What kind of adderall

The standard dosage of each drug starts at 10—20 mg per day. However, your dosage depends on certain factors. This includes your age, other health issues you have, and how you respond to the drug. Children often take a smaller dosage than adults. Always take your dosage as prescribed. If you routinely take too much, you may need more of the drug for it to be effective. These drugs also carry the risk of addiction.

Swallow either drug whole with water. You can take them with or without food. If you have trouble swallowing Adderall, you may open the capsule and mix the granules with food. Do not cut or crush Concerta, however. Concerta and Adderall share many potential side effects.

Some are serious. For instance, both drugs can slow growth in children. If your doctor sees negative effects, they may take your child off the drug for a period of time.

If you have side effects from one drug, call your doctor right away. Your doctor may change your medication or adjust your dosage. Common side effects of Concerta and Adderall include:. Concerta may also cause painful erections that last several hours in men.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the drugs is who should avoid each one. There are many drugs and health conditions that can change the way the medications work. For this reason, you may not be able to take one or both of the drugs.

Both drugs can also affect your blood pressure and how your heart works. They may cause sudden death in people with undiagnosed heart problems. Your doctor may check your blood pressure and heart function during treatment with these drugs. Talk to your doctor to learn more. Also, both medications are pregnancy category C drugs. Concerta and Adderall are both brand-name drugs. The FDA has determined that the patent for Vyvanse is valid until It will be at least until then before a generic for Vyvanse is available.

Generic drugs are typically less expensive than brand-name drugs. But in some cases, the brand-name drug and the generic version may be available in different forms and strengths.

However, there are some differences that might make you prefer one over the other. The Adderall tablet is taken one to three times daily. Adderall XR is taken just once daily. Like Adderall, Ritalin also comes in two forms: an immediate-release Ritalin tablet and an extended-release capsule Ritalin LA. Ritalin tablet is taken two to three times daily, and Ritalin LA is taken once daily.

Generic versions of Ritalin also come in other dosage forms, including a chewable tablet and an oral liquid solution. These forms may be a good option for people who have a hard time swallowing pills. However, individual people may respond better to one than the other. Ritalin tablets may work slightly faster than Adderall. However, Adderall works for a slightly longer period of time than Ritalin:. Adderall and Ritalin are very similar medications. They also have similar side effects and drug interactions.

The cost of brand-name versions of Adderall and Ritalin are similar. The actual amount you pay will vary depending on your health insurance plan. Adderall and Ritalin are both available in generic forms. The generic name for Ritalin is methylphenidate. Adderall and Concerta methylphenidate extended-release are medications that are commonly used for ADHD.

They are both stimulant medications and work in a similar way. There are some differences that might make you prefer one over the other. Adderall is also approved for narcolepsy, but Concerta is not. Concerta is used off-label to treat narcolepsy. Adderall comes in two forms: an immediate-release Adderall tablet and an extended-release capsule Adderall XR. One difference between the drugs is how fast they work and how long they last.

Adderall may work slightly faster, but Concerta lasts longer:. Adderall and Concerta are very similar medications. Both medications can cause psychological and physical dependence, and can be misused or abused. Both Adderall and Concerta are brand-name drugs. The generic name of Concerta is methylphenidate extended-release.

Adderall and modafinil, a generic drug, are both stimulant medications, but they affect the brain in slightly different ways. Modafinil increases wakefulness and alertness. Adderall can also stimulate wakefulness and, in people with ADHD , can produce feelings of calm and focus. Modafinil is approved to treat narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea.

Modafinil is used off-label to treat ADHD. Both Adderall and modafinil are effective treatment options for daytime sleepiness in people who have narcolepsy.

Adderall is considered a first-choice medication for treating symptoms of ADHD. Adderall and modafinil are both stimulants and have some similar side effects. However, Adderall is more likely to cause side effects than modafinil. Both Adderall and modafinil can cause physical and psychological dependence leading to misuse or abuse. However, dependence appears to be more common with Adderall than modafinil.

Due to these differences in side effect risk, modafinil is often preferred over Adderall for treating narcolepsy. Adderall and modafinil are both available in brand-name and generic versions. The brand name of modafinil is Provigil. The generic versions of medications typically cost less.

But in some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as the brand-name drug. The generic version and the brand-name version Provigil of modafinil usually cost more than the brand-name and generic versions of Adderall.

Adderall is a stimulant medication that increases norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and produces calm and focus in people with ADHD. It works as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and increases the amount of norepinephrine in parts of the brain. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter , a chemical that sends messages between cells. Adderall, a stimulant, is considered a first-choice treatment for ADHD. Stimulants are the best studied and most effective treatments for ADHD.

Adderall and Strattera are both available in brand-name and generic versions. The generic name of Strattera is atomoxetine. The brand and generic versions of Strattera usually cost more than the brand and generic versions of Adderall. Adderall and methylphenidate are both commonly used to treat ADHD. Both are also used off-label for treating similar conditions, such as depression and anxiety , in combination with other medications.

The chewable and solution forms of methylphenidate may be good options for those who have trouble swallowing pills.

Methylphenidate tablets may work slightly faster than Adderall. However, Adderall works for a slightly longer time than methylphenidate:. Adderall and methylphenidate are very similar medications. Adderall is a brand-name medication.

Methylphenidate is a generic medication. Brand-name Adderall costs more than generic methylphenidate. However, generic versions of Adderall cost about the same as generic methylphenidate. The exact cost will depend on your insurance. Deciding which medication to use may come down to which is covered by your insurance, the drug form that you prefer, and how your body responds to the medication. Picking the best medication is often a matter of trial and error.

Your doctor will guide you through the process of finding the right medication for you. Consuming alcohol with Adderall can be a dangerous combination for some, especially for those who drink too much. Drinking alcohol while taking Adderall can make you feel less drunk than you really are. This can lead you to drink too much. In addition to other effects, drinking too much may worsen symptoms of ADHD. Consuming alcohol with Adderall can also increase your risk of heart-related side effects such as:.

Adderall can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as some foods. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Adderall. Before taking Adderall, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.

Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Medications that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach can increase the amount of Adderall your body absorbs. This can raise your risk of side effects. Examples of acid-reducing drugs include:. Taking Adderall with MAOIs can increase the risk of dangerous side effects, such as very high blood pressure , chest pain , severe headache , and increased body temperature. Taking Adderall with medications that increase serotonin in your body can raise your risk of developing serotonin syndrome , a drug reaction that can be dangerous.

If you take any of these medications, you may need to start with a lower dosage of Adderall. Taking Adderall with a tricyclic antidepressant can increase the effects of Adderall in your body and increase your risk of heart-related effects and other side effects.

Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include:. Taking Adderall with certain medications that block how the body breaks down Adderall can result in an increased risk of serious side effects, including serotonin syndrome. If you take these medications, you may need to start with a lower dosage of Adderall.

Examples of these medications include:. Adderall and Xanax alprazolam are sometimes prescribed together, especially for those who have both ADHD and anxiety. Adderall helps improve concentration and focus, while Xanax is calming and can help relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Adderall and Prozac fluoxetine are sometimes prescribed together, especially for people who have both ADHD and other conditions. These conditions include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Adderall helps improve concentration and focus in people with ADHD. Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI antidepressant that can improve symptoms of depression. These medications should only be taken together if your doctor prescribes them. Combining Adderall and Prozac can increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome , a drug reaction that can be dangerous. Adderall and Zoloft sertraline are sometimes prescribed together, especially for people who have both ADHD and other conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI antidepressant that can improve symptoms of depression. Combining Adderall and Zoloft can increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome , a drug reaction that can be dangerous.

Adderall can interact with certain vitamins, supplements, or herbs you may be taking. Taking vitamin C supplements can make your stomach more acidic and can decrease the amount of Adderall your body absorbs.

This can make Adderall less effective. Supplements that affect serotonin can increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome. Taking Adderall with marijuana cannabis can increase your risk of heart-related side effects. These include rapid heartbeat , arrhythmia irregular heartbeat , and heart attack.

Fruit juices are often acidic and can decrease how much Adderall your body absorbs. Caffeine in foods and beverages such as coffee might add to the stimulant effects of Adderall. This can increase the risk of stimulant-related side effects such as anxiety , nervousness, trouble sleeping, and others. While taking Adderall, you should avoid consuming large amounts of coffee or other drinks that contain caffeine. Adderall is usually taken every four to six hours to treat ADHD symptoms.

Adderall XR is a brand-name drug that contains a mixture of amphetamine salts. Adderall XR is the extended-release form of Adderall that can be taken once daily. Adderall and Adderall XR both contain a combination of amphetamine salts. However, they are not the same drug. Adderall is an immediate-release drug and Adderall XR is an extended-release drug.

The most effective form of Adderall is the one that works best for you. Adderall is taken multiple times throughout the day while Adderall XR is taken as a daily dose. Adderall XR tends to have more long-acting effects compared to Adderall. Adderall and Adderall XR are not generally recommended for women who are pregnant. There is a possibility that these stimulants can cause birth defects. Talk to your doctor about ADHD treatment options while pregnant.

It is not recommended to mix Adderall or Adderall XR with alcohol. Mixing these substances can increase the incidence of adverse effects. The cost of Adderall depends on the dose you are prescribed, your insurance plan, and the quantity you need. In general, generic forms of Adderall and Adderall XR can be found for reasonable prices, especially with a SingleCare discount card.

Adderall XR and Vyvanse are long-acting stimulants that can be taken once daily. Vyvanse can also treat binge-eating disorder. You have several treatment options for ADHD. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Adderall vs. Adderall XR: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you.

By Gerardo Sison, Pharm. Want the best price on Adderall? Want the best price on Adderall XR? Top Reads in Drug vs. Toujeo vs Lantus: Main Differences and S Dulera vs Advair: Main Differences and S Suboxone vs Methadone: Main Differences Looking for a prescription? Search now! Type your drug name.