Adderall and Caffeine – Dangerous Combination That Could Harm You
Adderall is one type of prescription medication that stimulates the body’s nervous system. However, caffeine is also a stimulant and is found in tea leaves and your morning coffee. Can you drink caffeine on adderall? If you use them simultaneously, you can enhance the effects of both.
In small doses, combining caffeine and Adderall might not be dangerous, though you can overtax the body and create a physical dependence on one or both.
Therefore, it’s crucial to understand how each product works separately and how Adderall and caffeine interact with each other. That helps you avoid an overdose or ill effects.
Jump to
- What’s Adderall? How Does It Work for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
- What’s Caffeine? How Does It Work?
- Can You Drink Caffeine on Adderall?
- Health Risks Associated with Adderall and Caffeine in the Body and Brain
- Safely Use Both Adderall and Caffeine without Withdrawal Symptoms
- What Other Stimulant Drugs Shouldn’t be Combined with Adderall?
- Seek Addiction Treatment for Prescription Stimulants
- There is a Better Way to Live. It’s Time to Get the Help You Deserve.
What’s Adderall? How Does It Work for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Adderall is made up of Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine and is actually four amphetamine salts mixed together. It’s a prescription drug targeting the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Those two neurotransmitters help increase your concentration, focus, and alertness. However, they boost dopamine to make you feel happy.
The stimulant medication is primarily given to those who suffer from Narcolepsy and ADHD symptoms. Both conditions can depress the nervous system and create an inability to focus.
Overall, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) puts Adderall on the list of Schedule II drugs, making it a controlled substance because it has a high abuse potential that could lead to severe physical/psychological dependence.
Generally, the outcomes of using Adderall for those who require a stimulant are highly beneficial, but it does lead to undesirable side effects. In a sense, Adderall affects the neurotransmitter epinephrine, which triggers the flight/fight response. This puts the body on high alert when danger happens so that you may fight or run away from bad situations.
That system is excellent when you need it. However, it puts undue stress on your body when triggered at the wrong times. This can lead to sweating, high blood pressure, jitters, nausea, and anxiety. Chest pain while using Adderall is common because anxiety and increased heart rates are the primary cause of such pain.
Other side effects of note include:
- Mania
- Lack of appetite
- Addiction
- Irritability
- Inability to sleep
- Weight loss
In the right circumstances, Adderall can help you deal with certain brain problems. Many people experience a life-enhancing result from the medication. However, when it’s used improperly or abused, it could make you ill and uncomfortable. It’s wise to take it as prescribed and speak to a medical professional if you feel sick.
What’s Caffeine? How Does It Work?
Caffeine is the common name for trimethylxanthine, which is a chemical that becomes a stimulant for the central nervous system.
Often, you drink caffeine in beverages, but you can also find gum, pills, and snack bars. However, it’s primarily found in specific plants, such as tea, yerba mate, and coffee beans. People also extract or concentrate it, adding it to other products. The goal is to stimulate your central nervous system by boosting your respiratory system and heart rate and producing psychotropic effects.
Typically, caffeine ingestion causes more alertness, energy, and focus immediately. The effects are steady for about two to three hours, dwindling down after four to five hours and causing a “crash.” You might experience brain fog, tiredness, and a lack of energy. That crash is the caffeine withdrawal, which sends most people back for another shot.
In fact, caffeine is a widely used drug worldwide and can be highly addictive. In small doses, it’s healthy. For example, caffeine increases productivity, improves focus, and might reduce your risk of developing diabetes (type II). Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor. When your blood vessels narrow, the blood flow is inhibited, which can alleviate headaches in the brain.
Those sensitive to it might have adverse reactions. Signs that you’ve had too much caffeine can include:
- Upset stomach
- Mood swings
- Heart palpitations
- Crash (excessive fatigue)
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Chest pains
- Sweating
Can You Drink Caffeine on Adderall?
If you mix Adderall and caffeine pills (or other forms), you could receive too much stimulation to your nervous system and experience negative side effects, such as chest pain. Remember, caffeine and Adderall are both stimulants with different compounds to achieve various outcomes.
Adderall doesn’t really have adverse effects on caffeine usage and doesn’t deter the natural benefits of the stimulant. However, caffeine might make Adderall less efficient.
Studies indicate that taking Adderall and caffeine at the same time or within a few hours of each other can decrease how effective Adderall is and boost its negative effects. Essentially, this means that the Adderall loses its ability for treating ADHD symptoms and can leave you with nausea, jitters, or even create feelings of anxiety.
Often, medical professionals advise those taking Adderall to treat ADHD or Narcolepsy to stay away from caffeine when using the prescription so that it doesn’t lose its potency.
Health Risks Associated with Adderall and Caffeine in the Body and Brain
You need to understand the health risks of combining Adderall and caffeine. The most common problem when taking both simultaneously is over-taxing your brain or cardiovascular system. That can lead to anxiety and chest pain.
When the heart and blood pressure increase at significant rates, the body must work harder to keep the systems and major organs functioning. That triggers your brain to send more signals to those areas, which results in you having anxiety, trouble thinking, and being unable to concentrate. This is the opposite effect you want.
There’s also an increased risk of developing an Adderall or caffeine addiction when combining the two. They are both addictive. However, those who don’t have negative side effects and only feel the positive stimulation are likely to wish to return to the state.
Using both in high doses can lead to drug abuse further down the line. It’s wise to steer clear of caffeine when using Adderall.
Safely Use Both Adderall and Caffeine without Withdrawal Symptoms
Adderall and caffeine aren’t necessarily dangerous drugs. If you’re careful and know how they work, you can use them in moderate amounts.
Doctors generally suggest that you keep the caffeine intake to about 100G or one cup of coffee each day if you’re using Adderall to avoid panic attacks and other withdrawal symptoms.
However, if you develop adverse effects and chest pain while using Adderall and energy drinks or other products, you may want to avoid caffeine consumption until you talk to your doctor.
What Other Stimulant Drugs Shouldn’t be Combined with Adderall?
There are some other interactions to avoid when prescribed Adderall. The most common is the MAO inhibitors. Avoid taking Adderall when you have used the MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days. They are antidepressants that can elevate dopamine levels.
MAOs can include Ensam, Parnate, and amitriptyline. These are prescription medications, but most of them have now been replaced with other drugs. Taking Adderall after an MAO inhibitor might cause you to have hypertensive episodes, which can be significantly dangerous.
Alcohol is the second interaction to understand. Adderall should never be taken after consuming alcohol or even a few hours later. Combining the two can cause the stimulant to release itself rapidly, which can lead to hypertension, insomnia, and severe anxiety. It’s wise to talk to a doctor before starting Adderall if you regularly consume alcohol.
You should also avoid Adderall while breastfeeding or pregnant or when eating foods with higher levels of Vitamin C, such as citrus fruits.
Generally, it’s best to talk to a doctor before using Adderall. If you do receive a prescription, ensure that the healthcare provider is aware of all medications and supplements you take. This is often the best way to avoid issues.
Seek Addiction Treatment for Prescription Stimulants
At Crestone Detox Austin – Alcohol & Drug Rehab, we understand that you may be suffering from substance abuse. If you fear you’ve had an Adderall overdose or may have one in the future, it’s best to speak to us about an addiction treatment program. We make sure to accommodate each client’s needs and offer various treatments, such as medical detox and more.
It’s important to understand the issues surrounding Adderall and coffee or any type of caffeine. We realize that you don’t want to give up your favorite beverages, but it’s imperative to stay healthy and avoid anxiety, chest pain, and other concerns.
Do you think you have an addiction to either substance? We offer various treatment options to meet your needs. The goal is for you to have a successful recovery. Please contact us to begin your journey today!
There is a Better Way to Live. It's Time to Get the Help You Deserve.
Take the first step in getting your life back. Speak with our admissions team today.
