Health

What to Know About Adderall, Ritalin and Other Prescription Stimulants

Published

11 months ago

March 29, 2025

What to Know About Adderall, Ritalin and Other Prescription Stimulants

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has often criticized prescription stimulants, such as Adderall, that are primarily used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“We have damaged this entire generation,” he said last year during a podcast, referring to the number of children taking psychiatric medications. “We have poisoned them.”

In February, the “Make America Healthy Again” commission, led by Mr. Kennedy, announced plans to evaluate the “threat” posed by drugs like prescription stimulants.

But are they a threat? And if so, to whom?

Like many medications, prescription stimulants have potential side effects, and there are people who misuse them. Yet these drugs are also considered some of the most effective and well-researched treatments that psychiatry has to offer, said Dr. Jeffrey H. Newcorn, the director of the Division of A.D.H.D. and Learning Disorders at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Here are some answers to common questions and concerns about stimulants.

What are prescription stimulants?

Prescription stimulants are drugs that help change the way the brain works by increasing the communication among neurons.

They are divided into two classes: methylphenidates (like Ritalin, Focalin and Concerta) and amphetamines (like Vyvanse and Adderall).

The drugs are most often prescribed to treat A.D.H.D., but they’re also used for conditions like narcolepsy or a binge eating disorder. Sometimes they are also used off-label, for treatment-resistant depression, or catatonia, a syndrome that can cause a patient to move in unusual ways, become immobile or stop talking.

The medications work by amplifying the activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the nerve cells of the brain. Dopamine plays a role in creating the desire for something and the motivation to get it, while norepinephrine can increase alertness and make it easier to focus.

People with A.D.H.D. may have a deficit of both of these chemicals, so when they use stimulants it essentially helps “even them out,” said Dr. Anthony L. Rostain, chairman of the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care, which is based in Camden, N.J.

For some users, the effects are profound. “It’s like glasses for poor vision,” Dr. Rostain said.

Are stimulants always used to treat A.D.H.D.?

No.

Not everyone who has been diagnosed with A.D.H.D. takes stimulants. There are also non-stimulant medications, like Strattera (atomoxetine). And some people don’t require any medication at all.

Other interventions, such as behavioral therapy, parent training, school supports, and lifestyle changes to regulate sleep and exercise, are important — regardless of whether someone needs medication or not.

How many people are taking them?

The use of prescription stimulants has been on the rise since 2012, particularly among adults, and has sharply increased in recent years among women as well as patients ages 20 to 39.

In 2023, an estimated 6 percent of adults had a current diagnosis of A.D.H.D. and about one-third of those patients reported taking prescription stimulant medication, according to an analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In children and adolescents, however, the number of stimulant prescriptions has been more stable in recent decades.

Overall, it is estimated that about 5 percent of children in the U.S. are currently prescribed medication for A.D.H.D. (Not 15 percent, the number stated by Mr. Kennedy during his confirmation hearing in January.)

A study published in February found that prescriptions actually declined among children after the pandemic began.

How often are prescription stimulants misused?

Government drug use surveys show that in 2022, among people 12 and older, 1.5 percent reported misusing prescription stimulants in the past year — taking the drugs without a doctor telling them to do so, or not in the manner they were prescribed. Sometimes people are aspiring to be more productive or to stay awake, but the drugs are also used recreationally, and can produce a high by swallowing, smoking or snorting the medication — or injecting it into the bloodstream.

Young adults ages 18 to 25 had the highest rates of misuse: 3.7 percent.

Among adolescents 12 to 17, the percentage of misuse was much smaller: 0.9 percent.

This number can vary depending on where they live: In some U.S. schools, as many as 1 in 4 high school students report misusing prescription stimulants, often motivated by their desire to perform better in school. Some schools report no issue with stimulant misuse.

What are the potential side effects?

Taking stimulants can cause elevated blood pressure and heart rate, a reduced appetite, difficulty sleeping, and restlessness or agitation.

Other common side effects include headaches, an increase in body temperature and abdominal pain.

Less frequently, stimulants have been known to temporarily slow a child’s growth, Dr. Rostain said, which is why they should have their height and weight monitored by a medical provider while they’re taking the drugs.

There is also a small risk of developing psychosis that may be tied to dosage. And when stimulants are misused, they can be addictive.

Patients and their doctors have to weigh the benefits of taking stimulants against these risks. A.D.H.D., particularly when left untreated, is associated with reckless behaviors like careless driving, unsafe sex, substance abuse and aggression. A recent study showed that people with the diagnosis are, on average, dying earlier than their peers — about seven years earlier for men, and about nine for women.

How long should stimulants be used?

It depends.

Studies have shown that A.D.H.D. symptoms can change over time, improving and then worsening again, or vice versa. “It’s not consistent,” Dr. Rostain said. “They wax and wane for many people.”

As a result, he added, people may end up using A.D.H.D. medications intermittently.

Still, some people take these drugs longer term, said Dr. Lenard A. Adler, the director of NYU Langone Health’s Adult A.D.H.D. Program.

“That being said, it’s always appropriate when someone is stable on psychostimulants to attempt to lower the dose,” Dr. Adler added.

If a patient continues to do well, he said, then it’s worth exploring whether the medication is still needed.

Is there still a medication shortage?

Yes.

The stimulant shortage that began in 2022 continues. According to the Food and Drug Administration, as of March, methylphenidate hydrochloride extended release tablets and patches, as well as other types of amphetamine tablets, are either unavailable or in short supply.

The availability of specific drugs and formulations can vary by region, Dr. Rostain said.

“It leads to a lot of uncertainty, unpredictability and a lot of anxiety on the part of patients,” he added.

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Health

Heart disease threat projected to climb sharply for key demographic

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Heart disease threat projected to climb sharply for key demographic

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A new report by the American Heart Association (AHA) included some troubling predictions for the future of women’s health.

The forecast, published in the journal Circulation on Wednesday, projected increases in various comorbidities in American females by 2050.

More than 59% of women were predicted to have high blood pressure, up from less than 49% currently.

The review also projected that more than 25% of women will have diabetes, compared to about 15% today, and more than 61% will have obesity, compared to 44% currently.

As a result of these risk factors, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7%.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in women is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7% by 2050. (iStock)

Not all trends were negative, as unhealthy cholesterol prevalence is expected to drop to about 22% from more than 42% today, the report stated.

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Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist and founder of Step One Foods in Minnesota, commented on these “jarring findings.”

“The fact that on our current trajectory, cardiometabolic disease is projected to explode in women within one generation should be a huge wake-up call,” she told Fox News Digital.

NEARLY 90% OF AMERICANS AT RISK OF SILENT DISEASE — HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

“Hypertension, diabetes, obesity — these are all major risk factors for heart disease, and we are already seeing what those risks are driving. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, eclipsing all other causes of death, including breast cancer.”

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and around the world. (iStock)

Klodas warned that heart disease starts early, progresses “stealthily,” and can present “out of the blue in devastating ways.”

The AHA published another study on Thursday revealing one million hospitalizations, showing that heart attack deaths are climbing among adults below the age of 55.

The more alarming finding, according to Klodas, is that young women were found more likely to die after their first heart attack than men of the same age.

DOCTOR SHARES 3 SIMPLE CHANGES TO STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT AS YOU AGE

“This is all especially tragic since heart disease is almost entirely preventable,” she said. “The earlier you start, the better.”

Children can show early evidence of plaque deposition in their arteries, which can be reversed through lifestyle changes if “undertaken early enough and aggressively enough,” according to the expert.

Moving more is one part of protecting a healthy heart, according to experts. (iStock)

Klodas suggested that rising heart conditions are associated with traditional risk factors, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

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Doctors are also seeing higher rates of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, as well as gestational diabetes. Klodas noted that these are sex-specific risk factors that don’t typically contribute to complications until after menopause.

The best way to protect a healthy heart is to “do the basics,” Klodas recommended, including the following lifestyle habits.

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Klodas especially emphasized making improvements to diet, as the food people eat affects “every single risk factor that the AHA’s report highlights.”

“High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, excess weight – these are all conditions that are driven in part or in whole by food,” she said. “We eat multiple times every single day, which means what we eat has profound cumulative effects over time.”

“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health,” a doctor said. (iStock)

“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health.”

The doctor also recommends changing out a few snacks per day for healthier choices, which has been proven to “yield medication-level cholesterol reductions” in a month.

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“Keep up that small change and, over the course of a year, you could also lose 20 pounds and reduce your sodium intake enough to avoid blood pressure-lowering medications,” Klodas added.

“Women should not view the AHA report as inevitable. We have power over our health destinies. We just need to use it.”

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Health

Vanessa Williams, 62, Opens up About Weight Loss and HRT After Menopause

Published

16 hours ago

February 26, 2026

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Vanessa Williams, 62, Opens up About Weight Loss and HRT After Menopause

Vanessa Williams Opens up About Weight Loss and HRT | Woman’s World

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Health

Common vision issue linked to type of lighting used in Americans’ homes

Published

17 hours ago

February 26, 2026

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Common vision issue linked to type of lighting used in Americans’ homes

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Nearsightedness (myopia) is skyrocketing globally, with nearly half of the world’s population expected to be myopic by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.

Heavy use of smartphones and other devices is associated with an 80% higher risk of myopia when combined with excessive computer use, but a new study suggests that dim indoor lighting could also be a factor.

For years, scientists have been puzzled by the different ways myopia is triggered. In lab settings, it can be induced by blurring vision or using different lenses. Conversely, it can be slowed by something as simple as spending time outdoors, research suggests.

Nearsightedness occurs when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). This physical elongation causes light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it, making distant objects appear blurry.

The study suggests that myopia isn’t caused by the digital devices themselves, but by the low-light environments where they are typically used. (iStock)

Researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry identified a potential specific trigger for this growth. When someone looks at a phone or a book up close, the pupil naturally constricts.

COMMON VISION ISSUE COULD LEAD TO MISSED CANCER WARNING, STUDY FINDS

“In bright outdoor light, the pupil constricts to protect the eye while still allowing ample light to reach the retina,” Urusha Maharjan, a SUNY Optometry doctoral student who conducted the study, said in a press release.

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“When people focus on close objects indoors, such as phones, tablets or books, the pupil can also constrict — not because of brightness, but to sharpen the image,” she went on. “In dim lighting, this combination may significantly reduce retinal illumination.”

High-intensity natural light prevents myopia because it provides enough retinal stimulation to override the “stop growing” signal, even when pupils are constricted. (iStock)

The hypothesis suggests that when the retina is deprived of light during extended close-up work, it sends a signal for the eye to grow.

In a dim environment, the narrowed pupil allows so little light through that the retinal activity isn’t strong enough to signal the eye to stop growing, the researchers found.

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In contrast, being outdoors provides light levels much brighter than indoors. This ensures that even when the pupil narrows to focus on a nearby object, the retina still receives a strong signal, maintaining healthy eye development.

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The team noted some limitations of the study, including the small subject group and the inability to directly measure internal lens changes, as the bright backgrounds used to mimic the outdoors made pupils too small for standard equipment.

Researchers believe that increasing indoor brightness during close-up work could be a simple, testable way to slow the global nearsightedness epidemic. (iStock)

“This is not a final answer,” Jose-Manuel Alonso, MD, PhD, SUNY distinguished professor and senior author of the study, said in the release.

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“But the study offers a testable hypothesis that reframes how visual habits, lighting and eye focusing interact.”

The study was published in the journal Cell Reports.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.