It releases chemicals that make you feel happy When a person does something that brings about good feelings, like... 2. What is Adderall IR. Adderall IR is the most common type, but all types work in a similar way of helping your brain releases dopamine.Those who have ADHD tend to have low amounts of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter usually situated within the brain’s reward system. When Adderall hits the brain in the right spots, the result is usually beneficial: better focus, better wakefulness, less impulsivity and less depression. How Does Adderall work? Adderall is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. I knew this is what Adderall must do to your brain. In addition to addiction, a 2009 report in Scientific American suggests that long-term Adderall use could change brain function enough to boost depression and anxiety. For example, research by Russo, Hall, Chi, et al. The drugs are usually prescribed to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but are sometimes used by otherwise healthy people to boost their thinking. Continued. This is where Adderall's reputation for being a … There is also the potential to become addicted to Adderall. How Ritalin Works in the Brain. In people suffering from ADHD, Adderall acts on the dopamine centers of the brain and helps bring about increased focus and attention span. I couldn't believe what was happening. In more rare cases, those abusing Adderall for an extended period of time may experience hallucinations, delusions and full-blown psychosis. Adderall is a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. What is Adderall? Although millions depend on medications such as Ritalin to quell symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), scientists have struggled to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain. The FDA has approved a generic version of both the immediate-release (Adderall IR) and extended-release (Adderall XR) versions. It’s because of these effects that Adderall is among the many that are called “study drugs.” It gives students an intense focus on the work they’re doing, and based on anecdotal evidence, it allows them to literally cram more information into their brains than they normally would. To fully understand how this works, you need to know a bit about how the brain processes information. On some campuses, up to 35 percent of students admit to popping amphetamine-based drugs like Adderall or Concerta to aid with exam cramming, says Lawrence Diller, M.D., a member of the University of California, San Francisco's … Short-Term Effects Adderall/Dexedrine can be neurotoxic in the long run (by damaging dopamine neurons) while Ritalin does not have as much neurotoxicity potential. Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant. Dopamine is one of the brain’s chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, that sends signals throughout the central nervous system, helping to regulate moods, movement, thinking, learning, and memory functions. (Young brains are particularly vulnerable, since they’re not fully developed yet.) Primarily, it increases the amount that is released as well as inhibits their dissipation. It works in the same way that Ritalin does, by increasing the availability of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. They work by increasing the amount of norepinephrine, an important brain chemical. The drug’s popularity arises from its attention-enhancing abilities, flooding the brain with amp-up, feel-good chemicals, leaving the user feeling alert, euphoric, and ready for anything. <