40-Year-Old Male with Medial Gastrocnemius Tear after Adderall (Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine) Use: A Case Report

Gastrocnemius tears most commonly occur after a forceful eccentric contraction of the muscle. Adderall (i.e., amphetamine/dextroamphetamine), a commonly prescribed medication in the United States, has been proven to have many adverse effects. However, this is the first report demonstrating a potential musculoskeletal side effect of Adderall.

A 40-year-old male sustained an atraumatic medial gastrocnemius tear after taking Adderall. The patient presented with calf pain, swelling, and ecchymosis after having severe, sustained muscle spasms. He was found to have exquisite tenderness over the medial head of the gastrocnemius, worse with ankle dorsiflexion and knee extension. The Thompson test and deep vein thrombosis ultrasound were negative. He was diagnosed clinically with a tear of the medial head of the gastrocnemius. Adderall was discontinued, and he was treated conservatively with full resolution of symptoms.

The case highlights the potential for Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) to predispose patients to musculoskeletal injuries such as gastrocnemius tears, a phenomenon not previously described in the literature.