Difference Between Adderall And Amphetamine Salts (Page 23)

I was recently diagnosed with Adult ADD and have been prescribed Amphetamine Salts (Generic for Adderall) for a few months now. The initial dosage was one 10mg tablet/ three times a day and recently my Doctor upped the dosage to one 30mg tablet/ twice a day. I know that overall this has been very beneficial for me but I cant help but wonder if the generic brand (IR Amphetamine Salts) has less of the active ingredient, and more unnecessary side effects(irritability, fatigue). I know that while the active ingredients are likely to be the same, the "fillers" usually are not and even the active ingredients can vary up to 10%. I also know that everybody reacts differently depending on their bodies' make-up as well as the drugs and I have always reacted sensitively to any kind of drug. The more I "google" the more I want to stay away from the generic form. Also- almost every pharmacy around has little to no Adderall Brand IR tablets in stock, they only have the generic brands and possibly Adderall brand but only the Extended-Release. My Doctor seems to firmly believe that there is no difference between Adderall XR and Adderall IR, and because she prescribed me the generic form (Amphetamine Salts), she probably doesn't see a difference there either. I don't have the time to ask 10 doctors what they think so if anyone has any information or experiences please share! Thank you!

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After taking generic 20 mg in the morning, I was very relaxed, calm and felt stoned. I normally have a lot of anxiety and energy, and fidget and say impulsive things that embarrass me or others. On the medicine, these symptoms were gone but I felt very slow in my mind and was not more effective at my work.

Tried it again a couple days later, only took half, and took it around 10am after being assigned a new project at work. I felt more like myself this time, only slightly in slow motion. I noticed that I had the patience to speak with people clearly and to address things that I normally see as irrelevant (conversation and Bull s*** basically.)

The two benefits I can note right now are that: people find me easier to work with (not that anyone ever despised me; just found me difficult at times) and second, I have the ability to catch small details as for some reason reading comes quite naturally on this medicine. Before, I saw things as a blur. Now they appear much clearer and I read them.

Downsides: I am not creative at my piano when on the medicine. I do not feel inspired when on it. I don't feel compelled to do anything creative at all, actually, including at work. However, it's my creativity and physical talent that has always given me an edge.

I was still late to work all week. That's a big problem.

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I'm 26, with a 3 year old son. I am not with the mother but due to the fact I have an impulsive mind, I quickly found refuge after she left me with a single women who has two children of her own. We split custody 50/50 without any need of a court system (not very heard of) and have been doing just fine for almost a year. Off topic but had to put it in there...I personally have always struggled with relationships, work, school, sports, etc. Anything that required me to focus for a long period of time has been difficult. My brain gets bored and self destructive. Some positives that I have noticed with the medicine in general, whether it's adderall XR, or amphetamine salts, it removes impulsive behavior. It puts your brain on the topic at hand. Finishing tasks, or setting goals will no longer be an issue. Relationship wise, it has only hindered me even more, but I can't say at this exact moment whether or not that's such a bad thing. The reason being, I've always had to be in a relationship and that as well follows under impulsive behavior which has been removed from the equation. I have always been emotional but the medicine removes my emotions completely and I now use logic. This can be a blessing but only if you allow it to be. Remember, what you choose to be your mind set, your brain will focus in on that mind set. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow negative minds into your own. You will get trapped, at least for that day anyways. Also, the mother of my child has seen the change in my world and has wanted to be together again, however; logic tells me otherwise. My email is {edited for privacy}. Feel free to contact me personally if you ever need some support. Talking with my aunt who has this has helped me. Hope this helps...more.

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I'm starting to notice a trend, that the couple of folks who I have talked with about adderall and those who have explained how the drug has helped them, explain their adhd symptoms as add, without cognition, without momentum, without goals.

However, that's not my problem most of the time. Sometimes I lapse into directionless territory but usually not the big issue. My problems on a day to day are:

1) taking on way too much and actually believing I can manage it
2) lots of brain chatter which makes me feel exhausted, spun out and stressed out
3) constantly late - no concept of how much time goes by because I'm lost in space ..thinking about how to solve problems usually, on any level.
4) either absent/bored emotionally and called 'unavailable' or too hyper focused and drive partners crazy. I hyper focus a small problem into a huge hypothesis, or create fictions out of tiny incidents ..or in general, my physical energy is too much for anyone to keep up with at first. Then, once bored, I am prone to cheat or engage in other things. I actually won't even date any longer. I refuse to burden my child, self and others with that disaster. If I need a date to an event, I have a few friends who have Tried dating me who "get it" and don't hate me. It's nice to be understood. Lol

My point here is that I've always had goals. Too many of them. I've always been able to succeed with hyper focus. Without it, I'm lost. Being normal has never been my thing. Granite, the hyper focus does wear off after a duration of time, I.e; 6 months to a year, or after success, then bored. One winning season, then one losing season because there's no drive or focus. But yes, if I can create the hyper focus at any time, it exceeds above most others. It served me well but now, life is changing. Priorities are changing. Grow tired of being alone. Family has grown exhausted of my adhd ways and patterns. I want better relationships. Better peace of mind. Better quality of life, not just thrills.

I will take the medicine that can help. I'm wondering if this is the right medicine. I have not tried or learned about many options. Right now cost is an issue (I missed my window of time to add insurance at work, but can add again in May.) so cost will be less of an issue soon.

I'll try the amph salts and hopefully will get used to being in slow motion. Lol and maybe my life can benefit. It sounds like you are a believer and keep yourself positive.

I used to be much more positive, until my now 10 year old child started struggling with different adhd symptoms. More like yours are explained. Then, felt like a victim. Too many people say fit into a box ...but I personally believe the people saying it aren't much to admire. Just manage stupid tasks better. IQ and management are 2 different things. I recommend science or music field to all add'ers or prepare to lose on account of mismanagement.

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I've tried most of the pharmaceutical ADHD medications, you sound exactly like I do.
Vyvanse makes me too jittery to be an effective treatment, I think the release curve is too sharp.
Ritalin made me manic/depressive and had all sorts of negative side effects.
Concentra was okay, but didn't really do much in the way of organization or planning.
Adderall/Amphetamine Salts have worked flawlessly, we've only changed my dosage once due to a shift change (10mg IR when I get to work so I don't have to wait on the time release to function.)

I seriously cannot stress how life-changing this drug has been. It is expensive, but it's also worth it, being that I'm not constantly in fear of losing my job.

I'm still weird, and still all over the place mentally, but I have control over it now and can "Apply myself" to a task.

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Hi Rich,

Thanks for your post. Question about the amph salts: is the objective to be in severe slow motion?

I admit, i am on 10 mg of it today and notice that I'm growing used to the extreme slowedness. I used John's advice today and chose to stay positive and am just trying to go with it and not feel negative about it. If I had something earnest to do, like a client meeting , then I would not have taken it, to be sincere. I am without my million ideas. However, staying positive is helping, and although I can tell people are a little set back by my quiet demeanor, they don't seen all that disappointed by it. Conversations feel very slow and I'm not animated at all.

I feel a little removed from everything around me. I am singularly focused and don't feel a creeping urge to focus on all of the little things that normally bother me. As a matter of fact, I have barely any energy whatsoever.

Right after taking it I felt incredibly tired. Now it's wearing a bit and I am regaining some inertia.

I assume that if I take the 10 mg halves each morning, then increase to 10 mg in afternoon as well, in time, that my life will begin to be better in that my adhd symptoms won't be ruining things any longer.

As a person, though, this is not me.

Sound about right?

Thank you.

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Generic and named brand drugs are exactly the same in dosages, strength and safety required by law, the only difference being there may be a patent pending on a particular drug because the patent hasn't expired you can't get a generic

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Those are the unfortunate side affects that I also experienced in the begining. These feelings you must tell your doctor so he can adjust your medicine if need be. I'm not one, so I can only speak from personal experience, and the way the medicine worked for me is similiar. It removed my personality at first "emotionless'' and made me feel almost robotic. After about a couple weeks, of gradually accepting the medicine into my system, I actually became extremely energetic and upbeat. More of my self and definitely a huge improvement.

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Thank you for the feedback John. This is very helpful.

Today I noticed some shakiness, but I also added to the 10 mg amph salts, 1200 mg fish oil, green tea supplement & coQ-10.

However, I'm already feeling much less of the removed feeling and emotionless side effects. I slept wonderful for 7.5 hours and woke up not feeling tired like usual. I was not really ready to go to bed at 11pm but that's not unusual for me.

Even after taking the med around 8am yesterday, I felt much more calm and centered on my real priorities by late afternoon and evening. Being able to avoid stress in the morning (via medicine) helped me to stay relaxed and not get wound up the rest of the day I guess.

My lists of to-do's usually become crazy long and detailed, but I easily wrote my four objectives for the evening and accomplished them. Normally I start out with a list, and derail into other things that seem important, then forget about my priorities until later or next day

I'm very happy at this point, I'd day. Will see how the continued 10 mg dosing continued. Still had creativity issues last night at 9pm at piano.

I'm about 2/3 through a wedding composition I need to finish by 4-29 and without creativity, it's a bust. Perhaps Saturday and sunday without meds?

Any thoughts on diet and how food can alter medicine or enhance It?

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Check with a really good private pharmacist....by law gen must have a least a certain amount of the specific med but it doesn't need to be 100%. And remember mfg put in different fillers that can affect you.

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my son was on the Adderall for years .until they got the generic salts.we did not notice a difference.he was on the extended.and a lot.since age 6 till 18years old.at the end he was on 70 mg a day.it worked.hoped this helped you sweetie.pam

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well. I do believe in GOD.but I also think he gives us the smarts to use our brains.if u need insulin,then u need it.if u use high blood pressure meds. then u need them etc. I retired from nursing because of depression.but most of all back pain after surg.if people domt believe in meds. why are they even on here?

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I just read a very detailed article by the Science of Medicine Journal about generic medicines, outlining first, how the patented med curve / standard is created and then how the generic standard must compare. There's room for possibly 20% curve differentiation, but essentially, it's a tightly regulated institution and the generic drugs API IS the same. I've never been one to question generic drugs, but wanted to be diligent & do my research. I believe generic are serving the purpose, although I'm sure slight differences exist.
Thank you for posting about your son Pam. You said 'at the end,' so I hope he is still with us and doing well. Were you on the post researching for a particular reason? I'm just curious. I appreciate your words. Not only I, but my daughter has adhd , and I'm a single mom. My parents say "we don't know if she has adhd or if she is just a product of you." although she is triple diagnosed...& they never sought any diagnosis or help for me. I'm a product of tough love, which is why I've been a much different parent. (Although I rely on that tactic when necessary - realizing it's only so productive with an adhd DAUGHTER.) perhaps I am wrong though? Is it? I'd benefit from learning any strategies for helping an adhd child succeed, be confident, find their gifts and be happy in life...and maintain a great relationship with her as well. How is your son now? Your relationship?

As for God? Well, I've said those exact words about medication. I'm a believer. Its just that humans have created medicines for all kinda of benefits, some life sustaining and some mind altering. Its more the psychotropic drugs that I feel there's 1) addiction issues 2) questions about WHY? I am taking meds more because others feel it's necessary than me. In the past, I cared more Bout my own perspective. But now, my age and life has led me to care about other things, people in my life, different priorities. So the drugs affect who I am. I've always had a specific unique skillset and great creative talents, and worked to put into other people. But adhd has created some problems in my life as well. But then, who doesn't have problems?

So, I posed the question. ..there's a lot to go into the decision about it in my opinion, in my case, having benefited from my adhd much in life. And so I wonder if I am doing what God intends.

However, I've clearly given into my own thoughts on it and also societies view by taking the meds.

At moments, I feel empowered by it. At others, I feel I've resigned. Such is life, I imagine.

And, as an update, I took 3/4 of a 20 mg tab at 8am and Already notice when It wore off, around 1pm. I had trouble controlling impulses and not getting wound up today. This, the likely long and 'insightful' note .

I feel dependency setting in. It frighhtens me.

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hey Sarah. thank u so much for the reply. i am not so great on this comp. my son is great as is our relationship. think he just kinda out grew the adhd (somewhat). but he is happy, and still loves to play jokes. he is a sweetie. i was on here for back pain. but I wanted to look around and see what other peoples problems were. i have chronic depression. i am in control with the depression. You are NOT wrong in trying to help ur child. just don't let the DRS. make them a zombie etc. if you don't like or feel right with those meds dont take them. im not sure of all the diff. between original and generics. BUT I do know when I worked some cardiologist would only let the patients take the name brand. no generics. (I have some slow alzhemizers). so if I don't do this right please don't be mad at me. I talk about GOD. i believe. but I don't even go to church. i have trouble getting outside. if you feel worse with the meds dont take them. you know your body better than anyone in the world. i was at first afraid of dependency. but when I cant play with my grandchildren, or do do chores around the house, then I wonder...which is worse. again. I don't know if it allowed to send a mail??? let me know. K Sweetie. also I am on {edited for privacy}. my name is {edited for privacy} and I live in loranger la

Editor's Note: We apologize, but aside from a few (very) rare exceptions we cannot allow personal contact information to show up in the posts. This is to protect the privacy of our visitors.

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I don't know if u got my last answer. i told y I am stupid on here. {edited for privacy}

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You lost me when you said there is no God, you will be extremely surprised when you meet Him, Jesus is Lord.

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Margarita, i am not trying to be mean. BUT some people do need Adderall. besides at a bus stop!!! they do NOT always lead to all these illegal drugs that u speak of. one of my sons was on it from around 8-18 years old. he did not get hooked on them!! in fact when he had surgery and almost died he didn't want to take anything. he still to this day does not smoke or drink. you are scaring people who may need these these meds. do not get me wrong. i do not advocate any meds. Except..would you tell somebody that had high blood pressue or diabetes..DONT take the meds??? I do realize they are overdone. i am a retired nurse. stop making people feel guilty who actually need them. if you lost somebody due to this im very sorry and I mean that. i am not making fun of you at all. i promise this.

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Very well said Dave. My son was on it for a few years. Then when he got older (he is one that kinda out grew the adhd). He never got hooked on them. He does not smoke or even drink. so people should not judge some so harsh. Though I do no there are some that abuse them, like other things...drinking, smoking, coffee (yes coffee) cigs. and I might add food. Be nice to people who may really have a problem.

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No one said there is no God. This post was very inappropriate and misplaced. I'm guessing you're an adhd-er as well :) welcome. Any insights on topic? Lol

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Somebody did say it, it was deleted, I don't say things like that for nothing.

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And about the blog generics suck, I wasn't real adderall but since Teva owns the IR now I'm sure if it changed, I'm on Corp now and I'm not impressed.

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