Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications Print Turning to Adderall for Weight Loss By Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. Learn about our editorial process Keath Low Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 10, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 08, 2020 Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee More in Addiction Drug Use Prescription Medications Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Back in the 1950s and 60s, doctors would prescribe amphetamines for weight loss. That practice was ended by law when the addictive nature of these drugs was proven. Today, Adderall prescribed for ADHD is sometimes used non-medically for its weight loss support properties. Adderall contains amphetamine and has the typical amphetamine effect of suppressing appetite. Some people turn to this "Adderall diet" or "speed diet" to lose weight, although no doctor would prescribe the drug for that purpose. With many people prescribed Adderall appropriately for ADHD, it is also not a surprise that people who use it for nonmedical purposes often get it from friends and family members or can easily buy it on the street. The risks of taking Adderall for weight loss include serious psychiatric and medical conditions. Adderall Effects and Nonmedical Use Adderall, when used properly and as prescribed, can be beneficial for treating ADHD. Unfortunately, there are those who abuse stimulants. Adderall abuse and the misuse of similar stimulants are seen in about 3.4 percent of those age 12 and older, according to a study published in 2013. Adderall has the effect of increasing dopamine signaling in the brain. This can give a feeling of euphoria and being energized. The physical effects include raising the heart rate and blood pressure, constricting blood vessels, opening breathing passages, and increasing blood glucose. It can have the effect of suppressing appetite, which can result in eating less. People taking Adderall for ADHD may experience weight loss due to the appetite suppression side effect even if they weren't trying to lose weight. According to a study published in 2013, most people who take Adderall non-medically give the reason of improving their productivity, with fewer saying they use it for weight loss. Differences Between Strattera and Adderall Risks and Consequences of Nonmedical Use of Adderall Adderall is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ADD / ADHD. Using the drug for another purpose is not only unwise, but it is also dangerous. When taken at higher than the prescribed dosage, Adderall can be psychologically and physically addictive. In addition, some longer-term abusers need to take increasing amounts in order to get the same appetite suppression. They may even turn to sleeping pills to counteract Adderall's stimulant effect. If Adderall pills are taken as prescribed, they slowly and steadily give a therapeutic effect to the brain. When used at higher doses and when people misuse them by taking them through different routes, the effects are larger and more immediate, which is believed to increase the risk of addiction. Abuse can lead to malnutrition, feelings of hostility, paranoia, heart complications, and stroke. Once you abuse stimulants chronically, you can have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them. It is a better choice to avoid stimulants for the purpose of appetite suppression and rely on non-drug tactics for weight loss. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rasmussen N. America's first amphetamine epidemic 1929-1971: a quantitative and qualitative retrospective with implications for the present. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(6):974–985. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.110593 Weyandt LL, Oster DR, Marraccini ME, et al. Prescription stimulant medication misuse: Where are we and where do we go from here? Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2016;24(5):400–414. doi:10.1037/pha0000093 Sweeney CT, Sembower MA, Ertischek MD, Shiffman S, Schnoll SH. Nonmedical use of prescription ADHD stimulants and preexisting patterns of drug abuse. J Addict Dis. 2013;32(1):1–10. doi:10.1080/10550887.2012.759858 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Adderall® CII (Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate and Amphetamine Sulfate Tablets). Updated January 2017. U.S. National Library of Medicine. ToxNet - Amphetamine. Updated January 14, 2016.