Difference Between Adderall And Amphetamine Salts (Page 5) (Top voted first)

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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the way you generalize medication use is ignorant! Certainly you aren't so "stupid" that you believe all narcotics are abused by anyone taking them! People take narcotic medications everyday and do not abuse them. They take them for an illness diagnosed by a doctor, and get relief from whatever symptoms they are suffering from. Your view is ignorant, mean and down right rude!

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I don't think margarita was saying people are stupid. She was trying to get people to think about where this drug will lead. My daughter has ADHD and has used this drug. I can only say she does not do well on it, she looks like a user and her health declines. We are under so much pressure to perform in this society, people need a way to cope, but I too believe adarall is the wrong choice. We can learn to cope and learn yto relax and learn to improve our health. Society is no better with all these meds, I feel it is much worse and we are becoming more isolated and detached. Maybe it is stupid to rely on the meds these legal drug pushers dole out. Come on now who hasn't done stupid things. That's not the point, so don't take it personally. God made you in his image and he loves you, that will never change. And there is help in prayer and meditation.

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I'm 53. Started Adderal last spring, and for the first time I was able to calmly focus on things again. It was an answered prayer for me. Before Adderall I took Nuvigil for a while but it made me nervous and too expensive! Changing from Nuvigil to adderal saved much money, plus adderal didn't have bad side effects. Now I'm taking genericnadderal makes me uncomfortable and jumpy/restless. It is like a different drug. I'm not crazy...I physically feel the side effects of generic. I don't want to speed! I don't take it to speed...I will see if my pharmacy will go back to generic even if it costs more. Any thoughts? I will post what my pharmacist says.

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This is a response to post about people using meds to "cope". This is not true in every case. Does the diabetic take insulin to cope...? What about cardiac & cancer patients? I agree many of these scheduled meds are abused and can cause dependency, but please don't assume everyone takes them for recreation. Like you, I am also saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. For me Adderall isn't a substitute for the peace of God that passes all understanding. I agree about prayer for all things & I know the Word of God has all answers. God also tells believers will still have difficulties. I'm not intending to be critical, I'm just saying no one can know for sure the circumstances of another...even someone you have known for years.

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What felt like too much with one generic brand at 2x20 a day, feels like too little with another. Had the same problem with generics for my thyroid medication, Synthroid, and have stuck with name brand for over a decade as a result. Will be asking my MD to prescribe Adderall only at next visit.

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I wanted to add a couple more things. If you are unfortunate enough to have a bad doctor that ignores your concerns, drop him and find another doctor. Preferably a psychiatrist who has had special training and participated in at least one fellowship in the field of mental health or neurology, but a PMHNP (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) will work just as well and in some cases better, because they have training in nursing and tend to have a much better bedside manner than a doctor, and are less likely to ignore your concerns. I know that can be difficult especially if you are on Medicare or some other form of public assistance, but its worth it if your doc isn't providing you with the care you deserve. Also, PMHNP's are A LOT more likely to take medicare etc, in fact every one I've ever sought help from has taken my Medicare/Medicaid without any problems. Anyway, good luck to you all, and God bless.

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You sound horribly misinformed. No clue what youre talking about. Taking addrrall isnt for intelegence, it doesnt make you smarter. Adderall is for hyperactivity and attention. In fact, many people who have ADD/ADHD are above average intelegent, like myself. Speaking from personal experience, it helps to align your body with your mind in areas like focus, energy, etc. You are correct, its no joke. Its an amphetamine just like meth and molly. But taken properly, and its potential for improving lives in endless. I am way above average intellegent. But i get anxious. By the end of a lecture i physically feel like im going to explode. But on adderall im all focus in class, and if anything, more friendly and talkative (even after the drugwears off). Its made my life better and solved issues ive had since i was a kid. Btw, im a double major in HR and Civil Engineering, so youcan guess what hell i felt on many days before my doctor put me on adderall.

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I have narcolepsy and looking for the best adderral to use now I take the Orange oval generic ones 30mg 2 Times a day I still find myself falling asleep!! And have no motivation!! But have found the pink and round orange ones to be even less effective!! Help I'm so tired of being tired!!!

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I will agree with all you stated about the generic Adderall IR salts vs the better generic Adderall XR salts because I'm only irritable when taking generic IR, but not the XR as much. I did receive cheaper generic of the XR this month and the capsules aren't full like they are with the non generic Adderall (Shire) brand or the regular generic (Actavis). It's the binders and fillers in the IR that bring on the irritability. I've researched for years now as well and the dr's don't say too much one way or the other. Hope this is helpful.

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THere is a difference but i am not sure what. My son was on Adderall and then it wasnt to be found, so they put him on the generic and he broke out with hives. We switched back to the name brand and he is fine. I know there is a difference just dont know exactly what.

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OMG! Totally not the same!! I have been scouring the internet to see if anyone else has been experiencing the same issues, and I am not alone! I have been taking Adderrall XR 60mg/day for YEARS now, worked great, no issues. Now, this year I have been given Amphetamine bla bla (the generic for Adderall XR) by my pharmacy instead of the regular Adderall I have always gotten. IMMEDIATELY I knew it was NOT the same! It is like I am not even taking anything at all. I wrote out a check for $295 for my one month supply (new insurance, thanks Obama) anyway.... I paid out that much for this bottle of junk that does not work and it is "supposedly" the same! NOT THE SAME. SO, now I am supposed to look into other options for meds that are like adderall that hopefully WORK and won't cost $300/mo to take! Yikes!!! I am worthless without it dang it!

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Hello Natasha.
I was prescribed 20 mg of Adderall to be taken once a day in the AM. They worked wonderfully, but i have since moved and not found another job so I am on AHCCCS, which does not cover the cost of Adderall (so i am told) so I am now being prescribed Amphetamine Salts which do absolutely NOTHING for me. I have been told by EVERY Dr. i have spoken with that there are NO differences in the two medicines. I believe there must be something different for one to work so well and the other to do nothing? I am not a Dr. so i may be absolutely wrong, just telling you the FACTS about how one works and the other doesn't.

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Hello.
I don't know why, but Amphetamine Salts have done NOTHING for me, whereas Adderall has work amazingly well.

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This may be a few years late but your comments cannot be ignored because they are fear mongering and could destroy people that could be helped or saved by medicines. Marguerite you sound like a religious fundamentalist; take your pick of Jewish, Christian, Muslim or others. Only you know what is right because god determined only you are equipped to interpret everything for everyone. You may have had or been involved with someone who was stupid by the will of god and suffered from addiction or worse. Until you have become a peer reviewed expert on the subjects you preach on you need to couch all you language in the vein of "this is my opinion" so people will listen more objectively. Your language and holier than thou attitude do nothing except cause people to ignore or become hostile to your opinion. No matter what your experiences you cannot deny or refute that humanity has prospered and benefitted from medical science regardless of how stupid god made you. You also need to accept that there is nothing in the universe that cannot be used for good or evil, that cannot be used or abused; cars, firearms, nuclear energy, and medicine are perfect examples. If we followed your tone we would outlaw everything man has discovered, invented, or adapted to benefit us. And you must also recognize that god did not give us the intelligence to improve our lives so we could throw it back in his face by refusing to use that intelligence. So wherever you gained your current position on how others should live their lives I suggest you think for yourself and interpret things for yourself before you parrot the black and white opinions of the ignorant, frightened, and power hungry people who exploit the ignorance and fear of those they meet. And remember this modified quote, "Everyone and everything has a purpose in life, even if that purpose is to be a bad example, outcome, or experience for others to learn from". The original quote is "Every Hun has a purpose in life even if it is to provide a bad example", Ghengis Khan. Another quote from a TV series based on Bhudda; "All things in life require balance, Grass Hopper". Google it; unless god has determined computers are evil.

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Margarita, It has been my experience that if I remain open-mined to at least listen to the feed back others give me regarding comments I may have made, that feed back, whether I agreed with it or not, has been very helpful to me - in coming to understand where my opinions show how close minded I may have been, or bigoted, or racist, or dumb and stupid, or judgmental, or kind, or brilliant. So, at least you showed where you're really coming from, and hopefully, especially considering so many people have commented on what you had to say --- I hope , since you showed your true colors, look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Do I really want to continue to think this way? and "Did other people sharing their opinion on how I addressed this whole issue, did it help me enlarge my own viewpoint and maybe become a little more passionate about other people and how they deal with their problems?" If you answered "No" to the first question and "Yes" to the second question, hey there, you grew a few inches taller. On behalf of all those that responded to your original response, "Welcome to the human race!!! We all want to give you a big Hug!!!" Maybe not all of us, but at least some of us...

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I use to be a school teacher and I had many students who were on different types of medications including adderall and other stimulants. I use to not be very happy about the idea of all the medications and I still think some kids are overdosed and not given the chance to grow into who they are before everyone trys to alter who they are.
I personally have struggled my whole life with being able to stay on one task focus and stay calm...Once I started taking adderall it has helped me tremendously in my life. I am 39, and i now teach Yoga. Adderall does not give me energetic rushes as it must to some people who want it on the street. I actually can fall asleep within 30 minutes of taking my morning dose.
I think if there is a medication that improves the quality of your life after you have tried many different alternatives, then everyone should be able to make the choice to do what is right for them/or their child. Namaste!

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This is one of the most uneducated and illogical responses I have seen to date. If you are not smart, no drug will change that? A learning disability is not a low IQ. There is a huge difference. I was recently diagnosed with adult ADD and I am graduating from medical school within a year. You should really educate yourself before you make ignorant replies. Or maybe it's just you that god didn't create to be very intelligent.

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Usually methamphetamine is used for narcolepsy. It comes in a pill form and is completely legal. Desoxyn if you're wondering. This is why methamphetamine is not a schedule II drug in the state of FL It still has a medical use.
I noticed you're giving "speed" such a negative connotation, but people with severe narcolepsy use methamphetamine to get themselves through the day. Who are we to judge somebody based on a disease they were born with?

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Ok you bunch of lunatics. (JOKING, just JOKING) It's Auntie Rose. I have 51 neices and nephews, just from my four sisters and three brothers, and a couple of their children having more children (only two generations.) A few of them take Adderall, so I asked them if they actually felt better taking this drug. A few said yes, A couple said they weren't really sure, and one of them just stopped taking it. Watching and listening to two of them, probably two of the smarter ones, I've noticed a very big difference in them (for the better.) Anyway, I have a twenty-four year old daughter who just got her Bachelor's degree. She really struggled those four years. I wish I had thought of this Adderall before she started college, because I know it would have helped her. Believe it or not, her pediatrician gave it to her immediately after she and I filled out a questionaire. Yes, shes till sees her pediatrician for, mostly for physicals only because she's never sick. From the very first day she took it, I noticed a difference. This is no joke. She got out of work at 11:00 pm and was talking to me. I noticed the way she all of a sudden seemed so assertive and sure of herself. Unfortunately, she only took it about six times, not consecutively. I keep begging her to stay on it at least a week straight. She said she'll try. I don't want to push drugs on any of my four children, but I saw such a difference in her when she was on the Adderall, that I can't help but want her to take it. If she doesn't want it after a week, by all means, I will never ask her to take anything again. I brought all my children up drug-free, not even giving them Advil, etc. The only time they ever got even Tylenol is if they had a fever, because my oldest boy, who is now almost forty years old went into seizures when he was approx. two yrs. old, because of a high fever I learned my lesson then. Anyway, keep writing. STOP arguing with each other on this site!!!! Now I know where I can go when I can't sleep.

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Oh boy...it is ignorant people like Margarita who make it so difficult for Special Educators like myself to advocate for my students who truly need medication to live happy fruitful lives. If only she could spend time in a classroom watching how these really intelligent students struggle to sit still and can describe feeling like they can't stop their minds from bouncing all over the place, but so want to not be get in trouble for disrupting a class or feel like they are sticking out. It has very little to do with intelligence level and a whole lot to do with knowing you feel different or off and wanting to be able to function like everyone else around you. Often, there are feelings of anxiety that exacerbate the attention issues as well and these drugs help control and treat both. In many cases, because these drugs can work well in controlling impulses and regulating a child's inner engine, it allows the child to learn how to both cope with and compensate for their disability, thus making them in some cases, not need as much of the drug over time and learn how to function successfully in all environments with or without the drug. People need to be educated about ADHD/ADD and know that in certain cases, needing a medication to manage their condition is no different than if your child needed insulin to control blood sugar! I can honestly say that I have seen both sides of ADHD and medication both professionally and personally. My older sister was an undiagnosed person with ADHD and because she never received educational or medical intervention, she has had struggles throughout her adult life in arenas where someone without ADHD would typically have few to none. She has had difficulty making and maintaining friendships, meeting a man and marrying, holding a stable job and being a mother. Without me in her life to help her through these times, the world was pretty cruel! Could someone like Margarita imagine the guilt a 40yo with ADHD feels when they forget to feed their child? Or feel paralyzed by the regular day to day stresses of their life? This was my sister undiagnosed and unmedicated, despite her 130IQ! I wonder how you would feel if you had a wealth of knowledge and capability that you just could not access without help. What a frustrating feeling that must be...my heart goes out to those of you who turn to this forum for support and instead are met with ignorant judgment!

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