Will adderall raise blood pressure?

Have you been prescribed Adderall or are considering taking it? Are you wondering if this drug will raise your blood pressure? Look no further because, in this article, we delve into the question of whether Adderall can increase blood pressure.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a medication that contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It’s commonly used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Fun fact: Amphetamines were initially synthesized as a nasal decongestant in 1887 by Romanian chemist Lazăr Edeleanu.

The drug works by increasing dopamine release in the brain, which leads to increased focus, attention span, and wakefulness. However, like most medications with central nervous system stimulants properties, one side effect associated with Adderall use is an increase in blood pressure.

How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Your Body?

Before diving into how Adderall affects your blood pressure level let’s explore how high-blood-pressure can affect your body:

  • Headaches

  • Vision problems

  • Chest pain

  • Difficulty breathing

Chronic high-blood-pressure or hypertension can lead to more severe complications over time such as kidney damage and heart disease, including heart failure, heart attack and stroke. So it’s essential to monitor our blood pressures regularly!

Now without further ado – here’s what you need to know about adderal raising your BP.

Does Adderall Increase Blood Pressure?

Yes! The short answer: yes; theoretically speaking when someone takes amphetamines –like those found in adderal – there is an indirect relation between these chemicals’ presence/body distribution & raised BP levels.

One of the known physiological responses caused by CNS (central nervous system) stimulant drugs like Aderrral are vasoconstriction – this is a phenomena whereby your blood vessels constricts making it harder for blood to flow through – leading to increased pressure in the arteries. Furthermore, adrenaline levels increase which acts as a stressor on heart and associated vasculature tissues – causing them work overtime/ extra hard resulting in elevated BP.

In essence, some studies suggest that people who are prone to (pre-existing) high-blood-pressure or hypertension may experience higher blood pressures due to adderal use.

How Much Increase can be Expected Due To Adderall Use?

It’s important first to note that everyone responds differently to medication—factors like age, weight, preexisting health conditions all play significant roles. While there’s no definite answer on how much Adderall will raise your blood pressure level when you take it, but research suggests an average of around 2-5 mm Hg systolic increase in roughly 60% of patients taking standard dosages…

A great resource exists online known as “Micromedex Solutions from IBM Watson Health”’. This web application allows patients or healthcare providers to check potential medications’ effects and common contraindications among other specific drug information with ease!

Table: Dosage Vs Blood Pressure Change

| #Milligrams taken daily | Average BP raise |
|------------------------|------------------|
|          5mg           |      1-3mmHg     |
|         10mg           |      2-4mmHg     |
|         >20mg          |        ≥5mmHg       |

(Table credits: not verified)

As seen above –the higher dosage scales reportedly have more pronounced increases in mean arterial BP.

Should You Avoid Taking Adderall If Your Blood Pressure Is High?

If reaching optimal BP goal requires the daily use of antihypertensive medications during treatment time with Adderall, then prescribers should determine other alternatives to treat ADHD before prescribing Adderall or increase another medication rather than using as a sole therapeutic intervention.

Fun fact: In the 1960s and 1970s, it was not uncommon for people to take amphetamines for weight loss because they caused appetite suppression…

So if you have hypertension; discuss this with your clinician prior to taking adderal –after all, prevention is better than cure!

Can You Take Steps To Minimize The Risk Of Blood Pressure Increase With Adderall Use?

If you’re taking Adderall under medical direction or considering starting treatment talk to your Provider about ways of disease monitoring or modifying behaviors that could decrease the risk of an increased blood pressure level. You can’t control every aspect of your body’s response to medication but here are some tips linked to reducing BP readings while on adderal

  • Implementing dietary changes
  • Stress reduction techniques
  • Daily exercise regime
  • Getting adequate rest

Through adding these components with diabetes management practices in addition – patients out there could work together with clinicians (/medical professionals) ensuring best possible outcomes.

Conclusion

We understand how worrying it might be after being diagnosed with high-blood-pressure when facing new medications. These concerns around side-effects and their severity shouldn’t be taken lightly by anyone.

Adderall does raise blood pressure levels. However –it’s crucial first stressing that everyone reacts differently so individual consultation / advice from experts (such as primary care providers) is essential in making informed choices regarding one’s health;

Having said that though-the likelihood of having dangerously high BPs associated directly only represents a relatively small number Provisions here include periodic checks & lifestyle adjustments influencing overall health standing..

Besides raising BP levels, CNS stimulant drugs like Aderrral has proven benefits towards alleviating symptoms of mental illnesses such ADHD/OCD/ depression- thus incredibly instrumental for getting individuals back on track at times when life gets tough.

So, dear reader…, consult with healthcare providers regularly and don’t be afraid to seek the help you deserve; whether that means mitigating drug risks or addressing other health needs, ensuring your body is in its best possible state only leads to better quality living!

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