24 things to consider before taking Adderall

It's easy to see the appeal of a pill that keeps you in the zone in our hyper-focused, fast-paced, always-connected world.

That's why it's probably no surprise that by most measures, both legal and illegal usage rates of prescription stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, and Vyvanse (or the generic forms of some of these drugs) continue to remain stable or rise for everyone from young children to adults in the workplace and even among the elderly.

For people with ADHD, these drugs can be lifesavers. But as we know, many others are tempted by potentially cognitive enhancing drugs too, even if there are big questions about whether or not they work. We don't get enough sleep and everyone from students to office workers is trying to get an extra boost.

But before you jump on the bandwagon, here are some facts about Adderall and other stimulants you should know.

First of all, you should (and legally have to) talk to your doctor before getting Adderall.

Flickr/Rodrigo Romo

Adderall, Ritalin, and similar medications are Schedule II drugs, which have medical uses but also have a high potential for abuse that can potentially lead to dependence — they should only be taken after a consultation with a doctor.

They are generally prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The way your body responds to the drug may depend on whether you actually have ADHD, according to some research.

However, there isn't a simple test that determines whether a person definitely has ADHD. 

To make that diagnosis, your doctor or mental health provider may ask questions to see whether you have a certain number of the 18 ADHD symptoms listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) — they check for six symptoms in people 16 and younger and five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity for anyone older. A doctor who decides that those symptoms aren't caused by something else may prescribe a stimulant to see whether that helps.

If you like the feeling of Adderall or Ritalin, you may be less likely to have ADHD.

Flickr / Beraldo Leal

A 2014 study had the surprising finding that people who were genetically predisposed to feel euphoria when on stimulants were also less likely to have genes that predisposed them to ADHD and schizophrenia.

This might explain why some people who don't have ADHD may be especially likely to abuse stimulants — it makes them feel particularly good. Still, that's probably not the prime factor that drives abuse. A recent study found that the best predictor of stimulant misuse among adolescents was the use of other mind-altering drugs like alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana, which the researchers say indicates there's a strong social component. 

More and more adults are getting prescriptions for ADHD medication.

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Between 2007 and 2012, the number of adults with ADHD prescriptions roughly tripled.

In 2007, there were 5.6 million monthly ADHD prescriptions for people aged 20 to 39. By 2012, that number approached 16 million. 

The number of adults who have an ADHD prescription is now rising faster than the number of new prescriptions for children getting the same drugs. Some reports indicate that despite any concerns about overuse of stimulants, there was a 5.9% increase in prescribed stimulant use from 2014 to 2015, mostly driven by more use among adults.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider