Does tolerance develop to medicinal use of dextroamphetamine?

Question

Dextromphetamine is used long-term to treat ADHD. Does the agent's effectiveness in treating the disorder decrease with time? Do the mood elevating properities of the drug attenuate?

Answer 1

The short answer is yes it does decrease effectiveness with time which in turn requires you to increase your dosage/milligram. Yes the mood elevation also diminishes with time therefore you must increase dosage/milligram. Multiple factors play a part in to the effectiveness of the drug as a whole. From diet and exercise to sleep, multiple factors play a part into the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine. With a drug like amphetamine, the body builds up a tolerance and resistance to it very very quickly.

Answer 2

Yes and no. It sounds like you are asking for an adult who is taking the medication. If so, then yes you could experience a sort of tolerance effect. This may be due to the person developing better coping and management skills or changes in metabolism or body chemistry. ADHD medication alone is not the best treatment for ADHD and treatment should be closely monitored in addition to psycho-social therapy.

If your question is regarding a child, it is likely that you may be noticing some of the same things about skill development or body changes. If a person is on a therapeutic dose they should be getting the maximum benefit from the medication. If you notice that this changes, it is important to talk to your doctor and be aware of other changes as well. Have there been any life changes, illnesses, moves, births, weddings, or deaths? Life changes can have effects on behavior and mood that may be surprisingly connected.