What Is Adderall Good For?
Adderall significantly improves outcomes for people with ADHD. Parents and patients report a longer attention span, and an increased ability to focus while taking the medication. “Adderall, when used properly is used to compensate for deficits, not increase performance,” says Eugene Arnold, a professor of psychopharmacology at the Ohio State University.
Someone with ADHD tends to have a very inactive prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls things like attention span. “Give them a stimulant and they’re relatively back at ‘normal’ because these drugs hike up the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain’s reward center, which helps people feel more alert and attentive and has a calming effect,” says Arnold.
However, if you do not have a deficit in your prefrontal cortex, the use of Adderall can lead to an abnormal heart rate, heart attacks, seizures, and even sudden death. Keep in mind, these outcomes are more likely to happen if you take a larger dose than prescribed, but it happens all the time.
