Adderall and Mental Health: Understanding the Risks

Adderall is a stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall can have several side effects, one of which is worsening of an existing mental illness or causing a new mental illness to emerge, which may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.

Existing Conditions

• If an ADHD patient already has a psychotic illness, bipolar disorder or history of drug abuse, or shows signs of depression, prescribing Adderall for ADHD should be monitored carefully by a doctor.

New Conditions

• Adderall, like many ADHD stimulant medications, carries a risk of causing psychotic or manic symptoms in children and adolescents, which could lead to suicidal tendencies in patients who had no mental health issues previous to taking the medication.

Other Medication

• Medications, such as anti-depressants, lithium and anti-psychotics, can interact adversely with Adderall and cause serious side effects. Therefore, if you are taking such medications to control suicidal tendencies, your doctor should be informed.