Adderall Dosage For ADHD and Narcolepsy

Adderall is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. This medicine is a mixture of central nervous system stimulants – amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

Dosage for Adderall:

Adderall is taken as a treatment for two types of disorder. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Narcolepsy symptoms are managed using this medicine. The dosage of Adderall should be adjusted as per the need of the patient. Doctors should also mark the response that the patient is getting after having a dose of Adderall.

The dose of Adderall should be avoided late in the evening as it can be a cause for insomnia. You must talk to your doctor before starting with the use of Adderall. Patients who suffer from ADHD and Narcolepsy are given a different amount of dosage for the treatment. It is so because both disorders are way too different from each other.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder):

Treatment of Adderall is not recommended for children below the age of 3. It is mostly seen that the symptoms of ADHD start occurring at a younger age. The dose for children is defined according to their age and severity of their situation. For the age group of 3 to 5 years, the initial dose shall be 2.5mg/day.

The increment of dosage should not be maximized more than 2.5mg on a weekly basis. It would be best if you take a recommendation from your health expert regarding the use of the drug. There should be a defined interval before you increase the dose of Adderall.

The dosage for children of 6 years of age and above is allowed to be taken twice in a day. The total amount of dosage in a day should not be increased by more than 5mg. Also, the rise in the amount of dosage should not increase more than 5mg on a weekly basis.

However, there can be people who may be given a high amount of Adderall dosage for their condition. It is always recommended to take Adderall dosage once you have talked to your health expert about the condition.

ADHD in Girl

How Does Adderall Affect Someone With ADHD?

Adderall belongs to the stimulant class of medicines. It contains a combination of Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine. Adderall is most commonly used to treat Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Syndrome, also known as ADHD independent studies conducted from time to time on the working of Adderall have shown that it improves focus, attention and reduces impulse behavior. It is why Adderall is the best option (as per the experts) to treat ADHD. Between seventy-five to eighty percent of children who had ADHD had shown positive symptoms of improvement after they are taking Adderall and such other stimulants.

Is Adderall Safe For ADHD?

Yes, Adderall is safe for treating ADHD in children and in adults too. Some studies show that Adderall can manage 75% to 80% of children who are suffering from ADHD. It is always better to discuss with your doctor before you start administering this medicine to your child or anyone else. Though, how Amphetamine helps to improve the impairments of ADHD is yet not known. Adderall produces its stimulating effects in children; still, it is unknown and why Adderall can do so.

Does Adderall Make ADHD Worse?

Missed A Dose?

It is just a myth that the consumption of Adderall makes Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Syndrome worse. Adderall is one of the best medicines that are available in the market for treating ADHD in children, adults, and adolescents. At the same time, rely on Adderall only for treating ADHD. Instead, it must be given or taken as a part of a complete treatment plan that may inculcate exercise, diet, supplement, parent training, school accommodations, and behavioral therapy, among other medicines. It may be noted here that stoping the intake of Adderall all of a sudden may worsen your ADHD for some time.

Why Does Adderall Work For ADHD?

Adderall is the brand name of the combination of Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine. Adderall is used to treat hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, lack of focus, forgetfulness, excessive talking, disorganization, fidgeting, or interrupting frequently, which are the characteristic of ADHD or ADD. Yet to date, the actual functioning of Adderall in the human brain is, however, unknown to the researchers. Some researchers suggested that it works by the neurotransmitters in the brain. Well, this explains how this medication works for producing a stimulating effect, but how is it able to treat ADHD/ADD is not known to us.

Is Adderall Good For Adults With ADHD?

Yes, Adderall is equally useful for adults as it is for children. Adderall can be used by anyone who has ADHD, irrespective of their age. Adderall is approved by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) for being consumed by adults, children, and adolescents. At the same time, Adderall should not only be counted on for treating ADHD.

Instead, it must be given or taken as a part of a complete treatment plan that may inculcate diet, supplement, parent training, school accommodation exercise, and behavioral therapy, among other medicines. A person who is taking Adderall for treating ADHD must not stop it abruptly as it may worsen his medical condition.

Narcolepsy:

The dose of Adderall that is prescribed to patients suffering from Narcolepsy range between 5mg to 60mg in a day. It depends on the individual’s health, and the way his/her body reacts to the content of the drug.

Just like ADHD, Narcolepsy also seldom occurs at a younger age. Doctors suggest children between the age of 6 to 12 with a daily dose of 5mg. This dosage shall be increased weekly as per the condition of the patient. For children above the age of 12, the prescribed dosage can be 10mg for a day.

People should keep in mind that taking a higher dosage at once can affect their internal organs. If in case you notice any sudden reactions that are not appropriate, report it to the doctor. Taking medical help as soon as you observe the adverse effect of the drug will help you in managing it at the right time.

While you take Adderall for Narcolepsy for a sleep disorder, do not take any other drug for the same issue as it may cause side effects that can be dangerous.

How Does Adderall Affect Narcolepsy?

The demise of a particular type of brain cell is a condition called Narcolepsy. The brain cells which produce the chemical called hypocretin sometimes die due to specific reasons. Hypocretin is an essential enzyme for regulating the cycles of sleeping and waking. When the hypocretin-producing cells die, it causes sleep or wake disorders in a person.

Adderall is a stimulant medication that boosts the brain’s chemical norepinephrine, which helps in promoting wakefulness. The norepinephrine levels in the brain get higher by the intake of Adderall at the start of the day; it results in daytime wakefulness, which also helps the person sleep better at night.

Is Narcolepsy A Mental Illness?

Narcolepsy is a sleeping disorder that affects approximately 1 out of 2000 people around the world. Narcolepsy causes excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), inadvertent daytime lapses into sleep, frequent urges to sleep, sleep fragmentation, sleep-related hallucinations, cataplexy, and sleep paralysis. It is a neurological disorder that affects the brain.

The patients with Narcolepsy are most likely to be diagnosed with mental illness. It is a disabling neurodegenerative state having a high co-morbidity with mental illness or psychiatric diseases.

What is The Best Treatment For Narcolepsy?

There is no complete cure for Narcolepsy, but certain medications and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of the disorder.

  • Stimulants like Adderall are the drugs that stimulate the CNS (Central Nervous System). They are the most preferred medications for the treatment of Narcolepsy. These medications are beneficial but sometimes can be addictive. The side effects are infrequent, including nausea, headache, and anxiety.
  • Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are often prescribed by the doctors to help alleviate cataplexy, suppress REM sleep, repress symptoms of sleep disorders and hypnagogic hallucinations.
  • Sodium Oxybate is very efficient in treating cataplexy. It improves night sleep and in higher doses, also controls the daytime sleepiness.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms of Narcolepsy?

The common signs and symptoms of Narcolepsy include:

  • Excessive sleepiness in the daytime
  • Sleep paralysis
  • Loss on muscle tone (cataplexy)
  • Sleep-related hallucinations
  • Night-time sleep disorder
  • Memory problems
  • Change in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.