Foods to Avoid When Taking Adderall

Adderall is the brand name for a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It is a central nervous system stimulant medication commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Adderall tablets are generally taken once or twice daily and may be taken with or without food. There are no foods that are listed as contraindicated for Adderall, but that only means users won't become ill from combining their medication with any particular food.

It is known that the level of acid in the digestive system -- the stomach and intestines -- can have an effect on how well the body absorbs Adderall. So there are a number of other drugs, detailed by RxList, that might interfere with how well a patient responds to Adderall, including simple over-the-counter antacids, sodium bicarbonate and aspirin. Acidity is not a problem in the case of antacids; to the contrary, higher pH levels in the gastric system can cause over-rapid absorption, thereby impacting Adderall's overall effectiveness.

To avoid increasing the digestive system's level of acid, highly acidic foods should be eaten in moderation and certainly not immediately before or after taking Adderall. Another tactic is to never take Adderall with fruit juices, which are categorized by the Food and Drug Administration as gastrointestinal acidifying agents. Natural Health lists some of the more acidic foods as pineapple, all citrus fruits, vinegar and white sugar.

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, can increase the level of acid in the system to the point of becoming an obstacle to adequate absorption of Adderall. So supplements with vitamin C should be avoided or at least taken several hours before or after the medication.

Beverages with caffeine -- tea, coffee and sodas -- should be used in moderation, if at all. The same is true for chocolate, another caffeine source. The reason is that some of the potential side effects of Adderall -- those related to its stimulant action, like rapid heartbeat -- can be more likely to occur if too much caffeine is ingested.