Adderall Use in Adult Women With ADHD and Side Effects

Attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity‑impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development (American Psychiatric Association, DSM‑5‑TR). Adderall® is a Schedule II combination of four amphetamine salts (mixed amphetamine salts, MAS) that exerts its therapeutic effect by blocking dopamine and norepinephrine re‑uptake and promoting presynaptic release in the prefrontal cortex.

ADHD now affects an estimated 6 % of U.S. adults (≈ 15.5 million), and stimulant prescriptions for women aged 15‑44 rose ≥ 14 % in a single year (2020‑2021) according to the CDC’s MarketScan analysis. (cdc.gov) In Indiana specifically, 15.1 % of adult women reported non‑medical use of prescription or illicit drugs in the past year—placing the state 28ᵗʰ nationwide (America’s Health Rankings 2024). (americashealthrankings.org) DEA data further show that women surpassed men in total dispensed stimulant prescriptions in 2022. (deaecom.gov)