Does Lexapro affect Adderall? (+3 Precautions)

This article will discuss the question, “Does Lexapro affect Aderall?” We will also explore the potential interactions between Lexapro and Adderall, examine how Lexapro may affect Adderall, and provide precautions that you should take while using Lexapro with Adderall.

Does Lexapro affect Adderall?

Yes, Lexapro does affect Adderall. Lexapro (Escitalopram) is an SSRI antidepressant. It is prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults, teenagers, and children seven years of age or older (1).

Adderall, on the other hand, is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is a CNS stimulant used to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (2). Both of the medications are different and can not be used interchangeably.

Lexapro, when used in combination with Adderall, can increase the risk of adverse effects, which in some cases can also be life-threatening. Therefore, it is recommended to inform your healthcare provider if you are taking Lexapro before using Adderall.

What are the common interactions between Lexapro and Adderall?

Lexapro and Adderall share some common adverse effects. Lexapro is thought to affect Adderall by increasing the risk of these adverse effects.

These adverse effects may include (1,2):

• Dry mouth.
• Constipation.
• Nausea.
• Dizziness.
• Seizures.

Lexapro typically affects Adderall by increasing its serum concentration, which can increase the severity of these adverse effects. Therefore, it is recommended to immediately inform your healthcare provider if you experience any of these adverse effects while using Lexapro in combination with Adderall.

Severe interactions between Lexapro and Adderall

The concurrent use of Lexapro and Adderall can also lead to severe, life-threatening interactions. These interactions include:

Enhanced cardiac adverse effects:

Lexapro is associated with QT prolongation and, therefore, contraindicated in patients with a history of QT prolongation. It may also lead to hypertension, palpitations, and bradycardia in susceptible individuals (3).

Adderall, when used at the recommended doses, has also been found to increase blood pressure by 2-4 mm of Hg and heart rate by 3-6 bpm. However, some patients may experience a more severe rise in blood pressure and heart rate (4).

It is also advisable to avoid Adderall in patients with structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and other serious cardiovascular conditions (4).

Therefore, combining  Lexapro with Adderall may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly in patients with pre-existing cardiac disease.

Serotonin syndrome:

Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition that can occur in patients receiving high doses of SSRIs or those taking more than one serotonergic drug (3). When Lexapro is used with Adderall, it can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.

In addition to Adderall, other drugs that can lead to serotonin syndrome when used in combination with Lexapro include triptans, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John’s wort (4,5).

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include(5):

• Mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, delirium, and coma).
• Autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, unstable blood pressure, dizziness, diaphoresis, flushing, hyperthermia).
• Neuromuscular symptoms (e.g., tremor, rigidity, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, incoordination).
• Seizures.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome typically occur during the initial stages of treatment or when the dose of Lexapro or Adderall is increased.

Therefore, it is important that your healthcare provider educates you about the risk of serotonin syndrome associated with the concomitant use of Lexapro and Adderall.

How does Lexapro affect Adderall?

The following mechanisms explain the impact of Lexapro on Adderall (6) :

• The CYP2D6 enzyme in the liver metabolizes CNS stimulants like Adderall. Lexapro and other SSRIs function by inhibiting CYP2D6 enzymes, resulting in an increased serum concentration of Adderall and consequently increasing the risk of associated adverse effects.
• Another mechanism involves Adderall inhibiting serotonin reuptake, leading to increased serotonin levels. Concurrent use of Lexapro with Adderall can further increase the serotonin levels, resulting in serotonin syndrome.
• Adderall also causes an increase in the extracellular norepinephrine and dopamine levels. When combined with Lexapro or other SSRIs, this can lead to elevated blood pressure.

How to safely take Lexapro with Adderall?

The following precautions are recommended while using Lexapro with Adderall:

• It is advisable to use the lowest possible dose when taking Lexapro with Adderall. This will minimize the risk of interactions between these two medications.
• If you experience any adverse effects while taking Lexapro and Adderall, it is recommended to contact your healthcare provider immediately.
• Do not drive or operate machinery when taking Lexapro with Adderall, as both medications may cause drowsiness (1,2).
• If you have glaucoma, it is best to avoid using Lexapro and Adderall together, as the combination of both may worsen your condition (1,2).
• If you have a history of cardiac disease, it is strongly advised not to use Lexapro with Adderall.
• Regular cardiac monitoring is recommended when using Lexapro in combination with Adderall.
• It is strongly recommended not to abruptly stop taking Lexapro or Adderall without consulting your healthcare provider. Abrupt discontinuation of either medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed “Does Lexapro affect Adderall?” We have also discussed the potential interactions between Lexapro and Adderall, examined how Lexapro affects Adderall, and the precautions you should take while using Lexapro with Adderall.

References