The drug Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) is composed of two stimulant medications typically utilized to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the sleep disorder narcolepsy.
Adderall is available as Adderall IR, an immediate-release option, or as Adderall XR Extended-release version. The extended-release version permits those who suffer from ADHD to only take one dose per day. This makes it a more suitable choice for children because they don't have to take multiple doses throughout school. The effects of medicine with immediate-release versions typically be present for about 4-6 hours, in contrast, the extended release version is advertised as having a duration of up to 12 hours.
The stimulant drugs used designed to help treat ADHD are very popular substances of misuse among college students who make use of them to "cram" during exam time to remain alert and alert. However, abuse of these drugs also often occurs in conjunction with other drugs for example, alcohol, other stimulants, and opiate substances. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies Adderall as a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it's a substance that could lead to the developing of physical dependence and is a serious substance of abuse when not utilized according to the prescribed use with the guidance of a physician.
Suboxone (buprenorphine and Naloxone) is a medicine specifically designed to assist individuals with addiction disorders to opiate in safely withdrawing from opioid drugs of abuse. Buprenorphine is an opioid agonist partial to the degree that connects to the same neurons in the brain as other opioid drugs do, however, it does not produce the full effects of opioids. It allows people to stop using the drug they prefer without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.
The DEA has classified buprenorphine as Schedule III controlled substance, which means it is likely to be a moderately dangerous drug for abuse and development of physical dependence. The naloxone component of Suboxone is designed to provide a safeguard against abusing the substance. Naloxone is a complete opioid antagonist that is often employed to help individuals recover following an overdose with opiate drugs. Once activated, this substance immediately blocks the opioid receptors in the brain, and eliminates any opioids that are in the brain, and it does not permit any opioid drugs to be able to connect to these receptors. Additionally it is the case that activation of the drug elicits an immediate withdrawal response from those who use it. The naloxone in Suboxone is not activated unless the drug is used in a way that isn't in line with the prescribed usage like grinding it to a pulp and then trying to snort or inject it.
Using Suboxone and Adderall in Combination
Individuals attempting to use Suboxone and Adderall in conjunction would probably do so under the supervision of a physician. This combination of medications is not usually recommended. People who are recovering for an opiate use disorder and taking Suboxone are not usually prescribed stimulant drugs like Adderall to treat ADHD until they have been gradually removed from Suboxone.
It's not clear whether these drugs are often utilized together as drugs of abuse, however, some scattered accounts of people who use these two substances in combination do happen. According to the book Basic & Clinical Pharmacology and the information on prescribing these drugs, as per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), several issues can occur when an individual is taking a stimulant medication with Suboxone.
One of the most significant concerns is the potential to overdose with one of the drugs in the event of taking two different drugs with distinct mechanism of action. Buprenorphine while it is partially opioid agonist nevertheless has central nervous system depressant effects. As an stimulant Adderall increases activities of the central nervous system. When taken in combination these two medications block some effects of each other, and users may not be convinced that they've achieved the desired psychoactive effects with both drugs. This could result in the possibility of overdosing as people may require more to feel the effects. The situation is more difficult for someone who is attempting to abuse or misuse both drugs, and not in an individual who is prescribed both drugs and is taking them in prescribed dosages. Because buprenorphine is a drug that can lessen the stimulant effects of Adderall so it can be anticipated that one would be more likely to get overdosed on Adderall than on buprenorphine; However, the situation could definitely be reversed. In excess of Adderall will cause variety of problems, such as:
The potential for paranoia and hallucinations
An increase in aggression and restlessness
Heart rate increases and blood pressure
Potential for stroke or heart attack
The potential for seizures
Suboxone excess can lead to issues like:
Complications resulting from respiratory suppression
A decrease in heart rate and blood pressure
Possibility of unconsciousness or the coma
Utilizing a powerful stimulant drug with buprenorphine may lead to an increase in the amount of buprenorphine that is present in an individual's system, or could counteract its effects. For those who are using Suboxone in the form of an opioid replacement therapy the effects could quickly cause withdrawal symptoms from opiates.
The potential for unpredictable reactions that can result when combining these drugs can also be more likely. This is especially problematic for those who experience severe reactions that are unusual because it may be difficult for medical professionals to identify the cause of the reaction the person unless they can learn more about their use of the drug directly from the person who is using it or from someone else.
The effects of both drugs can differ in a significant way. This can result in idiosyncratic effects that may not even be similar to the side effects normally experienced with each drug on its own.
Common side effects of buprenorphine include:
Aches and cramps in muscles
Insomnia
Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
Anxiety, irritation or nervousness
Fever
Common side effects of Adderall are:
Heartbeat irregularity or increase
Hyperactivity
Mood swings
Extremity tremors
Psychotic symptoms
Tics or muscles twitches
A rise in blood pressure
Seizures, in rare cases
There is some evidence that use of stimulant medications while an individual is taking Suboxone for recovery from an opiate addiction disorder is associated with an increase in cravings for opiate substances. It could lead to the individual sabotaging the goal of using Suboxone in the first place. Individuals in recovery, particularly in the early stages of recovery, usually require significant assistance in dealing with cravings for the drug of their preference, and any circumstance that causes an increase in cravings should be avoided.
It is important to remember that those diagnosed with ADHD might be more susceptible to engage in drug-seeking behavior when their symptoms are not controlled. So, someone who has ADHD and who is also taking treatment for opiate withdrawal may be prescribed Adderall while they are taking Suboxone. In such cases, physicians are likely to monitor the patients closely.
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