Can you take Phentermine and Adderall together?
By
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii, PhD, is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drug Design and Development, Enzymes, Molecular Modelling, and Photodynamic Therapy. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii’s Highlights:
- Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo, emphasizing therapy of neglected diseases using light.
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Six months as an international researcher at the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (University of California San Diego)
- Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes – São Paulo / Brazil
Professional Experience:
2012 – 2018 Project manager at University of São Paulo – Pharmacy Department
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii has worked with computational studies, synthesis, biological evaluation, design, and development of new inhibitor candidates for Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis.
2017 – 2017 International research fellow at University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases.
She used Virtual Screening (VS) and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Integration in the Discovery of new drugs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2018 – 2019 Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, teaching the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Development.
2019 – 2021 Researcher in Biochemistry University of São Paulo – Biochemistry Department
She applied Photodynamic Therapy in Leishmaniasis Treatment, mentored undergraduate students in scientific activities, and wrote, executed, translated, and reported scientific projects with funding agencies.
2023-2023 UniPiaget – University Center.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a Biology, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy professor.
Education:
2018 -2021 Postdoctoral at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo
2013 -2018 PhD of Science: Drugs and Medicines at Department of Pharmacy at University of São Paulo
2012 -2013 M.Sc. of Sciences: Drugs and Medicines at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of São Paulo
2005-2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes
The leading publications of Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii are:
Vital-Fujii, D.G, Baptista, M.S. (2021). Progress in the photodynamic therapy treatment of Leishmaniasis. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54, 1-11.
Gatti, F. M., Gomes, R.A., da Fonseca, A.L., Lima, E.J.C., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Taranto, A.G., Varotti, F.P., Trossini, G.H.G. (2020). Antiplasmodial activity of sulfonylhydrazones: in vitro and in silico approaches. Future medicinal chemistry, 13, 233-250.
Silva, E.J., Bezerra-Souza, A., Passero, L.F., Laurenti, M.D., Ferreira, G.M., Fujii, D.G.V., et al. (2018). Synthesis, leishmanicidal activity, structural descriptors and structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives. Future medicinal chemistry, 10, 2069-2085.
Leite, F.H.A., Froes, T.Q., da Silva, S.G., de Souza, E.I.M., Vital-Fuji,i D.G., Trossini, G.H.G., et al. (2017). An integrated approach towards the discovery of novel non-nucleoside Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1 inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 132, 322-332.
Vital, D.G., Damasceno, F.S., Rapado, L.N., Silber, A.M., Vilella, F.S., Ferreira, R.S., et al. (2017). Application of bioisosterism in design of the semicarbazone derivatives as cruzain inhibitors: a theoretical and experimental study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 35, 1244–1259.
Mello, J. F.R., Gomes, R.A., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Ferreira, G.M., Trossini, G.H.G. (2017). Fragment-based drug discovery as alternative strategy to the drug development for neglected diseases. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 90, 1067-1078.
Pantaleao, S.Q., Fujii, D.G.V., Maltarollo, V.G., da C. Silva, D., Trossini, G.H.G., Weber, K.C., et al. (2017). The Role of QSAR and Virtual Screening Studies in Type 2 Diabetes Drug Discovery. Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 706-720.
Vital, D., Arribas, M., Trossini, G. (2014). Molecular Modeling and Docking Application to Evaluate Cruzain Inhibitory Activity by Chalcones and Hydrazides. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, 11, 249-255.
Blau, L., Menegon, R.F., Trossini, G.H.G., Molino, J.V.D., Vital, D.G., Cicarelli, R.M.B., et al. (2013). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, 142-151.
You can view some of Dr Drielli’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9270-0466
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Drielli-Gomes-Vital-Fujii
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55829534000
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F9U50AEAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/driellivital
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/6101380/drielli-gomes-vital
CDIPD: https://cdipd.org/index.php/about-us/visiting-scientists
Can you take Phentermine and Adderall together?
No, it is not recommended to take Phentermine and Adderall together. Both of these meds are psychostimulants – which means they both stimulate your central nervous system (CNS).
Too much excitatory activity in your brain is considered dangerous because of the potential side effects. Phentermine and Adderall also interact with each other and the side effects of this combination can be quite disturbing.
What are the side effects of using Phentermine and Adderall together?
The use of Phentermine and Adderall together can cause the following complications (1,2):
- Risk of serotonin syndrome
- Cardiovascular side effects
- Over-excitation
Risk of serotonin syndrome
Using these two meds together can put you at risk of serotonin syndrome. Although it is very rare, serotonin syndrome is a serious condition which is triggered by too much serotonergic activity in your brain.
Serotonin is an excitatory monoamine neurotransmitter that is responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and various other psychological processes. If a lot of active serotonin is available in your system, it will lead to disturbing symptoms including:
- Excessive sweating
- Fever with chills
- confusion
- Restlessness and fatigue
- Headache, which often feels like your head is pounding – more common with Phentermine
- Changes in blood pressure and/or temperature
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Bradycardia
- Tremors
- Muscle twitching and muscle pain
- Shivering and goosebumps
Cardiovascular side effects
The concomitant use of Phentermine and Adderall can affect your heart and blood pressure.
These meds together can even put you at a high risk of stroke or a heart attack, especially if you already are a cardiac patient or you suffer from hypertension. Arrhythmia and palpitations are also expected.
Over-excitation
Since both Phentermine and Adderall are psychostimulants, they can induce over-excitation.
This condition is usually associated with excessive neuronal firing in your brain which can put you at risk of a number of side effects, some mild and some severe in nature. Common side effects include:
- Excitation
- Erratic behaviour
- Restlessness
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Sleep disturbances
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Confusion
- Tremors
Serious side effects are seizures. Such cases generally require immediate medical attention.
Advice from your pharmacist
Do not take Phentermine, Adderall, or any other medication without your doctor’s approval. Deviating from your prescription can cause a number of harmful effects.
Phentermine and Adderall are not generally used together. Even if they are for some reason, your doctor will adjust the dose to avoid any nerve-racking side effects.
Just make sure you stick to the prescription entirely and don’t change the dose, frequency, or suggested timings on your own.
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References
1.-
MedlinePlus. Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine. MedlinePlus drug information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Feb 15; cited 2022 Dec 02]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601234.html
2.-
MedlinePlus. Phentermine. MedlinePlus drug information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Feb 15; cited 2022 Dec 02]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682187.html
