Yes, Adderall Can Change Your Personality, Says a Top Doctor
Both Stassi Schroeder and Craig Conover have discussed their past struggles with this prescription drug.
The preview for part one of the Southern Charm reunion shows Andy Cohen asking Cameran Eubanks directly if she thinks Craig Conover is addicted to Adderall (clip above). Craig has spoken about his Adderall use before: He recently opened up to PEOPLE about the prescription drug, and how and why he started taking it.
"I actually choose to be honest about something that I wasn’t sure if I was going to be honest about, which is just kind of something that I took in law school and was prescribed to and everything,” Craig explained. “And then should have stopped taking it after law school.”
He's not alone.
Vanderpump Rules' Stassi Schroeder has often discussed how she wants to get rid of that “dark passenger” and revealed during last season's reunion she gave up the prescription drug Adderall after realizing it was contributing to her meltdowns at loved ones, especially ones aimed at Beau Clark.
Beau had said of the dark passenger, “I think it’s old stuff and her insecurities combined together with alcohol and it all comes out, and she just needs to trust in herself and trust in us. But I don’t think it’s some deep thing that it’s her persona. It’s not Stassi.”
“I want to figure out what it is that’s making me like this,” Stassi explained. “And I hurt my friends, I hurt him, I hurt myself, and that was a moment where I was like — and I didn’t want to like full-on come out and say this, but I’m not gonna take Adderall again. Like, I’m not gonna do that.”
“So would you say you’ve stopped taken it or are you taking it less?” Andy Cohen asked.
“No, I’ve stopped taking it,” she said.
“I was like, done,” Beau added.
When Andy asked if her behavior had improved since quitting, the couple agreed in unison: “Yes.”
Nicole Avena, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, explained to Personal Space how that can happen.
“Adderall is form of amphetamines, which means that it affects the brain in ways that can have a significant impact on our behaviors,” Dr. Avena explained. “Adderall can cause insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness. Misuse of it has been associated with cases of psychosis in extreme cases. This is why it is important to take Adderall as prescribed, and if you have any adverse feelings or reactions, you should contact your doctor right away.”
Live Science noted Adderall is "used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Taking Adderall may help increase the ability to focus, pay attention and control behavior."
Good for Craig and Stassi for recognizing the problem.
