medications. These heart problems include:.
Concerta should also be avoided in children with structural heart issues or other serious heart problems. Sudden death, stroke , and heart attack have occurred in people taking stimulant medications. Concerta may also be used off-label for other conditions. But it can continue into your adult life. Symptoms of ADHD include:. To be diagnosed with ADHD, your symptoms must cause trouble in multiple settings, such as at home, work, or school. Your symptoms must also be present before the age of 7 years.
However, genetics probably play a role in the development of this condition. The three types of ADHD are described below. Three different clinical trials studied Concerta use in children ages 6 to 12 years. In these studies, children taking Concerta had a significant decrease in inattention and overactivity. This was in comparison to children who were taking a placebo treatment with no active drug. In addition, one study looked at adolescents children ages 13 to 18 years with ADHD.
Adolescents taking Concerta had their ADHD symptoms reduced more than did adolescents taking a placebo. A clinical trial showed that Concerta significantly reduced inattention in adults taking the drug compared with adults taking a placebo.
Concerta is approved for use in children ages 6 years and older with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. You may wonder if Concerta is used for other conditions. Using Concerta for weight loss is not an appropriate use of the drug. Sometimes stimulant medications such as Concerta can make anxiety symptoms even worse.
If you have both anxiety and ADHD, Concerta may not be the right medication for you, because it can make your anxiety even worse. With bipolar disorder, people can have extreme changes in their mood and energy levels.
Concerta is not an appropriate treatment for people with ADHD who also have bipolar disorder. Taking Concerta can make your bipolar disorder worse. If you have bipolar disorder and ADHD, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.
With this condition, you may feel unusually tired and fall asleep suddenly. However, Concerta is not approved to treat narcolepsy. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it decreases the activity of your nervous system. Concerta, on the other hand, is a stimulant medication. It increases the activity of your nervous system. Concerta can also cause dependence in some people.
With dependence, your body needs the drug in order for you to feel normal. Concerta can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.
Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Concerta.
These lists do not contain all the drugs that may interact with Concerta. Before taking Concerta, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use.
Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Taking Concerta with Prozac fluoxetine can possibly cause a drug interaction. Concerta is a stimulant medication that acts on your central nervous system CNS. Caffeine is also a stimulant. Products that contain caffeine include coffee, soda, and certain teas and headache or pain medications.
When caffeine and Concerta are taken together, you can have increased side effects, such as feeling irritable or anxious. Both caffeine and Concerta can cause trouble sleeping and can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. If you enjoy drinking coffee, tea, or soda, try drinking decaffeinated forms while you are taking Concerta.
Taking Concerta with Zoloft sertraline can cause a drug interaction. Concerta can block the breakdown of Zoloft in your body. This can increase your levels of Zoloft. This will help prevent you from having too much Zoloft in your body. Concerta can interact with Lexapro escitalopram if these drugs are taken together. This can cause your levels of Lexapro to increase.
Clonidine is a medication that can be used to lower high blood pressure. Concerta can cause an increase in your blood pressure. Taking Concerta with clonidine may decrease the effects of clonidine, which can increase your blood pressure. In rare instances, this increased blood pressure has resulted in death. MAOIs are a class of medications that are used to treat depression and anxiety. Examples of MAOIs include:. These medications should never be taken with Concerta.
Using Concerta along with an MAOI can cause stroke , heart attack , kidney failure, and sudden death. Taking Concerta with warfarin Coumadin can cause a drug interaction.
Concerta can block the breakdown of warfarin in your body. These tests will check the thickness of your blood, which is affected by warfarin. You may have to have blood tests done more often when you first start Concerta than you did before you started the drug.
These seizure medications include:. This can be very dangerous. If you need to take Concerta in combination with a seizure medication, your doctor may decrease the dosage of your seizure medication. Your doctor may also do blood tests to make sure that levels of the seizure medication in your body are not too high. Taking Concerta with a vasopressor may not be safe.
Vasopressors are a class of medications that are used to treat low blood pressure. Examples of vasopressors include:. Both vasopressors and Concerta cause your blood pressure to increase. Taking vasopressors with Concerta can cause your blood pressure to be even higher, which may become dangerous.
However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Concerta. Concerta is a stimulant medication that can cause an increase in your blood pressure and heart rate.
Caffeine can also cause these same effects in your body. While taking Concerta, you should avoid consuming foods and drinks that contain caffeine.
Examples of foods and drinks that contain caffeine include:. Consuming any of the foods or beverages listed above in combination with Concerta can increase your risk of side effects, such as:. If you feel that you need some caffeine, talk with your doctor about how much caffeine is safe for you to consume. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Multiple treatment options are typically used together to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Along with Concerta, treatment should include psychological, educational, and social therapies. Some other therapies that may be used in combination with Concerta include:.
If Concerta was prescribed for you or your child, your doctor may talk with you about other treatments that should be used with Concerta. If you have questions about other treatment options for ADHD, talk with your doctor. If you need financial support to pay for Concerta, help is available.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Concerta should be taken once each day in the morning. It should be taken at about the same time every day. Concerta can be taken with or without food. In clinical trials , Concerta worked the same way when it was taken with a big meal as it did when it was taken on an empty stomach. If Concerta upsets your stomach or causes nausea, it may be better for you to take it with food. Taking the medication with food in your stomach can reduce these side effects.
No, Concerta should never be split, crushed, or chewed. Concerta tablets have special layers inside of them. Each layer releases some of the medication over the course of about 12 hours. If you chew or break the tablets, these layers can release the medication all at once. This can be very dangerous and can even cause overdose. Concerta is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.
People with this condition have trouble focusing, concentrating, or paying attention for long periods of time. They can also have hyperactivity symptoms, which makes it difficult for them to be still for periods of time.
Concerta is believed to increase the levels of two brain chemicals: norepinephrine and dopamine. Both of these chemicals help you to pay attention and focus.
In animal studies , Concerta did cause problems with development in fetuses whose mothers were given the drug. More studies are needed to know if Concerta can be harmful to a developing baby. In an animal study , Concerta did pass into the breast milk of lactating females. More studies are needed to know whether Concerta can be harmful to a breastfeeding child. This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Using Concerta on a regular basis can cause dependence.
With dependence, your body needs the medication in order for you to function well. Dependence can cause abnormal behavior to occur in some people. If you have a history of drug or alcohol misuse or dependence, your doctor may monitor you more closely while you are taking Concerta. Before taking Concerta, talk with your doctor about your health history. Concerta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
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