Adderall Side Effects: "Not Something You Expect for a Young Person"

Peakin, ILWhen patients take medication, side effects they usually watch out for include nausea, vomiting and fatigue, but Adderall side effects may include a risk of Adderall stroke—a serious, life-changing side effect. Chris P. (real name withheld) says his son recently suffered a stroke, which may have been an effect of Adderall.

"Steven is our 33-year-old son," Chris says. "He had been taking Adderall [for ADHD] for years. He missed a dose—or he thought he did—so he doubled up on it. After that, he started having blurry vision, flu-like symptoms and achy joints. Steven got himself to a health center in Colorado, where he immediately had a seizure. They rushed him to the hospital in an ambulance. At the hospital, he had a stroke and another seizure. He spent two months in the hospital, in the intensive care, neurotrauma unit. We just got him back to Illinois where he is presently living in a nursing home.

"The stroke happened in February of this year. Steven had to have brain surgery while he was in the hospital. Doctors had to open up the back of his head and take out 20 percent of his cerebellum and part of his upper vertebrae in order to save his life because there was so much swelling.

"He's able to talk, but with 20 percent of his back and brain gone, Steven will have issues for the rest of his life. His left side, his memory and his balance are all affected. His eyesight and hearing are affected, too. He drools when he tries to speak. He went from a vibrant, active young man to someone that is 100 percent dependent on someone else to take care of him. He has a college degree that's totally useless now. He won't be able to work. He's walking with a walker, but he's very unstable. He's disabled and in a nursing home.

"At that age—it's just not something you expect to see for someone so young.

"Every other possible cause for the stroke has been ruled out. They can't find any cause for it, other than that he was on Adderall and it has a risk of potential strokes. He felt sick just a few days after taking the extra dose.

"If people are considering taking Adderall for a medical problem, they should consider all the risks and warnings about what can happen. This is not something you expect for a young person."