Higher Dosage of ADHD Medications Linked to Psychosis Risk

Mar. 15, 2025

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High doses of commonly prescribed medications forADHDhave been linked to an increased risk of psychosis, a new study has found.

The “odds of psychosis and mania were increased for individuals with past-month prescription amphetamine use compared with no use,” said researchers, whose study was published in theAmerican Journal of Psychiatry.

The study looked at patients aged 16–35 who were hospitalized at Mass General Brigham’s mental health facility, McLean Hospital, for incident psychosis or mania between 2005 and 2019.

“We are seeing college students coming in being prescribed stimulants who didn’t have much of a psychiatric history developing new onset psychosis," lead study author Dr. Lauren Moran, a psychiatrist and researcher at McLean Hospital, toldNBC News.

Stock image of Adderall.George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty

George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty

The stimulant medication they looked at includes commonly prescribedADHDmedications likeAdderalland Vyvanse as well as generic amphetamines, NBC News reported.

The study found that those who took 40 milligrams of Adderall, 100 mg of Vyvanse or 30 mg of dextroamphetamine were 5.3 times more likely to develop psychosis than patients who didn’t take any stimulants, the outlet reported.

Patients taking 20 mg to 40 mg of Adderall, 50 mg to 100 mg of Vyvanse or 15 mg to 30 mg of dextroamphetamine had a 3.5 times higher risk of psychosis.

During psychosis, ”there has been some loss of contact with reality,” theNational Institute of Mental Healthsays. “During an episode of psychosis, a person’s thoughts and perceptions are disrupted and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not.”

Stock image of Vyvanse.George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty

As theCleveland Clinicexplains, “Amphetamines arestimulantdrugs that speed up messages between your brain and your body.”

When given to children with ADHD, amphetamines are shown to decrease impulsive behavior, while improving attention span and focus, the Cleveland Clinic says.

However, the study concludes that “caution should be exercised when prescribing high doses of amphetamines, with regular screening for symptoms of psychosis or mania.”

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In a statement to PEOPLE, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Vyvanse, said:

Teva Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Adderall, has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com