The chewable and solution forms of methylphenidate may be good options for those who have trouble swallowing pills. Adderall and Strattera are both available in brand-name and generic versions. Both Adderall and Strattera are effective for treating ADHD. Adderall can also stimulate wakefulness and, in people with ADHD, can produce feelings of calm and focus.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Adderall?
All of the first-line stimulant medications for ADHD are Schedule II drugs because of a concern of potential abuse. Several national organizations have petitioned the DEA to group them under this less-restrictive category without success. The effects of Adderall XR (extended-release) capsules last from seven to 12 hours, depending on a person’s individual chemistry. The effects of Adderall IR (immediate-release) tablets last four hours or less.
Long-term Treatment
Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does. For the remainder of this article, the term “Adderall” refers to both forms of the drug except where specified. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Adderall’s dosage.
Who’s Afraid Of ADHD Stimulants?
Adderall® XR is used to treat ADHD in adults and children 6 years of age and older. Mydayis® is used to treat ADHD in adults and children 13 years of age and older. The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants.It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Anxiety, psychosis, hostility, aggression, and suicidal or homicidal ideation have also been observed with CNS stimulants abuse and/or misuse.
If your doctor prescribes Adderall XR, your starting dose will likely be 20 mg. This is the typically recommended dosage of Adderall XR capsule for adults with ADHD. If your doctor prescribes Adderall tablet, your starting dose will likely be 5 mg. After a week, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage to 10 mg once or twice daily. This is the typically recommended dosage of Adderall tablet for adults with ADHD.
Are Adderall Dosages Based On Weight And Age? If So, What’s The Adderall Dosage For Adults By Weight?
Adderall can lead to sudden death in people with preexisting heart conditions. Adderall is the brand name for the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It’s a prescription stimulant approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating ADHD or narcolepsy. Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you or your child take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Adderall and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects.
The least amount of amphetamine feasible should be prescribed or dispensed at one time in order to minimize the possibility of overdosage. Adderall should be used with caution in patients who use other sympathomimetic drugs. In fact, stimulant drugs can make anxiety worse in a small percentage of kids with ADHD. But for others, reducing the symptoms of ADHD can make kids less anxious.
As A Treatment For ADHD
- Certain cough medicines or diet pills contain ingredients that may increase heart rate or blood pressure when taken in combination with Adderall.
- Sudden death has been reported in association with CNS stimulant treatment at usual doses in children and adolescents with structural cardiac abnormalities or other serious heart problems.
- The government has created special regulations that determine how controlled substances are prescribed and dispensed.
- Before approving coverage for Adderall, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization.
- To find out how the cost of generic amphetamine/dextroamphetamine compares to the cost of Adderall, ask your pharmacist.
The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Adderall. Also, if you’re having trouble opening your medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to put Adderall in an easy-open container.
For instance, prescribers can only write prescriptions for one month at a time. Adderall is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Selling or giving away Adderall may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your doctor if you or your child have (or have a family history of) ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs. Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition, called serotonin syndrome.
Difficulties with accommodation and blurring of vision have been reported with stimulant treatment. Concomitant use of Adderall with MAOI drugs is contraindicated see CONTRAINDICATIONS. During or within 14 days following the administration of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (hypertensive crises may result).
Adderall XR Duration
If you take any of these medications, you may need to start with a lower dosage of Adderall. If you have a serious heart problem, Adderall could raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death. And if you have high blood pressure, taking Adderall could make it worse.
Consequently, both hepatic and renal dysfunction have the potential to inhibit the elimination of amphetamine and result in prolonged exposures. Adderall is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The effects can be positive when taken as intended but dangerous if you use it without medical supervision. Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant prescription medicine.
- Adderall should be used with caution in patients who use other sympathomimetic drugs.
- Judge Seeborg also ordered Tan to serve three years of supervised release, to begin after his prison term.
- In some cases, misuse of Adderall may also lead to addiction (feeling unable to stop taking a drug, even though it may be causing harm).
- Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.
- A separate arrest of two more alleged drug dealers involved the seizure of 148 fentanyl pills and 10 grams of methamphetamine.
The dosage of Adderall you’re prescribed depends on various factors. These include your age, the form of Adderall you’re prescribed, and the condition the drug is being used to treat. Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s in the United States, Adderall became a popular “study drug,” misused by high-school and college students to manage intensive workloads and to enable long study and work sessions.
To get better sleep, limit caffeine and screen time (phone, TV, or video games) close to bedtime. For children who may not remember to take their medicines, XR might be a better option. XR is in capsule form and is made up of half IR beads and half XR beads. This is a particular problem if you have high blood pressure or an abnormal heart rhythm such as atrial fibrillation. If you don’t have any heart problems, Adderall is unlikely to give you one. Exposure to the amount of amphetamine in Adderall can be higher for women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB).
