Using Adderall for Weight Loss

Adderall is not approved as a weight loss medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, your healthcare provider may prescribe Adderall for weight loss for a short period of time in certain situations. When used for weight loss, Adderall is considered an "off-label" use. An off-label use means that a prescription medicine is used to treat a disease or condition other than what it has been approved to treat by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the FDA regulates how a medication can be advertised or promoted by the manufacturer, these regulations do not restrict a doctor's ability to prescribe the medication for different conditions, in different doses, or for different lengths of time. The practice of prescribing medication for periods of time or for conditions not approved by the FDA is known as an "off-label" use. Your healthcare provider will prescribe a medicine for off-label use when he or she feels that the medicine is appropriate for your situation.

 

While such use often occurs in the treatment of many conditions, you should feel comfortable about asking your doctor if he or she is using a medication or combination of medications in a manner that is not approved by the FDA.

 

Adderall and Weight Loss: Summary

Weight loss is a common side effect of Adderall. In fact, it is such a common side effect that Adderall is often abused for this purpose. While Adderall is not approved for this use, there may be a few situations where using Adderall for weight loss may be acceptable.