How Adderall works

If you’re already on Adderall, you probably know that this drug is used to help those with ADHD maintain focus. (It’s also a treatment for narcolepsy.) But how does it actually work?

Is Adderall Safe During Pregnancy?

Adderall is a combination of two different drugs: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. These two drugs work in tandem to stimulate the central nervous system and increase the availability of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain.

Though it may sound counterintuitive to take a stimulant when ADHD already makes your mind race a mile a minute, stimulating these particular neurotransmitters actually helps regulate attention and improve focus.

Adderall can be highly effective. One small study from 2001 found that people who took it experienced a 42 percent average decrease in ADHD symptoms.

However, it does come with some drawbacks — whether you’re pregnant or not. Side effects may include:

There’s also a risk of developing an addiction to Adderall.