2017 Adderall Not Working (Top voted first)

I've noticed that the last three years in a row around this time either at the Adderall generic Sandoz brand is on backorder or suddenly the pills don't have the same affect. So in essence the pharmacy and drug manufacturers I getting paid while patients suffer without the proper medication. Has anyone else had this happen this month? I am taking the Adderall generic 30 milligrams twice a day I feel like I haven't taken anything.

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YES YES YES!!! Same issue. I took double my dose last week accidentally b/c I feel back asleep after taking it and forgot I took it!

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Your are correct. They suck! We are being totally ripped off. I take the 20mg Generic Sandoz Adderall 3x per day. This year and especially my most recent prescriptions from May as well as June have been totally worthless. I've taken two already today and can still barely drag. It's like withdrawal because there is simply nothing in them! It's so frustrating considering you are paying for something you are not getting! In Kentucky, where I live, greedy legislators want to pocket money from legal suits won against pharmaceutical companies. They can't do it directly since it is supposed to go to the state. So, this is what they do... they buy loads of stock in the companies who do drug panels and rehabs. Then they turn around and make the most insanely strict laws on the continent when it comes to getting anything controlled. Even if you have never had a drug problem, you still have to take as well as pay for a U/A before getting something controlled. This is to ensure you aren't selling your medication. It's so irritating to think that you have to go through all this hassle only to get absolute junk medication such as this. This crap is so ineffective I don't see much point in even being treated anymore.

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I encourage anyone who is encountered this product, especially if you have Teva (the orange colored pill) that you go to the FDA website and fill out a complaint. There really is something wrong. People need to be proactive. It is very easy and it doesn't take very long to do… Do it!

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You are correct. This last refill from Teva, I honestly believe it has about 60-70% of what it should have

Also, for the first time while taking Teva IR, I feel irritable and depressed


This is not how Teva once was.....

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This is ridiculous that we are all having to go through this! I had always been satisfied with Sandoz brand, UNTIL this year! That past few months I have flip-flopped between getting Barr and Sandoz. I couldn't really decide because they both have become hit or miss. BUT this month I picked up the Sandoz brand and I am soooo depressed, anxious, unmotivated, just gross feeling! I have NO energy or desire do do anything. In fact, I feel like I just want to tell my family to go fend for themselves because I just want to sleep until this month is over and MAYBE next month I can find a better brand! I am sick of this crap! I am so disgusted with our FDA for allowing this to happen. These damn pharmaceutical companies can just mix up a batch of pez candy and sell it to us as a high cost pharmaceutical! I am so pissed off with them right now that I could poke their eyeballs out! Sorry for my rant- I had to vent though!

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Re: Kerryanne (# 52)

It's unreal how many folks say the same things time and time again. I'm like you as far as leaving "(long-ish)" posts. I get caught up in articulating details (and I'm easily distracted with a side of super brain fog). I want to thank you though, for taking the time to post your story and especially for sharing some of the details from your journal. I (hope) I'm not alone in saying that I'm right there with ya'll who've experienced the "less than desirable, or lack of effects" from the generic adderall, however... I still can't seem to shake the idea that maybe it's just me, or maybe "they're right" and I'm "bad," or in denial, or it is "all in my head." Clearly I'm far from alone in my experiences, and IMO it's nearly impossible for this many folks to share the same ill effects for the same exact generic medication. Multiple different doctors/nurses, and pharmacists have assured me that "they're all the same" aside from the "fillers"- complete with hands on their tilted hips, eyes rolling like a speeding 18 wheeler on the downside of a Tennesee mountain." Nothing says "you're a dramatic hypochondriac with a prowess for drug seeking"- like your trusty healthcare providers discrediting your concerns with utter dismay so there's no confusion about your annoying presence. "(Yep, got it, I'm that lady, real good then, I'm sorry to have bothered you)." I think my insecurity and lack of self assurance comes from a combination of things though.

It's not just a generic adderall or a handful of HC Providers suggesting my intentions are to feel "high or jacked up," it's (that) along with the War on Pain Patients and the Aggressive Anti-Opioids Campaign that's got me feeling like a Middle Aged, Subsequent Junky. I can't go a single day without seeing, hearing or reading a new, conflicting report about how "Study finds opioids aren't effective after all." (Tell that to my 43 year old body trapped in an 87 year olds battered shell because if by "not effective," you mean the relief I (had), versed the misery I (have), that's not an accurate finding to your pile of a study)...I'm also especially fond of reports that bully their way into every media outlet & platform imaginable that claim prescription opioids are driving this epidemic. Except, it drives me crazy & the last time I checked heroin and the increasingly popular smuggled illicit fentanyl weren't prescription opioids -but I could be wrong, and they might be, although I'm not, and they aren't. I'm positive. Ohh, and I can't wait to run into another methamphetamine addict who tells me I'm in denial & I'm "no different than they are" because "methamphetamine and adderall are exactly the same except adderall is prescribed by doctors" so it's just legal methamphetamine." Cool Story, except you're an ***** stick. Regardless, it does get overwhelmingly frustrating living with relentless pain, chronic fatigue, brain fog, etc. and always feeling like there's a self on self battle between (legitimate, "justified, or justifying," guilt, shame, and validity).

Either I'm just really, (really) cool, calm, + collected, and my tolerance is a super beast, or, I've never felt high, I don't have bursts of energy after taking my adderall, (I could only DREAM of having an Energy Burst), and I don't experience any feelings of euphoria or any other stigmatizing addiction symptoms other than pain relief from taking Norco. I know, I'm lame, and it probably sounds like a terrible waste of some good "legal heroin and methamphetamine" to certain people...unless you were in my body, and you understood how bad it SUCKS to feel exhausted (constantly) regardless of how long you sleep, or if you had to live with chronic, life-altering pain that doesn't "disappear" once I take Norco -it just becomes (mostly/somewhat) tolerable. They're not magic prescriptions...let me explain like this: They're sort of like getting 5 matching numbers on the Mega Millions or Powerball, (but not that 6th, Jackpot Ball). Dammit. They're ok, yeah, they help, but I didn't win the "Prescription Drug Lottery" or anything like that if that's what you're thinking. Thanks for taking one for the team, whoever made it through to the end of this text typed b****-fest- I appreciate fellow fatigue/pain sufferers who can relate, and share their frustrations with me too. Have a good day.

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From the various posts there seems to be problems with all the generics. Someone also said here they got the non generic and also bad - I thought this was not even available anymore. Everyone please send complaint to FDA They should know of all brands with problems. It is as pain but hopefully they will look into the matter. link https:/­/­www.fda.gov/­Safety/­ReportaProblem/­default.htm
You need the LOT number as well as the NDC # (CVS does not put lot # on the bottle and I could not get LOT information except what was presently on hand in the pharmacy). Important - When you go to fill your prescriptions tell them you also want the LOT number. The problem I am seeing seems to be the coating not stable and thus moisture ruins the efficacy. May also be lower than 80% equivalency to begin with. FDA asks if you have any on hand to send a sample if they need it. I also sent info today to CVS corporate I am tired of all this as well.

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I find Teva generic Adderall IR to be very potent, much more so than Sandoz or Corepharma.

Whatever you decide -- avoid-- at all costs generic Adderall IR manufactured by Mallinckrodt

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This is just a sad fact that's going on for all narcotic generic drugs sold in America today! I can't think of a single narcotic medication that hasn't been tampered with so drug addicts can't abuse them, but the legitimate patients are up the creek without a paddle for whatever reason the drug was intended for! Pharmacies don't care, FDA doesn't care nor does anyone involved other than the patients or their family members care... I can't think of a better reason to vote out all incumbents who seem to think drug addicts are a higher priority than legitimately suffering Americans! This has become the demented reality in America these days where drug addicts/abusers are a much higher priority than legitimate patients that these medications were intended for... Shame on all Democrats and Republicans who think the government playing doctor is a good thing! It's simply amazing how government paid studies always get the results that they're looking to get and people actually believe them! How insane!

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Re: Anicca (# 49)

My Teva 20 mg prescription from March 2018 is totally noneffective.

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Hi guys! I'm new here and just responded to another thread with a similar topic. I found this thread after and my response to the other thread seems relevant here too because of the timeframe my medication worked or did not work over the last year. So I am pasting the same response here as well. Please forgive the long post but I find all the details to be relevant and my ADHD medication is BUNK so here goes. I have extreme adult ADHD which is exasperated by a case of diagnosed PTSD from abuse. I also have LUPUS and RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS and RAYNAUDS DISEASE...... OMG!!!!!. I thought I was going crazy. I thought something ELSE was wrong with me. I have been on 20 mg adderall IR 3 x per day and 10 mg dexedrine ER spansule 2 x per day (or similar long acting adhd med) for over 10 years now. I am a 40 year old woman. I was diagnosed adhd and "hyperactive" in the first grade and in the second grade was put on ritalin. I've been on stimulants my whole life. I've also been very ill for the past 10 years with autoimmune diseases. I've JUST concluded, in the last year, that Teva brand generic adderall IR 20 mg has NOT been consistent. AT. ALL. I just went through my health and medication journal that I kept over the last year and there were so many entries that were like "my adderall IS NOT WORKING WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.

I was overcome with fatigue and depression and so so exhausted. Even taking a shower would cause me yo have to lie back down. Like gravity pulling me down down down until i was on the couch with my mind so foggy. I even thought maybe I had a brain tumor. This happened a few months in the winter of 2016/17 and also in the summer of 2017 and a few months over this last winter 2017/18. I live in Louisville KY. I have ALWAYS filled my prescription at walgreens. They carry the teva generic. Well last month Walgreeens changed the policy for dispensing controlled substances. Instead of releasing refills for controlled substances every 28 days, now they will only refill them every 30 days. And this is nothing to do with any kind of FDA or government policy it is just WALGREENS policy!!!! So basically that gives people with conditions like severe adhd and chronic pain exactly ZERO days to get your prescription from the pharmacy before running out of medication!

So... what if it's the weekend and you have to work during the hours that the pharmacy is open (until 6 pm) or what if you forget because you have severe adhd or what if you are in too much pain to make it there!!!! This is rediculous and I was so appalled that I decided to take my written adderall and dexedrine to my nearby CVS where I still have the two day window to pick up my life changing medication before running out and only realizing that I am out of my medication when it is time to take it, (which has happened to me several times and made my life hell on those days) so anyway I go to the friendly cvs and pickup my meds and the adderall looks and tastes different. Round peach chalky hard compressed tablets by..... MYLAN. I remembered that I had these before and they didn't seem to work. So what the hell I take my meds and..... NOTHING. fell asleep. Missed work. Slept through alarms that my adderall usually helps me to hop out of bed to. (My Dr suggested I set my alarms for 30-45 minutes before I have to actually be up and take my adderall which is right next to my bed and fall back asleep so that the alarm that actually have to be up to actually wakes me up- this is a great tip for people with ADHD who wake up with brain fog) I lost a job for being so late, so many times last month!!! No focus at all my house looks like a every room threw up on itself, my bills did not get paid, (I can't even FIND some of them) there is no food in the house and my lists and post it system is RUINED. Worst month ever. Because I was so sick over the last year and nobody could figure out what was wrong with me.

I kept a health and medication journal over the last year. So many entries had large chicken scratch entries to the effect of MY MEDICINE IS NOT WORKING WTF IS WRONG WITH ME. only the last few months over this last winter did it occur to me to start googling generic adderall not working and BAM ...SOOOO many people have been writing about this for YEARS. I got out my journal and compared entry dates to some blogs entry dates and they matched up. Last month the mylan brand of adderall undid so much of my recent progress, therapy, work, and basically I became undone. It was like I didn't care at all about the bills getting paid, losing my job, cleaning my home, etc. Well fast forward to this month after hours days weeks of research, I called around to find the teva brand. Had to drive out of the way to get them, but it was worth it. The 20 mg instant adderall teva brand generic at right aid at Gardiner lane actually works for me right now. It totally could be because I just took sugar pills for a month or, it could be that this batch could actually be effective. What the hell is going on people this insane. And nobody will listen to us. What should we do?

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Re: Kerryanne (# 52)

Wow, I can totally relate to your post! I too am an autoimmune train wreck, I have the ones you listed plus Hashimoto's thyroiditis and type 1diabetes. BUT, I also have been so sick on and off over the last 10 years that I thought I had a brain tumor as well! I was going from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what the heck is wrong! Every time I would become deathly ill, I would find out there had either been a change to the Adderall formula, or a different brand given or something. I lowered my dose of Adderall at one point from 120mg a day to 20mg and one thing I noted was my Raynauds suddenly became remarkably improved! I would love to just not take it at all, but yeah, not being able to keep my life on track otherwise, wins every time I try to go with out it. Sadly, I agree someone is not doing their job when it comes to what's going on with this medicine, and there's nowhere to turn. I've complained to my doctor, the pharmacy, the drug manufacturers and the FDA, and nothing ever comes of it. I only know something is not right about what's being served to us now in the generics because I was lucky enough to have taken the "real deal, shire-Barr" patented formula. It was monumentally different from what the generics are like now. Something terrible is going on, and the FDA acts like they don't have a clue and they don't care to know!

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100% agree! Sandoz 30 twice a day and sometimes 3 times a day does not have the same affect it did. I began noticing this in 2017. I thought it was me. I took a holiday from it and still nothing. They make me tired and foggy. I also could eat large subs throughout the day. How dare they do this?!

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@fromnyc wrote; "I had no problem with the oval generic but can't remember when I stopped getting those." Unfortunately fromnyc, it doesn't matter any more, even those are ineffective now. It is criminal what these companies are doing! We are paying our doctors a lot of money so that they will prescribe this much needed medicine to us but these GREEDY PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES are screwing with us by NOT putting the "main pharmaceutical" or the "effective amount of pharmaceutical" into each dose! IE; Aurolife, Barr/Teva, CorePharma, Aurolife, Mallinckrodt, Sandoz/Eon. THE FDA, DEA, BIG PHARMA HAS BAITED MILLIONS OF US WITH THIS MEDICATION, JUST TO RIP IT AWAY FROM US! It's unfortunate that if they don't remedy this greedy fiasco soon, I am sure we will find a way to obtain it in other ways.

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I've had the same experience. My insurance will only send to CVS and now I have a bottle of sugar pills. The generics have always been hit or miss in their formulation, but this particular bottle is just tablets of chalk or something. I found this thread trying to figure out what happened his time.

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YES! I am having the SAME EXACT issues! I was taking the pink COREPHARMA's 30 mg which were AMAZING!--better than BRAND even, and then 2 scripts later--HORRIFIC! The differences were so astounding it is unbelievable. Then I just picked up some for my ex under the name of MALINKRODT--OMG. don't even try them! They're bad and only dexidrine! It's like bad drugs or something --they are very very BAD. TEVA is disgusting. They give me the WORST side effects. My conclusion is try to find SANDOZ 30 mg or switch to SHIRE'S (the original mfr of brand) authorized generic under the name PRASCO --THEY are ONLY MAKING XR though right now. I'm thinking about switching to XR, but some ppl taking PRASCO say it sucks too! I'm flippin fed up with this BS. I'm about to just have to come off of it I think, but it staves off my depression--except this new s*** is giving me DEPRESSION!

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I thought the same thing. They don't do a thing for me anymore. I could take a 30mg tablet (Yellow) every 4-5 hours and I'm still clouded and exhausted. It used to be the Orange 30mg that seemed that way but anymore it's just Adderall in general. I thought I had a crazy high tolerance or something.

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I have been taking x2 adderall IR 20mg tablets, x2 adderall XR 30 mg (brand) capsules and 1x wellbutrin xl 150mg tablet each day, all at the same time usually in the morning about 8:00 am. Then around 1:00 pm I suddenly feel like its out of my system, causing me to feel really irritable and have rebound symptoms. I have tried to spread the dose out through the day, but that ends up just being half as effective although it lasts slightly longer. I have been on this same exact dose for 3 1/2 years now, and its nothing like it was back then. I take the NAME brand IR and XR. but turns out brand name is by f***ing TEVA pharmaceuticals, the exact same company that churns out the notoriously low quality generic football-shaped orange tablets.

Also, my psychiatrist won't up my dose at all, being how I'm already above the recommended daily maximum dose of 60mg. Either I just am f****ing special or TEVA has been fabricating knock-off cheap substituted amphetamine salts and not the real thing. I tried eating less acidic foods, which seems to actually help. Taking tums or eating baking soda also increases your baseline stomach ph so that the amphetamine is absorbed more, and not just melted away and excreted in urine. I take a total of 100mg (sometimes I even take 1/2 tablet of the 20mg extra later on in the days I need it). Yeah I know people are going to question why I am on such a ridiculously high dose, well I've been on it for years. The only thing i can tell is when I don't take it, then I feel s***ty and hungry and tired. Also, you can get your prescription up to 4 days earlier than the date on the bottle says; the pharmacy allows up to 4 days early.

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When you find the generic that works best for you and you know you have gotten it from a specific pharmacy the solution is to have your MD write on the prescription “_____only, do not substitute.” This way the pharmacy basically has to order it because of the doctors orders. This strategy has worked for me in terms of using a Costco pharmacy. You can get prescriptions filled at Costco without being a member. Today, for the first time since the MD changed the wording on the script the pharmacy called and said they would not be able to get my brand until April 30, but luckily they still had 70 (I usually get 75) of them left on the shelf so I of course immediately said yes dispense them! The correct working medication is worth more than having 5 less for the month. If you have “real” ADHD, any chance to NOT take a pill is a good day, everyday I wish I did not have to take it to function, but so thankful that it really does help.

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I take the generic 20 mg version manufactured by CoreLabs dispensed by CVS (who say they have no plans to change suppliers). For at least the last 3 prescriptions from March through July I have noticed a lack of potency. I take my morning dose and fall back asleep. The first batch started crumbling and I thought maybe I was storing them in too warm of an environment, but took precautions in storing them and experienced no change. Still seeing pills swelling looks like a moisture problem or the fact that they no longer have a coating that protects them. I had inserted desiccants supplied by CVS to see if would help. I just think they were either reformulated improperly or purposefully- who knows. I find it alarming the reports that all generic brands have problems of potency from viewing the chat log. I urge everyone to contact their manufacturer and report. I contacted CoreLabs and got contacted by [[email protected]] who claim they are investigating. Anyone here using the brand name Adderall? I would try to get it filled by my insurance if it was more effective than the generic. I had no problem with the oval generic but can't remember when I stopped getting those.

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