A study conducted by Mayo Clinic evaluated the acute cardiovascular effects of a single 25 mg dose of mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) in healthy young adults. The objective was to assess how the stimulant influences blood pressure, heart rate, and sympathetic nervous system activity in individuals without a medical prescription for the drug.
According to Dr. Anna Svatikova, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study, the research focused on short-term changes in cardiovascular hemodynamics following a single dose.
Although Adderall is considered safe and effective when prescribed for ADHD and medically supervised, the study suggests that unsupervised use may pose underestimated cardiovascular risks.
The findings showed that even participants with no prior exposure experienced notable increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and activation of the body’s stress response system. Additionally, the normal heart rate increase upon standing nearly doubled after ingestion of Adderall.
Lead author Dr. Kiran Somers reported that the average heart rate increase when standing rose from 19 beats per minute before the medication to 38 beats per minute after administration.
Researchers emphasized that these observations apply specifically to off-prescription, short-term use and should not be generalized to long-term, medically supervised treatment for ADHD.
