Brain hackers beware!
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 2:27 pm
https://www.the-sun.com/health/8490631/ ... young-men/
GROWING PROBLEM Adderall is causing erectile dysfunction in young men with ‘anti-Viagra effect,’ warns researcher
John Mac Ghlionn
Published: 7:22 ET, Jul 2 2023Updated: 7:22 ET, Jul 2 2023
A SURGE in erectile dysfunction in young men is being fuelled in part by rising Adderall use, a leading doctor has warned.
A staggering 41million Americans now have an Adderall prescription, according to The New York Times.
A doctor has sounded the alarm about a surge in erectile dysfunction in young men
3
A doctor has sounded the alarm about a surge in erectile dysfunction in young menCredit: Getty
At least 41 million Americans have an Adderall prescription, according to reports
3
At least 41 million Americans have an Adderall prescription, according to reportsCredit: Getty
Young men are considerably more likely to use and abuse than women, according to Monitoring the Future’s National Survey Results on Drug Use published in 2020.
At the same time, an increasing number of young men are experiencing erectile dysfunction, The U.S. Sun previously reported.
Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, and it contains two drugs: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
Adderall’s effects on the body are many - apart from increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain - Adderall also has an anti-Viagra effect by constricting certain blood cells.
Such changes can have a negative impact on blood flow to the penis.
For men, poorer blood flow to the penis results in weaker erections or no erections at all.
Dr. Shirin Razdan, a urologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), told The U.S. Sun that “penile erection is a complex physiologic function that requires an interplay between hormones, neurotransmitters, the human nervous system, as well as proper response of vascular and smooth muscle tissues.
"Any imbalance in these mediators or improper neuronal firing," she added, "can result in dysregulation of smooth muscle relaxation and consequent erectile dysfunction.
According to Dr. Razdan, someone who has researched the link between various prescription medications and ED, “commonly prescribed stimulants for ADHD, for example, Adderall and Ritalin, have been shown to cause erectile dysfunction in a subset of men due to their amphetamine content.”
It comes as stats show the US currently produces and consumes approximately 85 percent of the world's supply of Ritalin, a potent central nervous system stimulant, according to Addiction Center.
Amphetamine and methylphenidate stimulate a portion of the autonomic nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system.
This is part of the nervous system responsible for the fight-or-flight response.
The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, plays a pivotal role in aiding rest and digestion.
“When activated,” added Dr. Razdan, “the sympathetic nervous system produces neurotransmitters that cause smooth muscle contraction in the corpora cavernosa (erectile tissue) of the penis.”
This decreases blood flow and increases a man’s risk of suffering from ED.
“Any medication that preferentially activates the sympathetic nervous system can have this sort of effect on erectile function,” noted the specialist.
Long-term Adderall use has also been shown to inhibit the testes' spontaneous secretion of serum testosterone, according to a 1996 report published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
Moreover, long-term use of Adderall can cause depression, especially if an individual takes a high dose of the powerful drug, according to a 2015 report published in the Federal Practitioner Journal.
Like low testosterone and ED, depression and ED go hand in hand, according to 2018 research published in JSM.
Those who use Adderall for an extended period may become dependent on the drug, and this dependence may negatively affect the brain’s ability to produce the aforementioned dopamine, one of the key neurotransmitters involved in the production and maintenance of erections, according to the 2015 Federal Practitioner Journal report.
Long-term Adderall use can also negatively affect the brain’s ability to produce serotonin.
This neurotransmitter plays an important role in erections and controlling ejaculations.
While short-term drug use appears to drastically increase dopamine and serotonin levels, like any dependency, drug abuse can lead to a deficiency.
And it’s not just men who are at risk of having their sex lives ruined by Adderall.
As Dr. Laura Vowels, a well-respected sex expert, has noted that while Adderall can alleviate impulsivity and hyperactivity in females, it can also harm one’s sexual desire.
In the US, millions of women, particularly younger women in their 20s and early 30s, take Adderall.
Females taking the drug for an extended period of time might “find it very difficult to achieve orgasm, and they may also experience lubrication issues," according to Dr. Vowels.
Additionally, they may also experience an inability to orgasm.
For Adderall users experiencing issues in the bedroom, Jacqueline Sinfield, an ADHD specialist, suggests speaking to your doctor about the possibility of lowering your dosage.
“Although it’s difficult to ascertain how an individual may respond to some medications, side effects should always be discussed with patients prior to starting any new therapies that have been shown to conclusively or potentially cause these effects,” said Dr. Razan.
GROWING PROBLEM Adderall is causing erectile dysfunction in young men with ‘anti-Viagra effect,’ warns researcher
John Mac Ghlionn
Published: 7:22 ET, Jul 2 2023Updated: 7:22 ET, Jul 2 2023
A SURGE in erectile dysfunction in young men is being fuelled in part by rising Adderall use, a leading doctor has warned.
A staggering 41million Americans now have an Adderall prescription, according to The New York Times.
A doctor has sounded the alarm about a surge in erectile dysfunction in young men
3
A doctor has sounded the alarm about a surge in erectile dysfunction in young menCredit: Getty
At least 41 million Americans have an Adderall prescription, according to reports
3
At least 41 million Americans have an Adderall prescription, according to reportsCredit: Getty
Young men are considerably more likely to use and abuse than women, according to Monitoring the Future’s National Survey Results on Drug Use published in 2020.
At the same time, an increasing number of young men are experiencing erectile dysfunction, The U.S. Sun previously reported.
Adderall is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, and it contains two drugs: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
Adderall’s effects on the body are many - apart from increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain - Adderall also has an anti-Viagra effect by constricting certain blood cells.
Such changes can have a negative impact on blood flow to the penis.
For men, poorer blood flow to the penis results in weaker erections or no erections at all.
Dr. Shirin Razdan, a urologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), told The U.S. Sun that “penile erection is a complex physiologic function that requires an interplay between hormones, neurotransmitters, the human nervous system, as well as proper response of vascular and smooth muscle tissues.
"Any imbalance in these mediators or improper neuronal firing," she added, "can result in dysregulation of smooth muscle relaxation and consequent erectile dysfunction.
According to Dr. Razdan, someone who has researched the link between various prescription medications and ED, “commonly prescribed stimulants for ADHD, for example, Adderall and Ritalin, have been shown to cause erectile dysfunction in a subset of men due to their amphetamine content.”
It comes as stats show the US currently produces and consumes approximately 85 percent of the world's supply of Ritalin, a potent central nervous system stimulant, according to Addiction Center.
Amphetamine and methylphenidate stimulate a portion of the autonomic nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system.
This is part of the nervous system responsible for the fight-or-flight response.
The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, plays a pivotal role in aiding rest and digestion.
“When activated,” added Dr. Razdan, “the sympathetic nervous system produces neurotransmitters that cause smooth muscle contraction in the corpora cavernosa (erectile tissue) of the penis.”
This decreases blood flow and increases a man’s risk of suffering from ED.
“Any medication that preferentially activates the sympathetic nervous system can have this sort of effect on erectile function,” noted the specialist.
Long-term Adderall use has also been shown to inhibit the testes' spontaneous secretion of serum testosterone, according to a 1996 report published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
Moreover, long-term use of Adderall can cause depression, especially if an individual takes a high dose of the powerful drug, according to a 2015 report published in the Federal Practitioner Journal.
Like low testosterone and ED, depression and ED go hand in hand, according to 2018 research published in JSM.
Those who use Adderall for an extended period may become dependent on the drug, and this dependence may negatively affect the brain’s ability to produce the aforementioned dopamine, one of the key neurotransmitters involved in the production and maintenance of erections, according to the 2015 Federal Practitioner Journal report.
Long-term Adderall use can also negatively affect the brain’s ability to produce serotonin.
This neurotransmitter plays an important role in erections and controlling ejaculations.
While short-term drug use appears to drastically increase dopamine and serotonin levels, like any dependency, drug abuse can lead to a deficiency.
And it’s not just men who are at risk of having their sex lives ruined by Adderall.
As Dr. Laura Vowels, a well-respected sex expert, has noted that while Adderall can alleviate impulsivity and hyperactivity in females, it can also harm one’s sexual desire.
In the US, millions of women, particularly younger women in their 20s and early 30s, take Adderall.
Females taking the drug for an extended period of time might “find it very difficult to achieve orgasm, and they may also experience lubrication issues," according to Dr. Vowels.
Additionally, they may also experience an inability to orgasm.
For Adderall users experiencing issues in the bedroom, Jacqueline Sinfield, an ADHD specialist, suggests speaking to your doctor about the possibility of lowering your dosage.
“Although it’s difficult to ascertain how an individual may respond to some medications, side effects should always be discussed with patients prior to starting any new therapies that have been shown to conclusively or potentially cause these effects,” said Dr. Razan.
