Adderall is a prescription drug often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a stimulant that works by increasing the amount of certain neurotransmitters, or chemicals that send signals to other brain cells.
When someone takes Adderall, it increases their focus and alertness for several hours. However, research suggests there may be long-term negative effects on the brain from taking Adderall.
In one study, researchers looked at how Adderall affected people’s brains after they had taken it for two years. The researchers found that people who took Adderall had decreased activity in the frontal cortex and increased activity in other areas of the brain. These changes could lead people to develop more addictive behaviors than they would have otherwise if they didn’t take Adderall.
Other studies have shown that long-term use of stimulants such as Adderall can lead to symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease such as tremors and rigidity. These symptoms are caused by damage done to dopamine neurons in an area called the substantia nigra. This area controls movement in your limbs as well as other functions like eating, drinking water and swallowing food.
But Adderall has some negative effects on your brain as well. Studies have shown that long-term use of Adderall can cause damage to your neurons and their ability to communicate with each other efficiently. The more you take it, the more likely you’ll experience these side effects.
What Adderall Does to the Brain
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant that works by increasing the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Dopamine and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that are responsible for feelings of pleasure, motivation, and reward-driven behavior. By increasing levels of these chemicals in the brain, Adderall can help people who have ADHD stay focused on the task at hand, as well as improve their moods and decrease any symptoms of depression they may have been experiencing.
When it comes to how Adderall affects your brain chemistry, it’s important to remember that it’s not just one chemical that is affected by this drug. Instead, it targets several different neurotransmitters in order to achieve its desired effects.
When you take Adderall, it goes into your bloodstream and gets absorbed into your cells where it travels throughout your body before reaching its final destination: your brain. When it reaches there, it binds with dopamine transporters (DAT), which helps increase levels of dopamine in certain areas like the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This helps improve cognitive function such as attention span and focus while reducing hyperactivity symptoms like restlessness or fidgeting around.
However, these effects have some negative side effects as well—the most prominent being insomnia due to overstimulation of the nervous system. Some people with ADHD may also find that Adderall makes them feel more anxious or irritable than usual.
In addition to its immediate effects on the body and mind, Adderall can have harmful long-term side effects if taken for extended periods or in large doses. These include insomnia or sleep disturbances, weight loss or gain (usually loss), headaches, heart palpitations or tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat), chest pain or tightness, muscle spasms or cramps, nausea or vomiting (in rare cases).