A Complete Guide On How To Get Rid Of Adderall Tongue

Drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding tobacco are essential to combat this side effect.

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Written by , BCom, Certificate In Natural Medicine Sanchari Bhattacharya BCom, Certificate In Natural Medicine linkedin_icon Experience: 10 years
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Adderall is one of the many medications used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Just like other ADHD medications, Adderall may have side effects that can affect your body. One of the side effects of consuming it could be the Adderall tongue. This article will explore the concept of Adderall tongue, when to see a doctor, and how to get rid of Adderall tongue.

What Is Adderall Tongue?

Adderall is an ADHD medication that may cause adderall tongue
Image: Shutterstock

Patients taking Adderall report many Adderall side effects. One of these side effects is known as Adderall tongue, which is a cause of lack of medication management that can lead to involuntary movement, swelling, and teeth clenching.

Adderall is a prescription medication used for the treatment of ADHD. ADHD is a neurocognitive disorderi  A disorder characterized by a decline in the ability to think, reason, concentrate, process information, and understand. that is diagnosed in children, adolescents, and adults worldwide (1). This disorder is characterized by the inability to pay attention to tasks for long periods of time and constant fidgeting. Stimulant medications such as Adderall are used to enhance the activity of neurotransmittersi  Chemical messengers that carry signals from one nerve cell to another or to other muscle cells and glands. such as dopamine (2). Dopamine is responsible for cognitive activities like attention, memory, motivation, etc. (3).

In the next section, let’s explore the possible signs and symptoms of Adderall tongue.

Signs & Symptoms That Accompany Adderall Tongue

Dry lips and dry mouth are symptoms that accompany adderall tongue
Image: Shutterstock

Adderall tongue may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Causes the swelling of your tongue and mouth.
  • Decreases the saliva in your mouth.
  • Results in tongue sucking.
  • Results in biting of tongue, inner cheeks, and lips.
  • Leads to teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism).
  • Results in soreness of the tongue.

Amphetamine, a stimulant present in Adderall, has been associated with the development of dry mouth (4).

While dry mouth and Adderall tongue are some of the common side effects, there are a few lesser-known side effects of consuming Adderall. Let’s take a deeper look at this in the next section.

Other Side Effects Of Adderall

Insomnia is a lesser known side effect of Adderall
Image: IStock

As Adderall is a stimulant, it causes these side effects (5):

  • Reduced appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Slow growth
  • Headaches
  • Tongue irritation
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Restlessness
  • Insomniai  A common sleep disorder in which you have difficulty falling and staying asleep, often as a symptom of other mental health issues.
  • Fatigue
  • Adderall hair loss

Aikahi, a blogger, talks about her journey with ADHD and how Adderall helped her with it. While the medication helped her perform better on her term papers, it produced side effects. She writes, “Usually I get very moody and cranky. Also, depression and other negative feelings are very common (i).” She adds that she hates the way she feels when these side effects occur and she likes to stay away from everyone during it.

While everyone may not experience these side effects, it is important to seek immediate medical attention if you do experience them.

When To See A Doctor

If you are taking Adderall for the treatment of ADHD and experience side effects, it is best to consult your doctor. If you have swelling of your tongue that interferes with any breathing, consult your doctor immediately. In the next section, we take a look at the possible ways to get rid of Adderall tongue.

How To Get Rid Of Adderall Tongue

Woman drinking water to prevent dehydration and dry mouth
Image: Shutterstock

Currently, there is no specific treatment that addresses Adderall tongue directly. However, you can follow the tips below to alleviate the dryness associated with Adderall tongue which may bring you some comfort:

  • Drink lots of fluids – Maintaining good oral hygiene, Drinking lots of fluids, and staying hydrated may help relieve the dryness in your mouth that accompanies Adderall tongue. Studies have shown that dry mouth has been associated with dehydration (6).
  • Avoid tobacco and caffeine – Drinking water or juice instead of caffeine or tobacco may help combat your dry mouth. Studies have shown an association between tobacco, caffeine, and dry mouth (7), (8).
protip_icon Quick Tip
Consume hydrating, nourishing foods like watermelon, peaches, strawberries, and cucumbers to prevent dehydration and tongue dryness.
  • Chew lozenges, candy, or sugar-free gum – Eating sugar-free gum or lozenges may provide some relief from Adderall tongue and dry mouth. Chewing gums containing xylitoli  A natural sugar that does not contain alcohol and is used as a sweetener in cooking, baking, and beverages. may help increase your saliva production, making it one of the best remedies for dry mouth(9). You may also explore some home remedies for dry mouth that can help tame this problem.
  • Avoid breathing through your mouthBreathing through your mouth may make your mouth dry. Instead, breathing through your nose may reduce dryness.

protip_icon Trivia
Gargling with warm saline water may help reduce tongue soreness caused by Adderall.

If the symptoms don’t become bearable despite following the above steps, your doctor may detect your medication side effects and stop it altogether. Before you consume or discontinue Adderall, you must take a few precautions.

Safety Precautions

Woman keeping her doctor informed about her symptoms of adderall tongue
Image: Shutterstock

Consulting a doctor before taking Adderall is imperative. A few safety measures you must take are:

  • If you are taking other medications, please let your doctor know.
  • Do not self-medicate without consulting a doctor.
  • Do not reduce or increase the dosage before consulting your doctor.
  • Avoid alcohol or any other stimulant as that may worsen the side effects (10).

Infographic: 4 Ways Of Getting Rid Of Adderall Tongue

Does your tongue have a white layer on it or feel dry? No matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get rid of it? If that’s the case, you might have Adderall tongue. This condition occurs when you take too much Adderall. We have provided simple tips on how to get rid of it. Check out the infographic below to know more!

4 ways to getting rid of adderall tongue (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Adderall tongue results from an allergic reaction to the ADHD treatment medication Adderall has both pros and cons While it helps improve focus and attention, it may also lead to dry mouth, weight loss, teeth-grinding, and fatigue amidst fewother side effects.The above tips and tricks can help get rid of Adderall tongue effectively. Staying hydrated and avoiding caffeine, chewing gum, and mouth-breathing can help improve the condition. However, you should consult a doctor in case of a swollen tongue or tongue biting, or any other sort of drug interaction and get age-appropriate medicines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Adderall make your breath smell?

Currently, there is no scientific evidence that states that Adderall results in bad breath.

Does Adderall give you cottonmouth?

Yes. Dry mouth or cottonmouth is one of the side effects associated with Adderall.

Can Adderall mess up your teeth?

Consuming Adderall may lead to the development of bruxismi  A movement disorder in which a person unconsciously and involuntarily gnashes or grinds their teeth. or teeth grinding.

Does Adderall affect your taste buds?

While there is no scientific evidence yet, Adderall may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Will the tics from Adderall go away?

Tics may go away when the person stops taking the ADHD medications. However, it is best to consult a doctor to know more about the side effects of Adderall.

Can Adderall make your throat swell?

Yes, Adderall can make your throat swell. You may require immediate medical attention if that happens.

Does Adderall affect gums?

Yes, Adderall may cause dental side effects because of the decreased saliva. The risk of getting gum-related issues is high if you take this medicine.

What to do when you take too much Adderall?

Excess Adderall intake can lead to serious effects. Seek emergency medical assistance.

What is a good amount of Adderall to take?

The standard recommended dosage of Adderall is 5-60 mg daily. However, your doctor may prescribe the dosage based on your requirement (11).

Key Takeaways

  • Adderall is used for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
  • Amphetamine, a stimulant present in the drug, is associated with the Adderall tongue.
  • Sucking and biting the swollen tongue and soreness are the symptoms of the Adderall tongue.
  • You should consult a doctor without delay and ensure adequate hydration, chew sugar-free gum, and avoid caffeine.


Learn about the potential side effects of adderall. Watch this video to learn more about it and make an informed decision about your health.

Personal Experience: Source

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. Characterization of Epidemiological ADHD Studies: A Systematic Review
    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313955090_Characterization_of_Epidemiological_ADHD_Studies_A_Systematic_Review
  2. Evaluating Dopamine Reward Pathway in ADHD
    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/184547
  3. Dopamine in motivational control: rewarding aversive and alerting
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3032992/
  4. Effects of amphetamine on salivary secretion
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0722.2009.00629.x
  5. Amphetamine past and present – a pharmacological and clinical perspective
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666194/
  6. Public knowledge of dehydration and fluid intake practices: variation by participants’ characteristics
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6282244/
  7. Relationship between xerostomia and gingival condition in young adults
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jre.12183
  8. Association of Xerostomia and Assessment of Salivary Flow Using Modified Schirmer Test among Smokers and Healthy Individuals: A Preliminary Study
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3939554/
  9. Effects of xylitol chewing gum on salivary flow rate pH buffering capacity and presence of Streptococcus mutans in saliva
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20359274/
  10. SIMULTANEOUS USE OF NON-MEDICAL ADHD PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS AND ALCOHOL AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3644523/
  11. Adderall® (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) toxicity
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23796480/
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Jennifer Roelands, MD, is an integrative medicine trained OB/GYN with 18 years of experience. She is the founder and director of Well Woman MD, which provides comprehensive health care for women by combining the best evidence-based therapies from conventional, naturopathic, and holistic medicine.

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Sanchari Bhattacharya
Sanchari BhattacharyaHealth & Wellness Writer
Sanchari has over 10 years of experience as a teacher and a writer and has done a certificate course in natural medicine. Working in diverse fields has strengthened her perceptive skills and honed her expression which helps her to create content that can connect people across age, gender and borders.

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Arshiya Syeda
Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief
Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Dipti Sharma
Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

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