Adderall is a brand-name prescription stimulant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADD/ADHD. It is a mixture of 25 percent amphetamine and 75 percent dextroamphetamine, and is available in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mg dosages. Adderall has an excellent safety record, but it can interact dangerously with a number of common pharmaceutical drugs. While most commonly used herbs do not interact seriously with Adderall, there are a few that must be scrupulously avoided.
Caffeine
When taking a prescription-strength stimulant medication such as Adderall, it is unwise to combine it with herbs that contain the stimulant caffeine. Doing so can cause elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, sweating, anxiety, tension, nausea and vomiting, and can even be fatal in high doses. If you take Adderall, your doctor likely has cautioned you against using coffee in excess. He may have also told you it's important to check any supplements you are taking to ensure they do not contain extracts of tea, chocolate, yerba mate, kola nut or guarana, as they all contain caffeine.
Ephedra
Ephedra sinica, known as "ma huang: in traditional Chinese medicine, is no longer used in the United States. This plant contains a powerful stimulating alkaloid called ephedrine and was commonly used in alternative treatments for obesity and sinus congestion. The FDA recently banned the sale of products containing ephedra, in part due to the high risk of serious or life-threatening side-effects when products containing ephedra extracts are mixed with some pharmaceutical drugs, including Adderall.
Yohimbe
Yohimbe has been used to treat male sexual dysfunction for centuries in West Africa. Its paradoxical stimultaneous stimulating and sedating effects are due to its high concentration of psychoactive alkaloids, including yohimbine HCl. Yohimbine HCl, approved as a pharmaceutical treatment for impotence in 1938, has powerful effects on the central nervous system in addition to its effects on male erectile tissue. Never take any medication containing yohimbine HCI medication if you are taking Adderall.
Lesser Known Interactions
"Syrian rue", known scientifically as Peganum harmala, is a powerful herbal stimulant. Although there are no known reports of drug interactions between syrian rue and Adderall, the seriousness of potential interactions between amphetamines and other stimulants makes it unwise to combine them. While rarely administered today, extracts of veratrum or hellebore may also pose serious health risks when combine with Adderall. Other herbal stimulants that may interact with Adderall include catuaba, kratom, kat, bitter orange, rhodiola and betel nut. Due to its sedative properties, kava kava has the potential to diminish Adderall's efficacy. Eucalyptus, while not a sedative, may also decrease Adderall's efficacy by helping the body eliminate it more rapidly.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (By Mouth)
- MayoClinic.com: Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (By Mouth)
- Drugs.com: Adderall (Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine) Drug Interactions
- Natural News: Adderall Side Effects, Nutrient Depletions, Herbal Interactions and Health Notes
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA Asks Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Drug Manufacturers to Develop Patient Medication Guides
