Adderall typically isn’t prescribed for bipolar disorder. But some mental health professionals may prescribe it for off-label use to help treat depressive and manic episodes and more.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood. Treatment can include a variety of different medications, therapy, or both.

Sometimes, doctors may use a stimulant medication called Adderall to treat depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, this isn’t a common treatment method and may have several side effects.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Adderall for the treatment of bipolar disorder. The medication has approval for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

However, some mental health professionals rarely prescribe Adderall off-label for bipolar disorder to help with:

  • depressive episodes
  • improving mood
  • increase energy
  • co-occurring (comorbid) conditions

A 2021 case report of two people with ADHD and bipolar disorder, which are often comorbidities, looked at the effects of treatment with mixed amphetamine salts and without a mood stabilizer. Amphetamine is an ingredient in Adderall.

The paper notes that treatment of bipolar disorder without a mood stabilizer is often not recommended. The participants may also not all be truly bipolar.

The results show that mixed amphetamine salts may be an effective treatment for ADHD and bipolar disorder, even without a mood stabilizer. Specifically, the two cases reported:

However, these cases don’t necessarily mean that this treatment would be effective in other instances of comorbid bipolar disorder and ADHD.

Rather, the results are an early demonstration of the possibility that this strategy could be effective in similar cases where the line between bipolar disorder and ADHD is gray.

A call for more research

More research is necessary to determine the safety and effectiveness of stimulants such as Adderall in treating bipolar disorder. Currently, their use remains controversial due to several potential side effects.

Future research is also needed to understand treatment in cases where differentiation between these disorders is clearer and whether such a treatment strategy would be effective long term.

»LEARN MORE:All about Adderall

In people with both ADHD and bipolar disorder, taking medications to treat bipolar disorder symptoms takes precedence over treating ADHD symptoms. Sometimes, stimulants may be an option alongside these medications.

While Adderall may help treat symptoms common to both bipolar disorder and ADHD, the symptoms of mania may persist after the effects of Adderall wear off.

However, some antipsychotics used in the treatment of bipolar disorder may help protect against mania.

Taking Adderall to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder may have risks, including:

  • Manic episodes: Stimulants like Adderall may increase the risk of a manic episode. Such was the case for some young adults and adolescents with ADHD in a 2019 study.
  • Tolerance: Taking Adderall over a long period may lead to tolerance. In these cases, you may need a higher dose of Adderall. This may increase the risk of severe side effects or overdose.
  • Addiction: Adderall has a high potential for misuse and addiction.

Some additional side effects that commonly occur when using Adderall may include:

Several medications may negatively interact with Adderall:

Learn more about Adderall’s side effects and medication interactions.

Common types of treatments for bipolar disorder include:

  • Mood stabilizers: These medications manage the changes in mood associated with bipolar disorder. Examples include lithium and valproic acid.
  • Antipsychotics: Some antipsychotic medications may be used either alone or in combination with a mood stabilizer. Examples include risperidone, olanzapine, and lurasidone.
  • Antidepressants: Antidepressants may be used occasionally to treat depressive episodes. However, they may sometimes trigger or increase the risk of a manic episode.
  • Therapy: Therapy can help you better understand your condition and increase awareness of when you’re experiencing a manic or depressive episode. It can also help you pinpoint troubling thoughts or behaviors and work to positively change them.
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): ECT uses electrical impulses to stimulate your brain. It may be an option during a severe depressive or manic episode or when medications and therapy haven’t been effective.
  • Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, maintaining routines, and tracking changes in your mood, may help with symptom management.

Adderall is a stimulant medication people often take to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Rarely a person may also take Adderall off-label to treat bipolar disorder.

While some studies indicate that stimulants may help with depressive and manic episodes and effectively treat comorbid conditions, such as ADHD, they may have some downsides.

This may include an increased risk of manic episodes, tolerance, or addiction.

The treatment of bipolar disorder most often involves both medications and therapy. Typically, this combination may effectively manage symptoms.

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