Adderall vs Suboxone: ADHD and Opioid Addiction Treatment

Adderall and suboxone are controlled medications used for treating different types of problems. Adderall is used for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Suboxone is used for treating opioid addiction. These two are highly controlled drugs. Both have potential for misuse but especially adderall. Adderall abuse is pretty common among college students, kids as well as adults sometimes use it as a quick fix for work or finishing projects. This can quickly backfire because if you do not have ADHD and it is not prescribed you can become addicted to adderall. Suboxone can also be misused but not like adderall.

The potential for abuse is low because people who are receiving treatment for opioid such as heroin and other highly addictive drugs aren’t likely to get high or addicted to suboxone but people who are recovering from less addictive drugs like painkillers they have the potential to abuse suboxone. They can take it with other drugs or by injecting suboxone using the strips or tablets.

Adderall Vs Suboxone

What is Adderall and its Side Effects?

Adderall, a controlled substance that is used for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. It contains two stimulants- dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. These are stimulants meaning that they put the central nervous system in a more active state by improving energy levels, attention, and better mood. These two stimulants also increase the dopamine in the brain resulting in better mood which a lot of people with narcolepsy and ADHD struggle with.

Adderall contains two central nervous system stimulants called amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. People who have ADHD suffer from low levels of happy hormones called serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These stimulants help increase the level of these neurotransmitters. They target the common issues people with ADHD face such as low energy, problem in focusing, hyperactivity, restlessness, impulsivity. And people who have narcolepsy which causes excessive daytime sleeping, it helps them keep awake and alert. Amphetamine is also used for obesity, depression and chronic pain.
Even though dextroamphetamine is stronger when both of these are combined with amphetamine as a base, this medication gives a more balanced and sustained effect. It is advised against taking them in the evening. This medication starts showing the effects within 1-2 hours.

Side Effects of Adderall

Some common side effects are – weight loss, feeling dizzy, headaches, insomnia, lack of hunger, increased heart rate. Some atypical symptoms are:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Numbness
• Signs of low blood circulation, such as looking pale, cold hands and feet,
• Muscle twitching
• Numbness

Long-term side effects of adderall are slowed growth in children, mental health problems such as psychosis, heart problems and adderall dependence. Immediately call your healthcare provider if any of the above symptoms become severe as adderall is addictive.

What is Suboxone and its Side Effects?

Suboxone medication is used to treat opioid addiction. If anyone becomes dependent on opioids or narcotics they are put on suboxone for a short period of time. Opioids are highly addictive. heroine, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone come under narcotics or opioids. Some of these are legal and highly controlled prescription drugs and others are used by illegal means. These drugs are really powerful pain relievers as well as makes you feel high. It is available in the form of film strip and a tablet.
suboxone has two drugs naloxone and buprenorphine.

• Buprenorphine is similar to opioid drugs but on a really low level. It is known as a partial opioid agonist with ceiling effects. Meaning it has effects similar to opioid drugs on a lower level and unlike other opioids its effects do not increase when the dose is increased. It reaches a maximum effect and does not create a high when doses are increased. Buprenorphine helps with issues such as dependency and overdose.

• Naloxone is an antagonist, used for reversing the effects of opioid. It is given when there is an overdose of opioid drugs, overdose can be life threatening because the symptoms such as respiratory depression, weak heart rate can quickly escalate to vomiting, loss of consciousness, low pulse and can cause death. Naloxone quickly reverses these effects andIt binds to the opioid receptors in the brain and quickly reverses the effect of other opioids that have attached itself to the brain. It also blocks other opioids by attaching itself first and blocking the way of other opioids.

In cases of opioid overdose, suboxone helps in quickly reversing the deadly symptoms that comes with high dosage opioid use such as respiratory depression, drowsiness, low heart rate, loss of consciousness, low pulse.

Side Effects of Suboxone

Suboxone like any other medication can have serious as well as mild side effects. Some common side effects are:

• Headaches
• Feeling low and depressed
• Digestive issues like constipation
• Feeling weak
• Excessive sweating
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• And other opioid symptoms such as stomach pain,
• Increased heartbeat, stomach pain

Some other serious side effects are:

• Allergic reaction such as hives, swelling of tongue or throat
• Breathing problems,
• Cavities or tooth infection
• Some other serious issues could be liver damage, severe withdrawal symptoms
• People can also become dependant on suboxone
• When taken with other drugs or alcohol it can cause severe breathing problems and lead to death but this is mostly in cases where suboxone is misused.

There’s also a chance that suboxone might be the cause of liver damage in some people. While you are on this medication, your doctor may do tests to keep an eye on this and if there are any sign your doctor may change the prescription

Can Adderall and Suboxone be Taken Together

Taking these two together does not cause any adverse reactions. But It still is not the best combination as adderall is a cns stimulant whereas suboxone has cns depressant properties. Even when it has a ceiling effect, this combination creates a push and pull effect on the body also known as the speedball effect.
But your doctor can prescribe these two drugs together after evaluation as adhder’s are prone to addiction because of low dopamine levels. If you are being treated for substance abuse and at the same time have ADHD, your medical provider can prescribe you adderall as well while you are on suboxone.

Be transparent about your medical history and all the medications you have been taking including any supplements or herbal medications. Do not change the dosage or stop it without consulting your doctor. If you take it as prescribed then it wont have any negative effects.

Side Effects of Taking Them Together

Here are some typical side effects of taking them together
are:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Nuasea

But it can also cause some less typical effects such as heart problems, psychosis, chest pain, dizziness, increased heart rate. If you experience any of the above symptoms in severity, immediately call your medical healthcare professional. Also, please discuss any possible side effects before taking the prescriptions.

Conclusion

Both of these are controlled drugs and can be misused. If you take any of these two, keep them away from your kids and pets and do not share them with others. They are addictive and dangerous, taking them without prescription is illegal. If you feel like you have overdosed or are addicted to adderall even after taking them as prescribed by your practitioner, immediately call your doctor.
Taking adderall and suboxone together can be beneficial when prescribed by an experienced doctor, who knows all your medical history. But if you are using it to self-medicate, it can cause problems.