Related Q&As:
Is there an anti-anxiety treatment that doesn't have sexual side effects?: This refers to other types of medication that can affect libido and possibly adjusting dosage to remedy the issue.
Intercourse no longer feels good — what's going on?: This Q&A refers to other reasons that libido can be affected other than medication.
Birth control pills causing my low sex drive?: The Q&A states that “Decreased sexual energy is also a common side effect of a number of medications.”
Adderall, alcohol, and alternative treatments for ADHD: Adderall is most helpful for those also using a combination of management strategies to manage ADHD.
Marijuana and Ritalin: Ritalin is a different kind of stimulant, with methylphenidate as its main ingredient. The effects of combining the two are unknown.
Adderall: Health risks when combined with alcohol?: This is very relevant to the reader’s question, as it mentions how stimulant medication can interact with alcohol
Bath salts: Not your average bubbly: Bath salts, like Adderall, are a type of amphetamine, albeit methamphetamine. It can have negative effects for those also using stimulants like Adderall.
Source 1: Adderall vs. Vyvanse: What’s the Difference?
SUMMARY: This source compares the two most common types of stimulant medications, Adderall and Vyvanse, and describes the differences in effect. While both work by stimulating the nervous system, they have different active ingredients. Also, they come in different forms with different durations of action. Lastly, a physician can decide which is best for the patient.
Source 2: Label for Adderall
SUMMARY: This is the FDA-approved label for Adderall. The first few pages go into detail about the ingredients and how they work in the body. The most relevant sections are “Pharmacodynamics,” “ADVERSE REACTIONS,” “DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION,” and “What are possible side effects of Adderall®?”
Source 3: Long-Term Effects of Adderall Use
SUMMARY:
The article briefly describes the long-term effects of heavy Adderall Use, which overlap with the general side-effects. The “How Extended Adderall Use Affects the Brain” section discusses how exactly long-term stimulant use may result in tolerance on a biochemical level.
Overall Conclusions:
Adderall is a stimulant medication that is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Since it is primarily made from the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, it can also be generically referred to as amphetamine-dextroamphetamine. Its dosages are taken on a daily basis, and they range from 5 mg to 30 mg. With the reader stating that they take 20 mg, they are taking the typical dosage for an adult.
While its mode of therapeutic action is not fully known, according to its label from the FDA, it generally works as most amphetamines do through two different, but related mechanisms. It blocks norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake while also increasing their release into the extraneuronal space (Source 2).
These two mechanisms essentially result in more of the neurotransmitter ending up in the synaptic cleft. The synaptic cleft is the gap between two neurons. With more neurotransmitters present in the gap, more will bind to receptors on the receiving neuron. Ultimately, this results in more dopamine receptors being stimulated and the effects of the medication becoming noticeable for the individual.
Tolerance can be developed from continued amphetamine use (Source 3), with increasing dosages being necessary. This may cause increases in long-term side effects. As mentioned in the original response, the side effects of Adderall include the following: Loss of appetite, stomach ache, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. What was not previously mentioned is that Adderall can also cause nervousness, fast heartbeat, changes in blood pressure, as well as changes in mental status (Source 2). Relevant to the reader’s question, Adderall also includes changes in libido, impotence, and prolonged erections (Source 2). Adderall usually lasts 4 to 6 hours (Source 2). Considering that it should wear off by then, it is very interesting that the reader states the effects last for 14 hours from 7 am to 9 pm. This might be related to the dosage and type of medication used.
According to the American Addiction Centers organization, the side effects of Vyvanse are less harsh compared to Adderall (Source 1). This is because Vyvanse takes longer to metabolize compared to Vyvanse, resulting in effects lasting 10 to 13 hours. Its main ingredient is lisdexamfetamine, which is considered an inert substance since its activation into dextroamphetamine (the main ingredient in Adderall) requires metabolization.
Therefore, the reader may want to discuss with their healthcare provider about possibly switching from Adderall to Vyvanse. With Vyvanse potentially having less harsh side effects, the reader may experience less of a change in libido. Ultimately, a healthcare provider can suggest a change in dosage or type of medication or rather look into other factors that could cause changes in the reader’s libido like other medications or drug use.