Does Adderall Cause Penile Atrophy?

Does Adderall cause penile atrophy or is the shrinkage all in the users mind?

Like any drug, Adderall affects individuals in drastically different ways. 

And if you’ve spent any time online researching the subject, you’ll know that some men swear that the drug has some very nasty side effects. 

In fact, a growing number of men are claiming that Adderall lowers their sex drive, torches their erections, and actually shrinks their testicles and penis. 

Simultaneously, some men claim that taking the drug gives them virtual superpowers in the bedroom…

Firing up their libido and hardening their erections. 

So, what’s the truth?

In the following article, we’ll attempt to figure out the real relationship between sex drive, penile atrophy, and Adderall. 

This includes taking a look at what long-term and recreational users of the drug are reporting, and what science has to say on the matter. 

Let’s get started. 

Does Adderall Cause Penile Atrophy in Men?

Unfortunately, for all the studies done on Adderall since it became the primary drug for treating ADHD, few focus on sexual side effects. 

To make matters worse, the frequency of use and dosage will vary widely – especially between those who take the drug for medical purposes and those who take it recreationally. 

With so many variables at work, the only thing I can say for sure is that if you are going to take Adderall (which I don’t recommend), it’s safest to do so infrequently and in small doses. 

Though we may not know the precise correlation between penile atrophy and the drug, it’s safe to say that heavy usage is more likely to cause negative side effects.

Also, it seems that some men are simply more genetically inclined to suffer serious sexual side effects when taking this drug than others…

No matter what dosage they use. 

If you are one of them, your only options will be to either deal with the adverse side effects or stop taking Adderall completely. 

Though I recommend the latter in any case, I still feel it’s important to take a closer look at this drug. 

Does Adderall Cause Penile Atrophy (User Reports)

As I just mentioned, there isn’t much by way of science when it comes to studying Adderall’s effect on the penis, testicles, and sex drive. 

However, there are literal mountains of forum posts from Adderall users reporting serious, sometimes terrifying, sexual side effects. 

I’ll list some of the most common complaints below. 

• “I’ve noticed that when I take Adderall, it significantly shrinks my penis. Does anyone else have a similar problem? Will it go away in time?”

• “I recently switched from Wellbutrin to Adderall. After a few days of taking 20 mg doses, I noticed a significant amount of penis and testicular shrinkage. It almost looks as if I’ve been swimming in cold water, and there is also a faint pain and some mild discoloration.”

• “I’ve found information from people saying that taking Adderall permanently shrunk their penis. I’ve already noticed a change after just a few weeks. Should I stop taking the drug altogether?”

• “Every time I take my Adderall, my penis turtles into itself – just like getting out of a cold shower. Is anyone else experiencing the same thing?”

• “Am I the only one who suffers penile shrinkage when taking amphetamines? Whenever I’m on Adderall or Vyvanse, it’s like I’m back in third grade again. This is often accompanied by a marked reduction in my sex drive.” 

These are just a few of the complaints you’ll find in ADHD forums, on Reddit, and on health websites worldwide. 

There are, quite literally, thousands of men reporting the exact same results after taking Adderall for even a short time. 

I don’t know about you but if that many people are complaining, I don’t care what the studies say.

Most are funded by drug companies anyway, right? 

In the following section, we’ll look at some of the medical reasons that may explain why this penile shrinkage is happening.

Adderall Constricts Blood Vessels

Adderall is a type of amphetamine. 

These are powerful central nervous system stimulants used to treat a wide variety of mental and physical conditions. 

Of course, as most of you know, it can also be used recreationally to improve mental and physical performance. 

However, it’s also worth noting that Adderall can dramatically elevate your heart rate, raising your blood pressure. 

At the same time, it constricts the blood vessels, which further interferes with your circulatory system. 

In fact, when these vessels constrict too much, it can drastically slow the flow of blood to your genital region. 

As we all know, a healthy penis requires a healthy flow of oxygen-rich blood to function properly.

So, if your veins and arteries are constricted and your blood pressure is elevated, it’s possible this may reduce blood flow to your penis, causing it to shrink. 

This same constriction and elevation may also negatively impact your ability to get and maintain an erection. 

And since your testicles need adequate levels of nutrient rich blood to function properly, it also may explain the atrophy many adderall users experience.

Adderall May Lower Testosterone

One of the most common side effects of Adderall is sleep disturbance. 

While this might seem insignificant, you have to remember that sleep is extremely important to your body’s ability to produce testosterone. 

Alongside blood, your penis and testicles also need a healthy supply of testosterone, otherwise they will begin to atrophy.

It may surprise you to learn that your body actually produces the majority of its testosterone while you’re fast asleep. 

In fact, the highest levels of testosterone production occur when you are in the deepest stages of sleep (REM sleep). 

For this reason, taking stimulants of any kind (let alone amphetamines) can significantly curtail testosterone production by preventing your body from reaching this state of restorative sleep. 

Indeed, studies show that just one week of sleep restriction drastically reduced testosterone levels in young, otherwise healthy men. 

Combine this with the fact that you tend to lose about 1% of your testosterone per year after age 30, and you can see how long-term Adderall abuse can easily lead to serious atrophy down the line. 

Caffeine vs. Adderall

Fortunately, you do have options. 

Particularly, you might be better off reaching for a hot cup of Joe instead of your prescription bottle. 

You see, caffeine has been  proven to have similar effects on ADHD patients as other stimulants. 

This includes the ability to energize the mind, improve concentration, and keep one’s mind from wandering off. 

At the same time, caffeine is potent enough to mimic many of the effects those who take Adderall recreationally are after.

Including, increased alertness, motivation and enhanced cognitive function. 

For these reasons, I see little use for taking a highly dangerous drug when a cup of strong coffee can give you similar results. 

And if that isn’t convincing enough, how about the fact that caffeine actually improves erections? 

Indeed, studies report that men over the age of 20 who consume two to three cups of coffee per day report fewer ED issues and have stronger erections than non-coffee drinkers. 

This is largely due to the fact that caffeine helps your arteries relax while mildly increasing blood flow. 

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that relaxed arteries and blood flow are prime ingredients for rock-hard erections. 

Adderall and Penile Atrophy Conclusion

Without getting too heavy-handed, I think it’s important to be frank about the dangers of Adderall. 

You see, doctors have been handing these powerful amphetamines out like candy over the last decade.

Every time they get a whiff of symptoms that might indicate ADD or ADHD, another young man is handed a prescription. 

And aside from the terrifying sexual side effects we’ve discussed above…Adderall has a myriad of other dangers, including the potential for serious addiction. 

In fact, some medical professionals are already likening the over-prescription of Adderall to the Opioid Crisis that has ruined so many lives. 

So, before you take this drug…

Be it recreationally or as prescribed – I suggest you ask yourself if there aren’t better, safer ways to increase your mental performance. 

And if you’re already on Adderall, ask yourself if it will be difficult to stop taking the drug once the negative outweigh the benefits?

If so, you’re very likely flirting with addiction.

I’m going to wrap with this…

The vast majority of Adderall experiments end negatively.

Anxiety, depression, aggravation, insomnia, anger, penile atrophy or other sexual side effects are what cause most men to quit.

In other words…

Show me a long-time user of Adderall, and I’ll show you an unhappy man who wishes he could get off the drug.

So do yourself a favor and use caffeine to get your brain going in the morning, and take a hard pass on the Adderall.