Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) is a prescription drug used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. This drug can interact with alcohol, other medications, and some supplements. For example, Adderall can interact with antacids and some antidepressants.
Adderall is used in adults and some children to treat:
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Adderall’s possible interactions. And for more information about Adderall, including details about its uses, see this article.
Adderall vs. Adderall XR
There are two forms of Adderall available: Adderall and Adderall XR. Adderall is the immediate-release form of the drug. This means that after you take a dose, the drug begins working right away. But the drug’s effects don’t last all day. Some people may only need to take Adderall once per day, while others may take it every 4–6 hours.
On the other hand, Adderall XR is an extended-release form of the drug. That means the drug is slowly released into your body over time to manage your ADHD symptoms. Adderall XR is only taken once daily.
Adderall and Adderall XR contain the same active ingredients, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. This means they also have the same interactions. But this article focuses on Adderall only.
To learn more about Adderall XR, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Adderall. In that case, your doctor may not prescribe Adderall for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Adderall.
If you have a history of drug misuse. Adderall has a risk of misuse and dependence. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning for this risk. (To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section at the beginning of this article.) If you’ve misused or been dependent on drugs before, your doctor may recommend a drug other than Adderall.
If you have heart disease or high blood pressure. Adderall may raise your risk of heart problems or high blood pressure. If you already have heart disease or high blood pressure, taking Adderall could worsen your condition. If you have one of these conditions, talk with your doctor before taking Adderall. They’ll likely recommend a different drug for you.
If you have hyperthyroidism. If you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), your doctor will likely treat this condition before prescribing Adderall. This is because Adderall can make the symptoms of an overactive thyroid even worse.
If you have glaucoma. Adderall can cause increased eye pressure. If you have glaucoma, taking Adderall may make your condition worse. Your doctor will likely recommend a drug other than Adderall for your condition.
If you have agitation. If you have agitation, your doctor may recommend a drug other than Adderall for you. This is because Adderall may make your agitation worse.
If you’ve recently taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Your doctor will not prescribe Adderall if you’re currently taking an MAOI or have taken one in the past 14 days. This is because taking an MAOI with Adderall may raise your risk of serious high blood pressure, which can even be life threatening. To help prevent this interaction, you should wait at least 14 days after your last dose of an MAOI before taking Adderall. Examples of MAOIs may include:
- phenelzine (Nardil)
- methylene blue (ProvayBlue)
- selegiline (Emsam)
- tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- isocarboxazid (Marplan)
If you’ve had an allergic reaction. If you have had an allergic reaction to Adderall or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Adderall. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start taking Adderall, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Adderall is safe for you to take.
Adderall may interact with alcohol. It’s best to avoid alcohol while you’re taking Adderall. This is because alcohol can raise your risk of certain side effects from Adderall.
For example, both Adderall and alcohol can both cause high blood pressure or fast or irregular heartbeat. Combining alcohol and Adderall can raise your risk of these side effects. Or it could make these side effects more severe if you do experience them.
In addition, alcohol may worsen symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which Adderall is used to treat.
Drinking alcohol while taking Adderall may decrease the effects that you feel from alcohol. This may cause you to drink more than usual, which can be dangerous.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before taking Adderall.
Before you start taking Adderall, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The chart below lists drugs that may interact with Adderall. Keep in mind that this chart does not include all drugs that may interact with Adderall. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
alkalinizing agents | ? acetazolamide ? sodium bicarbonate | ? can increase the effects of Adderall ? can raise the risk of side effects from Adderall |
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) | ? doxepin (Silenor) ? desipramine ? (Norpramin) ? amitriptyline ? nortriptyline (Pamelor) | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can increase the effects of Adderall or TCAs |
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) | ? fluoxetine (Prozac) ? sertraline (Zoloft) ? citalopram (Celexa) ? paroxetine (Paxil) | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can raise the risk of side effects from Adderall and SSRIs |
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) | ? duloxetine (Cymbalta) ? venlafaxine (Effexor XR) ? desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can increase the risk of side effects from Adderall and SNRIs |
quinidine | can increase the risk of side effects from Adderall and quinidine | |
ritonavir (Norvir) | can raise the risk of side effects from Adderall and ritonavir | |
triptans | ? sumatriptan (Imitrex) ? zolmitriptan (Zomig) ? eletriptan (Relpax) ? rizatriptan (Maxalt) | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can increase the risk of side effects from Adderall and triptans |
certain opioids | ? tramadol (Ultram) ? fentanyl (Subsys) ? meperidine (Demerol) | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can raise the risk of side effects from Adderall and certain opioids ? Adderall can also increase the effects of meperidine |
lithium (Lithobid) | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can increase the risk of side effects from Adderall and lithium ? can make Adderall less effective | |
buspirone | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can raise the risk of side effects from Adderall and buspirone | |
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) | ? tranylcypromine (Parnate) ? isocarboxazid (Marplan) ? methylene blue (ProvayBlue) ? selegiline (Emsam) | Can raise the risk of serious side effects from Adderall and MAOIs. Due to this risk, your doctor will not prescribe an MAOI with Adderall. For more information, see “When should I avoid Adderall?” above. |
chlorpromazine | can make Adderall less effective | |
ethosuximide (Zarontin) | can make ethosuximide less effective | |
haloperidol (Haldol) | can make Adderall less effective | |
certain seizure medications | ? phenobarbital ? phenytoin (Dilantin) ? ethosuximide (Zarontin) | can make your seizure medication less effective |
proton pump inhibitors | ? omeprazole (Prilosec) ? esomeprazole (Nexium) ? pantoprazole (Protonix) | can increase the effects of Adderall |
antacids | ? sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer) ? magnesium hydroxide ? calcium carbonate (Tums) | can increase your risk of side effects from Adderall |
H2 blockers | ? cimetidine (Tagamet HB) ? famotidine (Pepcid AC) | can raise your risk of side effects from Adderall |
bupropion (Wellbutrin SR) | can increase your risk of side effects from bupropion | |
phentermine (Adipex-P) | can raise your risk of side effects from Adderall and phentermine | |
trazodone | ? can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome ? can increase your risk of side effects from Adderall and trazodone | |
atomoxetine (Strattera) | can raise your risk of side effects from Adderall and atomoxetine | |
blood pressure drugs | ? propranolol (Inderal LA, InnoPran XL) ? metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL) ? losartan (Cozaar) ? lisinopril (Zestril) | can make your blood pressure medication less effective |
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Adderall.
Interaction with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Adderall may interact with certain antidepressants, such as SNRIs. See the chart below for details.
What could happen | Examples of SNRIs | What you can do |
can cause serotonin syndrome, a drug reaction that can be dangerous | ? duloxetine (Cymbalta) ? venlafaxine (Effexor XR) ? desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) | Before taking Adderall, your doctor will discuss the risk of serotonin syndrome with you. During your Adderall treatment, watch for symptoms of serotonin syndrome, including agitation, confusion, or twitching muscles. If you develop symptoms, call your doctor right away or go to the hospital. |
Interaction with bupropion (Wellbutrin SR)
Adderall may interact with bupropion, which is an antidepressant. Learn more in the chart below.
What could happen | What you can do |
can raise your risk of having a seizure, especially if you’ve had seizures in the past | Your doctor may monitor your seizure risk closely while you take Adderall with Wellbutrin. In some cases, they may recommend that you take a drug other than Adderall to treat your condition |
Interaction with atomoxetine (Strattera)
Adderall and atomoxetine may interact, as described below.
What could happen | What you can do |
can raise the risk of high blood pressure | Due to this risk, your doctor will likely monitor your blood pressure closely while you’re taking both Adderall and Strattera. Or if they determine it’s not safe for you to take Adderall and Strattera together, they’ll recommend other treatment options. |
Adderall may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details.
Does Adderall interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Adderall, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
Adderall may interact with supplements containing tryptophan. This is because tryptophan increases the amount of serotonin in your body. And taking this with Adderall may increase your risk of serotonin syndrome occurring.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Adderall interactions with herbs
Adderall can interact with an herbal supplement called St. John’s wort, which may be used to treat depression.
Taking Adderall with St. John’s wort can raise your risk of serotonin syndrome, a drug reaction that can be dangerous. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend that you stop using St. John’s wort during your Adderall treatment.
If you have questions about this interaction, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Adderall interactions with vitamins
Adderall may interact with vitamin C. Taking Adderall with vitamin C could make Adderall less effective. Your doctor may recommend spacing out your doses of Adderall and vitamin C by at least 1 hour to prevent this interaction.
Does Adderall interact with food?
Adderall can interact with caffeine. This is because both Adderall and caffeine have stimulant effects. When used together, this can raise your risk of certain side effects from the medication, including anxiety or a fast heart rate. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend limiting your caffeine during your Adderall treatment.
Examples of foods and drinks that may contain caffeine include:
- coffee
- chocolate
- soda
- some dietary supplements
- teas, including green tea
Does Adderall interact with lab tests?
Adderall may interfere with urine steroid tests used to check your corticosteroid levels. Your doctor may order this type of test if they’re trying to see how well your adrenal glands are working.
If you need to have a urinary steroid test done, it’s important that your doctor knows you’re taking Adderall.
Does Adderall interact with cannabis or CBD?Cannabis (marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Adderall.
Before you start treatment with Adderall, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Adderall. Before taking Adderall, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Adderall is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Adderall include:
- Tourette syndrome or tics. Tell your doctor if you have Tourette syndrome or tics. Adderall may worsen the symptoms of these conditions. During your Adderall treatment, your doctor may monitor you closely to make sure the drug isn’t making the symptoms of your condition worse.
- Blood circulation problems. Adderall may decrease your blood circulation, especially to your fingers or toes. If you already have a condition that affects blood circulation, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, Adderall may make your condition worse. Your doctor can determine whether Adderall is a safe treatment option for you.
- Heart problems, including high blood pressure. Adderall can raise your risk of heart problems, including heart attack or stroke. If you already have heart problems, taking Adderall could make them worse. Before taking Adderall, tell your doctor about any heart problems you have. They may monitor your heart during your treatment. In some cases, they may recommend a drug other than Adderall for you.
- Glaucoma. Adderall can cause increased eye pressure. If you have glaucoma, taking Adderall may make your condition worse. Your doctor will likely recommend a drug other than Adderall for your condition.
- Mood disorders. If you have certain mood disorders, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder, Adderall could worsen your condition. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend a drug other than Adderall for you.
- Seizures. If you have a seizure disorder, taking Adderall could raise your risk of a seizure. If you’ve had seizures before, your doctor can determine whether it’s safe for you to take Adderall. And if you have a seizure while taking Adderall, your doctor will have you stop taking the drug and switch to a different treatment.
- Thyroid problems. Adderall may make symptoms of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) worse. For example, both Adderall and hyperthyroidism can cause a fast heart rate. Your doctor will likely treat your thyroid condition before prescribing Adderall.
- Pregnancy. It’s not known if it may be safe to take Adderall during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Adderall.
- Breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while taking Adderall. Adderall passes into breast milk and can cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.
- Past drug dependence or misuse. Adderall has a risk of misuse and dependence. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning for this risk. (To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section above.) If you’ve misused or been dependent on drugs before, your doctor may recommend a drug other than Adderall.
- Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Adderall or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Adderall. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Adderall and possible interactions.
Does Adderall interact with benzodiazepines?
Adderall isn’t known to interact with benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs that can be used to treat anxiety. Examples of benzodiazepines include:
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
It’s important to note that clonazepam can also be used to treat certain seizure disorders. Adderall may raise your risk of seizures. If you’re using clonazepam for a seizure disorder, talk with your doctor before taking Adderall. They can determine whether it’s safe for you to take these drugs together.
Is it safe to take Adderall with gabapentin (Neurontin)?
There are no known interactions between gabapentin and Adderall. There aren’t any known interactions between these drugs.
Gabapentin is a drug used to treat nerve pain or to manage seizure disorders. Adderall may raise your risk of seizures. If you take gabapentin for a seizure disorder, talk with your doctor before taking Adderall. They can determine whether these drugs are safe to take together.
Can I take Adderall with Abilify?
Yes, you can likely take Adderall with aripiprazole (Abilify). These drugs are not known to interact with each other.
Abilify is a drug that treats certain mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. If you have other questions about taking these drugs together, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I take Adderall with the supplement lion’s mane?
There aren’t any reported interactions between Adderall and the mushroom supplement lion’s mane. Lion’s mane may be used to help treat anxiety, depression, or nerve problems.
If you’re interested in taking lion’s mane during your Adderall treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Adderall. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a
medication list . - What to do if you start taking a new drug during your Adderall treatment.
It’s also important to read Adderall’s
If you need help understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Adderall exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
If you still have questions about Adderall and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Does my risk of interactions depend on my Adderall dosage?
- Do other drugs for ADHD or narcolepsy have the same interactions as Adderall?
- Should I tell you if I start taking another medication or supplement while I’m taking Adderall?
- Could I still take Adderall even if it interacts with a health condition I have?
To learn more about Adderall, see this article: All About Adderall
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.