Adderall is a prescription medication that contains highly stimulating amphetamines.

Its most commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, but its increasingly taken by healthy adults to improve attention and focus (64).

Adderall works by increasing the availability of the brain chemicals dopamine and noradrenaline within your prefrontal cortex, an area of your brain that controls working memory, attention and behavior (65).

The amphetamines found in Adderall make people feel more awake, attentive and optimistic. They also reduce appetite (66).

A review of 48 studies found that Adderall significantly improved peoples ability to control their behavior and enhanced short-term memory (67).

Depending on the dose and type of pill prescribed, the effects last up to 12 hours (68).

Its important to note that these drugs are not without side effects.

Adderall is widely abused on college campuses, with some surveys indicating that up to 43% of students use stimulant drugs without a prescription (69).

The side effects of Adderall abuse include anxiety, low sex drive and sweating (70).

Recreational Adderall abuse can also cause more severe side effects, such as heart attack, especially when mixed with alcohol (71, 72, 73).

Evidence that Adderall enhances mental performance is strong, but it should only be taken as prescribed.

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