Adderall: Health risks when combined with alcohol?

Related Q&As:

Is it okay to drink alcohol while on Zoloft? (4676)

Zoloft (generically known as sertraline) is an anti-depressant in the class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. It affects your brain's ability to absorb serotonin, which acts as a neurotransmitter, transmitting nerve impulses between nerve cells and affecting mood. Alcohol also affects serotonin levels in your brain by altering your brain's production of it. That's why using these two drugs together could produce unexpected and unwanted emotions. The use of alcohol could also possibly affect Zoloft's ability to do what it is supposed to do.

Similarly, the shaky motor skills and slower reaction time common for alcohol users may get even shakier when anti-depressants are present — these responses can occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Zoloft, and the other anti-depressants like it, can also produce sedative effects. Since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, lowered heart rate and blood pressure changes are possible. This becomes even more likely as the quantity of alcohol consumed increases. Other symptoms, including headaches and sexual dysfunction, are also sometimes associated with both medications used to treat depression and drinking sessions.

Using stimulant drugs to study (560071)

Adderall, or amphetamine-dextroamphetamine, is used to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy, as well as attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD). While helpful when used as prescribed, folks may develop physical and psychological dependence and stopping use could lead to withdrawal. Additionally, it can cause some side effects including anxiety or depression, increased heart rate, insomnia, dizziness, and diarrhea or constipation. Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine can also cause more serious side effects like irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, seizures, and hallucinations. If you experience any of these, it's recommended that you see a health care provider immediately.

Similarly, Provigil (also called modafinil) is used to treat people with sleep disorders and can be habit-forming. Modafinil's more common side effects can include headaches, nausea, and insomnia. It also has some serious and uncommon side effects including allergic reactions, extremely low or high blood pressure, and breathing problems. Finally, it's not recommended for folks who have heart problems, high blood pressure, and a history of mental illness, kidney disease, or liver disease.

Snorting Adderall and Ritalin (4686)

Dangerous side effects from inhaling Ritalin and Adderall include:

• Respiratory problems, such as destruction of the nasal and sinus cavities and lung tissue
• Irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia)
• Problems with circulation
• Psychotic episodes
• Increased aggression
• Toxic shock
• Death, in extreme cases

Extended, continuous abuse of Adderall poses additional dangers, including developmental problems concerning the brain and negative changes in brain wave activity. If someone misuses/abuses Ritalin, Adderall, or both, it is important that a person gets professional help. This will help the person stop using the drug(s), prevent further health consequences, and can help keep the person safe during withdrawal. Once someone has become addicted to these substances, stopping could cause withdrawal symptoms similar to those with cocaine. These include:

• Severe depression
• Psychosis
• Restlessness
• Extreme feelings of agitation

Will past experimentation with drugs lead to permanent brain damage? (180871)

The drugs you listed vary in their long-term effects (and may also be said for the ‘other drugs’ you didn’t explicitly list). One thing you may want to keep in mind is that many of these long-term effects are associated with heavy use beyond experimentation (therefore, you may not necessarily experience these effects). For instance, extensive use of ecstasy is linked to symptoms of paranoia, as well as some cases of liver damage and heart attack. For hallucinogens, such as LSD or ‘shrooms, possible long-term effects include impaired memory and experiencing “flashbacks,” which involve re-experiencing the drug’s effects at a later date. Recreational use of prescription medication can lead to addiction, drug tolerance, and risk for withdrawal symptoms. It’s also worth mentioning that tolerance may reduce the drugs’ effectiveness for a user in the event that s/he is ever prescribed it for medicinal purposes.

Prolonged alcohol abuse (drinking for a long amount of time) can lead to liver damage and cognitive impairment. But a large amount of alcohol over a short amount of time can cause damage as well.  Intermittent high-risk (five or more drinks in one sitting for males or four or more for females) drinking  may cause long lasting cognitive effects such as poor attention span and memory recall. Another factor to consider is age. Using drugs during adolescence, while the brain is still developing, may have impacts on the brain’s structure and function. How the drug enters your body can also impact effects. Routes of intake like smoking, snorting, and injection increase how quickly the substance reaches the brain. The quicker it gets to the brain, the more likely it is to be addicting. Finally, a family history of substance-use disorders and/or the existence of other health conditions may affect how vulnerable you are to brain damage and other poor health outcomes.

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks — Safe or risky? (828281)

Energy drinks such Red Bull contain anywhere from 27 to 164 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per serving, whereas sodas typically contain between 24 and 46 mg per serving. Caffeine's stimulating effects may allow a person to feel more alert, and therefore they may be more likely to drink more alcohol than usual without feeling impaired. And the more caffeine that’s in their system, the more wide-awake they may feel. It’s good to note though that caffeine has no effect on blood alcohol concentration (BAC). So, even though a person may feel awake and sober, their coordination, balance, and judgment may all be impacted. What’s more, they might not feel the full effects of the alcohol they’ve consumed until after the caffeine has worn off. This could lead to drinking more than intended or doing things they might not normally do when intoxicated.

Along with the potential for drinking more than intended (or just large amounts of alcohol in general), combining alcohol and caffeine could also increase a person’s risk of experiencing heart palpitations and feelings of agitation. The combination may also impact sleep quality, resulting in waking several times throughout the night and not being able to get a night of restful sleep. Finally, both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, meaning that drinking the two together may further increase the risk of dehydration. Being dehydrated hinders the body’s ability to process alcohol effectively, and therefore increase the chances experiencing hangover symptoms.

Adderall, alcohol, and alternative treatments for ADHD (4696)

The most common dietary strategy is eliminating foods that can agitate or over-stimulate the nervous system. The well-known Feingold Diet is based on the theory that many children with ADHD have food sensitivities that trigger learning and behavioral problems, ADHD included. Such foods commonly include sugar (in the form of candy, cookies, soda, sugary cereal, etc.), artificially added colors, flavors, and preservatives, and foods commonly associated with allergic reactions like cow's milk, wheat, eggs, soy, corn, chocolate, and yeast. Instead of simple carbohydrates which quickly turn to sugar, a diet consisting mostly of complex carbohydrates (grains and beans), fruits and vegetables, and plenty of protein may improve ADHD symptoms.

Nutritional supplementation is another common dietary approach. It is based on the assumption that something is missing from the diet, and that behavior would be improved by providing it. Popular supplements for ADHD are omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Here's the logic: ADHD is a brain-based disorder where neurotransmitters don't function as they're expected to function. Nerve cell membranes are composed largely of fatty acids. Some studies show that supplementing these fatty acids helps improve neurotransmitter functioning. Common sources of these fatty acids are fish and flaxseed oils. Other popular dietary supplements for ADHD are amino acids, basic vitamins, and herbal and homeopathic remedies. All of these things can be bought over the counter at a trusted health food store, but it might be smart to consult with a health care provider, homeopath, registered dietitian, or other expert for some guidance when choosing a supplement.

Definitions:

Source 1: The Effects of Being on Adderall & Alcohol  (1006806)

SUMMARY

The resource outlines the risks that occur when an individual mixes stimulants such as Adderall with a depressant such as alcohol. The main issue is due to the fact that one substance, the stimulant, masks the other drug due to the effects of both of the substances on internal organs.

Adderall is a nervous system stimulant and directly stimulates the brain and nerves, causing increased responsiveness in the body. Adderall's main active substance is amphetamine, with the basic effects including:

• Increased heart rate and breathing
• An improved ability to focus
• A high level of alertness
• An increased sense of capability

Adderall also tends to increase nervousness, anxiety, aggression, irregular heartbeat, and potential heart attacks. These potential side effects are not (due to contrary belief) offset by alcohol's chemical composition as a depressant. Stimulants mask the true effects of depressants. In this case, an individual can drink an amount of alcohol that is above their typical threshold due to the fact that Adderall covers the effects of alcohol in the short-term while actively engaging in drinking. This can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can turn into a fatal situation. Even in the event that the individual survives, they can develop issues with their heart and lungs.

Using alcohol and Adderall together increases the risk of having:

• Accelerated heart rate
• Arrhythmia
• Increased blood pressure
• Risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart diseases

Furthermore, an individual that is prescribed Adderall for ADHD will actually diminish Adderall’s effects by simultaneously drinking excessive amounts.

Source 2: The Effects of Combining Alcohol with Other Drugs 

SUMMARY

This resource gives an overview of what occurs when mixing alcohol with depressants, stimulants, and prescription opiates.

• Depressants such as Xanax and Valium, combined with alcohol, tend to have an effect in which both become syngergized in their effects, as individuals experience dizziness, stumbling, loss of sphincter control, memory loss, and even death.
• Stimulants such as ritalin, adderall, and vyvanse conceal alcohol's effects, making it difficult for individuals to perceive their true level of intoxication, which can result in the over consumption of alcohol and to a significant level of of impairment that affects judgment and coordination. It can lead to an individual blacking out and eventually dying at the hands of alcohol poisoning.
• Prescription opiates such as vicodin, oxycontin, tylenol 3 with codeine combined with alcohol can lead to slower breathing, a lowered pulse and blood pressure, along with coma and death.

The undesirable effects of mixing both occur when:

• When individuals are unaware of drug interactions and typically drink more than they should using the prescription medication
• When people intentionally mix alcohol with the respective drugs and believed they will experience an improved or enhanced intoxication

Source 3: SIMULTANEOUS USE OF NON-MEDICAL ADHD PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS AND ALCOHOL AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

SUMMARY

This piece of research finds that a significant amount of individuals who abuse prescription drugs will do so while simultaneously consuming alcohol. The research finds that the majority of users combine both in order to decrease the effects of the stimulant Adderall by drinking alcohol. Additionally, many other individuals reported drinking alcohol with Adderall in order to allow them to remain conscious for a longer period of time, given that Adderall masks the effects of alcohol.

OVERALL CONCLUSIONS:

Everything in this response is accurate and should be maintained, with the exception of one line about "Although there have been no studies combining alcohol and Adderall...” as there have been studies conducted on this topic.

I'd like to add some more information on the long-term complications and elaborate on the risks of combining both.

• While individuals primarily drink alcohol when abusing Adderall to decrease the effects of the stimulant, there is a higher probability that individuals will overdose on the alcohol and as a result have alcohol poisoning due to the effects of the adderall masking the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
• Research indicates that negative side effects from both drugs is directly enhanced when the drugs are combined. Whether this is nausea, vomiting, dehydration, cardiovascular problems, aggressiveness, and a higher likelihood of engaging in risky behavior.
• Individuals are still strongly impaired in regard to their reaction time, motor coordination, and visual perception. This can lead to a number of potentially dangerous situations.
• The cardiovascular system can be impaired and can lead to short-term issues with hypertension as well as long-term issues with cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the probability of a stroke occurring significantly increase along with other neurological issues such as seizures.
• Extended use can lead to serious cognitive issues that damage the central nervous system. Some problems include:  issues with attention, concentration learning and memory, and problem-solving.
• In addition, a number of emotional effects such as depression, apathy, loss of motivation, and psychosis can occur.
• Research shows that individuals have lower grades and lower levels of academic and professional achievement than individuals who do not abuse drugs such as Adderall.

Notes on research: