You might have heard that combining various drugs/medications can be dangerous. That’s true and weed is no exception. Some medications such as certain antidepressants shouldn’t be combined with weed. But what about Adderall and weed? Can you pop a pill while you take a hit from the bong? Is mixing Adderall and weed safe? Here’s what we know.
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What is Adderall?
According to WebMD, Adderall is a stimulant primarily used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine and can help people:
- increase their ability to pay attention
- stay focused on an activity
- control behavior problems
- organize tasks
- improve listening skills
Adderall is also used for narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. As WebMD mentions, Adderall shouldn’t be taken to treat tiredness or hold off sleep if you don’t have a sleeping disorder.
However, many people self-medicate with Adderall even though they may not have a prescription. For example, college students use Adderall to stay up at night and finish assignments. While this may seem like a great plan to them, taking Adderall unregulated and unprescribed can cause problems.
One of those problems is addiction. According to Addiction Center, Adderall releases dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the central nervous system (CNS). As a matter of fact, this drug causes the brain to release an unnatural amount of dopamine. Dopamine is known as the “feel-good” hormone which means it “creates a rewarding effect”. Therefore, people who misuse Adderall could keep going back for that effect thus opening the door to addiction.
Side Effects of Adderall
Adderall has a number of side effects. Arrow Passage mentions:
- Headache
- Stomach pains
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea/constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Gaining weight
- Uncontrollable shaking
In addition to those, there are more serious side effects that Arrow Passage says you should call a doctor if you experience. These include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath/breathing problems
- Difficult/slow speech
- Dizziness/faintness
- Seizures
- Blurred vision
- Swelling of the face
- Hoarseness
- Fever
- Blistering skin
- Rash/hives/itching
Can You Mix Adderall and Marijuana?
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of research about mixing Adderall and marijuana. Drugs.com even said there aren’t any known interactions. However, they caution readers to consider the possibility that there could be interactions that aren’t known.
Mixing Different Types of Drugs
Since Adderall is classified as a stimulant and so is marijuana that raises a red flag. We know that marijuana and other stimulants can cause shaking. Some stoners report shaking after using weed and Adderall can cause uncontrollable shaking. There is a possibility that combining the two can result in that effect. However, that’s an assumption.
Another assumption is that using Adderall would cancel out the effects of weed. According to Arrow Passage Recovery, “Adderall is a stimulant, but marijuana is a stimulant, depressant, and hallucinogen. That means that mixing Adderall and weed could have a balancing effect due to the stimulant/depressant combination.”
Arrow Passage Recovery said that may even be a reason why people mix the two.
However, mixing drugs is often unpredictable and mixing Adderall and marijuana is no exception. Arrow Passage Recovery says that instead of canceling out each other’s effects, mixing both could enhance their effects.
Arrow Passage Recovery said, mixing Adderall and weed could cause, “heightened feelings of euphoria, increased stimulation, and reduced anxiety.”
Risk of Addiction
Both drugs carry some risk of addiction. However, according to Bayan Treatment Center, mixing both can increase the risk. They said, “Together, the drugs may create a more pleasant and desirable high. This increased euphoria can lead to a strong desire to use again and lead to a faster onset of addiction.”
Risk of Overdose
Overdosing on marijuana isn’t really possible in the traditional sense, but you can overdose on Adderall.
Bayan Treatment Center says that since marijuana may dull some of the effects of Adderall, people may opt to take more.
Some of the symptoms of overdose include:
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Depression
- Blurry vision
If you or someone you know is experiencing overdose seek emergency medical care immediately.
Heart Issues
Stoners sometimes say that their heart races when they use weed. In addition to that, if you have existing heart problems, marijuana may exacerbate them.
Adderall also affects the heart, one of the symptoms of Adderall use is an irregular heartbeat. WebMD says, “Adderall can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and cause you to breathe harder. If you take too much of it, you could put your heart and your health at risk”. This is why it’s not prescribed to people who have heart issues.
Part of the reason why weed and Adderall affect the heart is because of their stimulant effects. Combining them may exacerbate existing heart issues or cause your heart to race.
Conclusion
Is mixing Adderall and weed safe? No. While there isn’t a lot of research on it, self-medicating with Adderall is already dangerous. Mixing it with another stimulant such as weed can have negative side effects. Even if weed acts as a depressant, it can still cause negative side effects. Mixing drugs is usually a no-no.
