Weight Loss and ADD Drugs

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a condition that affects a person's ability to concentrate. Medications from the stimulant family are the most commonly prescribed ADD treatments. These speed metabolism and other bodily functions, sometimes causing weight loss as a side effect.

Stimulant Medications

• Stimulants help improve focus and concentration in people with ADD. They work by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain, which can cause physical changes such as increased blood pressure, breathing and pulse rate.

  Amphetamines such as Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine), Dexadrine (dextroamphetamine) and Desoxyn (methamphetamine) are among the most frequently prescribed ADD medications. Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a relative of the amphetamines but is actually closer in structure and effects to cocaine, according to the University of Utah.

Weight Loss

• All central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are capable of causing weight loss. According to eMedTV, weight loss is the most common side effect of the popular ADD drug Adderall.

  Occasionally, Adderall and other stimulants may be prescribed off-label for weight management. These medications cause weight loss by speeding metabolism while simultaneously suppressing appetite. Still, stimulants are no magic bullet. Weight lost while taking stimulants may come back quickly upon quitting the medication. In addition, amphetamines may be habit forming and have the potential for abuse; or they may lose efficacy over time.

Side Effects

• While weight loss is considered desirable, stimulants can cause unwanted side effects too. According to RXList, stimulants increase the risk of death by heart attack, stroke and other heart-related conditions. All stimulants elevate heart rate and blood pressure, which can trigger these deadly events in predisposed individuals.

  Psychosis is a well-known effect of amphetamine abuse. The National Institutes of Health reports that amphetamine-induced psychosis resembles paranoid schizophrenia and can persist after other effects have worn off. Less serious psychological effects include anxiety, insomnia and irritability. Stimulants have the potential for abuse and addiction in susceptible people.

The Verdict

• While ADD medications are sometimes prescribed off-label as a weight loss aid, they aren't considered a safe or effective means of weight loss for the general population. The risk for serious side effects and abuse makes stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin a poor choice for weight loss in the absence of ADD.