Difference Between Adderall And Amphetamine Salts (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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Celeste- thank you for the advice! I switched to brand name adderall for a month then decided to try Vyvanse for a few reasons- The lack of side effects complaints and the difference between the active ingredients. I have found that Vyvanse, because it is absorbed differently than Adderall, helps me to concentrate and feel normally alert (I still get to drink my coffee in the morning without having a heart attack). With adderall and the generic form I felt more jittery and aware of the drug as opposed to Vyvanse where I now feel like myself, only better able to battle my ADD. Knowing we are all very different and our bodies respond differently to these drugs I would still suggest looking into Vyvanse. Finding the right treatment plan is definitely a process and you will most certainly become frustrated and perhaps want to give up. Don't! Also- don't feel like you need to "suck it up" and deal with the negative side effects because your Doctor prescribes you a certain dosage of a certain drug. The process of finding the perfect treatment plan can be difficult, but usually worth it in the end.

Margarita- Adderall contains a mixture of amphetamine salts and dextroamphetamine salts. Amphetamine aspartate and amphetamine sulfate are DERIVATIVES of amphetamine and are designed to slowly release as your body digests the drug (hence the "EXTENDED RELEASE"). "Speed" is slang. It is casually used to describe the drug category of "uppers", which include anything from ritalin to cocaine, to meth. My point is- this slang term you're so easily throwing around can include both legal and illegal substances. If you would like to use the term "speed" to describe Adderall and/or Vyvanse then that is absolutely accurate but there is no need for attaching negative connotation. This is a place where people go for advice and help.

Also- xanax in the lowest dosage is very helpful for people who have anxiety. Taking a drug because of experienced uncontrollable and unpleasant feelings that are affecting your daily life cannot and should not be compared to an abuser, buying whatever from whoever illegally, and shoving them up their nose. We are all responsible for our actions and we are also responsible for sharing our stories and experiences in order to help others. For those of us that are trying to better ourselves, whether it be through drug therapy or any other therapy, cheers and good luck to us all:-)

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In response to Margarita-
I am a 26 year old female with two post-grad degrees in extremely competitive, "intensely" challenging fields. I had been diagnosed with ADHD at a very young age and, because my mother was against such meds at Adderall, I was forced to struggle through school. At times I found it impossible, yet still managed to graduate high school at 16, college at 20. I didn't start taking the medication until after college because I couldn't focus at work, my body wasn't able to stay still, etc. The words you posted are not only ignorant and untrue, but mean spirited and down right rude. Yes, the drug can be addictive to those who don't need it but that can be said about MOST drugs. Most drugs, if not taken as prescribed (and for actual diagnosed disorders) can ruin a life. You shouldnt be so ignorant and completely misinformed before writing such plain stupidity on an open forum, with whom intentions are to be helpful and informative. I will never allow myself to fall into a category of "stupidity" because I was born with a chemical imbalance. My IQ is probably 3x's yours just going off your post alone. So, with all this said, please don't group all human beings together. Doing so only makes yourself look as though your born "not smart." You probably have had your own life or one close to you effected by this drug and I can understand why you would react that way but, as an adult, it is your responsibility to be mature and realize that it probably ruined yours or a close ones life because it wasnt taken properly or for a real disorder. That's no ones fault but your own. Not the drug itself. For people like myself, with ADHD, it does what its supposed to and nothing more. So maybe go back to whatever ignorant life you have and start reading up on your pharmaceuticals.

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Sorry about the post, but Margarita angered me. She has no Idea what she is talking about. Using her logic, people born with type I diabetes should not take insulin and just die because that's the way "god" made them? Cancer patients should avoid treatment because "god" decided to give them cancer? I suppose the entire medical profession should be abandoned because of this "god" she speaks of. I suffer from Adult ADHD and take stimulant medications, quite successfully I might add, and I am FAR from stupid. I also have Panic Disorder, and take 8mg of Xanax a day with NO problems. I suppose I should spend the rest of my life curled up in the fetal position because that's the way "god" made me too. Why don't you walk a mile in someones shoes before you even fathom the idea of judging them, and once you have, make the decision to NOT judge. You will be a better person for it.

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Woah Margarita,,!! I do not appreciate the way you used the label "stupid" while referring to the affects of someone with ADD. Do you know anything at all about ADHD to be giving any advise about medicating or controlling it? Do you know that ADD is at times VERY detrimental and doesn't make people "stupid" as you suggest. You are on the addictions bandwagon and need to get off while it isn't appropriate here at this time.

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Yes there is a huge difference. I was taking the brand name adderall XR and was perfectly happy. I could focus and I felt great. Then I lost my insurance and now i'm on generic IR and I'm miserable. I'm depressed, cant focus and have no energy or desire to do anything. also gained 15lbs in one month to boot. My advice, get some insurance. Margarite, people need this drug to function. "If you are stupid, its because god made you that way" Are you kidding me? First off there is no god! and second of all who are you to play doctor?

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Of course my IQ isn't actually 3x's anyone's... I was obviously exaggerating to get my point across. Yes, this is the Internet and yes, people can have their own opinions. For that very same reason I felt as tho I needed to say something in response to a person, such as Margarita, that feels the need to put myself, or anyone else who struggles with this disorder, into a group labeled as "addicts." This forum is supposed to be a place to come and discuss questions and/or comments about medical disorders. Not to belittle or degrade others. It's hard enough to deal with ADHD or for anyone with any type of out-of-the-ordinary behavioral characteristics, without others putting you down. I just was venting and apologize if it offended you. I have just had enough of people ignorantly commenting on issues they most certainly know nothing about. And thank you for your kind words about my accomplishments. They did not, and still don't, come easy.
Take care
-S

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I mean Margarta sounds like an abuser. My heart goes to all those struggling with ADHA.

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Hi Lissa,

Your thoughts are on the right track here!

I find it to be true that certain "inactive" ingredients which may or may not be present in each brand, are actually detrimental to how the drug is metabolized and used by your body. Because everyone is different, your body may respond favorably with one medication and not the other, due to how you feel or based on whatever side effects present themselves.

When you switch brand names or manufacturers, the drug itself doesn't change, but rather the binders or fillers that they put with it. This is where the primary difference lies.

In this case, we know that Adderall contains the salt combo (Amphetamine + Dextroamphetamine). And to my understanding, Adderall is just the proprietary brand name and Mixed Amphetamine Salts is the active ingredient and thus, the generic name.

Here is an article that may also have some reassuring information on this topic:
differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-amphetamine-and-dextroamphetamine/

I know my thoughts are scattered a bit in this reply, but I hope it helps to answer your question!

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After years of struggling with what I have come to realize is ADD, I have finally done something about it. I'm about to take the generic version of Adderal for the very first time. Some recent mistakes at my job could have been life threatening to my patients. All my life I've heard things like..."ADD is a form of mental retardation....ADD is all in the persons head.....if you think you have ADD then you're just being stupid...etc." Since that situation happened at work I've done some intense research. See, when ever I have taken Vivarin I've been totally focused and not at all forgetful. Turns out Vivarin is a brain stimulant. So I looked up that which took me to links for Adderal....which we know is for ADD. So I talked to my Dr. today and he said from everything I've told him .....which I told him everything since I was like 12, now 42..he agreed that this is the problem. I'm going to try this and hopefully it will solve that. If it doesn't work, then I will have to take a different approach. But I tell you, medication that affects the brain scares the HECK out of me. I know now I'm not stupid and I do NOT have any form of mental retardation. ADD is a LOT more common than people realize; like me, maybe many MANY others are just afraid to admit it for fear that some will think they have mental issues.

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Hello All,

I'm a 28 year old male recently diagnosed with adult ADHD while my son was sitting through a questionnaire (he was also diagnosed). At the expense of sounding like a hypochondriac, it opened my eyes to what I've ignored all my life. I've learned to deal with my focus and attention issues by being (sometimes brashly) outgoing, and I've been very successful with school and work because I learned to move from subject to subject and topic and topic to accomplish tasks. I was just prescribed Amphetamine Salts ER 10mg two times daily, and I'm very nervous about taking them. Some of the postings here have made me feel better, and my doctor is very good and attentive, which also makes me feel better. I still have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind asking, "Do I really need this", despite the fact that I KNOW it will help. My question is, did everybody feel like this when starting? Also, I'm extremely reluctant to start my 6 year old on anything, but logically (after perusing a seemingly infinite amount of case studies) I know it will help him. Sarah, you're post in particular along with my own childhood experiences made me feel as though I'd be hindering him if I don't help, but that doesn't stop me from feeling extremely reluctant. Does anyone have any experience with prescribing children? If so, I'd appreciate any input. Thank you all for sharing your information and stories! It's been extremely helpful.

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Hi Lisa,

I tried Vyvance first because low income people with no insurance can get it free of charge through Shire (have you checked into this) Shire makes both Vyvance and Adderall but you cant get the Adderall. Makes no sense. I wasnt it on it a week and it was awful. Not only did it help none of my symptoms but it made them 10 times worst. I am going back to the brand adderall xr and will try only taking one a day (235.00/mo) instead of 2 (470.00/mo) and somehow figure out how to pay for it. I'm glad the Vyvance worked for you.

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David-
Thank you for your insight!! I, too have found the "inactive" ingredients in adderoll and, actually most other medications I've taken, metabolize way differently than described. Those same ingredients that are supposed to be "inactive" definitely feel "active" with the way my body breaks them down. I've asked a few others I know taking the same meds, as well as more than just one psychiatrist, and every doctor has a different answer.. Every person taking them also have different answers to how it effects them. Thanks for your post.. Glad its not just me!

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Sounds like an abuser

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I am taking the same thing as well and I have noticed the same results as well I use to take adderall the real adderall and now I'm taking the generic brand and I noticed a big difference in the last 2 months so there is something wrong with this medication there has to be something done about that s order needs to be another decision by the doctors offices. I know my insurance don't pay for adderall at all but I have to pay 137 dollars for the generic so I wonder is it worth paying 137 dollarsfor this medication because I am really tired and it seems like I do not do anything right I have ADHD and my daughter has been for scrapping this medicine to me since I was 13 so what is wrong with his medicationbad he. my wife even notice a difference in my attitude in my performance with her and my children as well with work

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Hello everyone,
I'm a 30 year old woman who was diagnosed with ADD at the age of 8, because I simply was too bored in class due to having an IQ of 145. My mother wanted me to have a childhood, so she told the teachers to not move me up from first grade to eighth grade. My mother made a good choice, I actually had a lot of say in that conversation with her. I needed my thoughts to stop keeping me up for days at a time at that age. I wanted and needed to have a childhood that I was shafted for due to being smart. Ritalin made me black out and gain a LOT of weight that I could never get off(goodbye 90% of my self-esteem) and it wasn't what I needed. I had fights with my family, which ended in tears because of the bad side effects from that pill. It took the doctors years to figure out I needed a different kind on medication. Cylert was what worked for me, and it was the only other option at the time. I quit using Cylert at the age of 12, due to my teacher passing away. I thought maybe if I didn't take it, then the loss wouldn't hurt so much. Clearly, I was too young to realize I had made a mistake that would result in 18 years of hell. I have suffered Every Single Day since I had Cylert out of my system. Fighting with family, anxiety, phobias(I had to be homeschooled do to a few), OCD, dyslexia, my IQ suffered(never could grasp typing on a keyboard), and I lost every friend I ever made. I didn't get my G.E.D. until I was 25 years old, because I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't absorb knowledge like I did when I was younger(my GPA is too low for me to go back to college, which I suffered through), and time killed so much of my intelegence that I had problems with keeping any self-esteem I might have had left. I was dumped, cheated on, married and divorced (in less than 3 months), worked at so many jobs that I can't seem to get a job for going on 3 years now. I got lucky when I met a man who could keep up with my thought process, which is an utter mess at all times. He married me and loves me dearly. He stood up for me to my own mother for continuing to give me a hard time, even in adulthood. He gave me the best wedding gift, health insurance. Today is my first full day with this new medication, due to Cylert being discontinued for whatever reason. Either way, I'm using the immidiate release pill, and I've noticed that my nerves, anxiety, and fears have calmed down greatly. I've also noticed that I haven't really looked down at my hands much while writting this letter. So I hope this works out for me, if not I'll try a different pill.

As for Margarita, or whatever your name is (rude, judgmental chick with bad spelling), your are clearly a judgmental, close-minded, under-educated biggot. Everyone who comes to this page is already on this pill, they all know what it is used for, thus why it was perscribed to us all my a licenced doctor for treatment for our mutual issue. Our stories are mostly the same, the outcome will be different due to genetics and such. That is why we are here. Why are you here? It seems to me the only thing you have going on is you trying to get us all to admit to something we aren't guilty of, which is drug abuse of a substance most, if not all, of us need for us to feel, think, and function like everyone else who was lucky to not need to go through this anguish on a daily basis. We don't need to use more than what our doctors say we need, and it's not like it's hurting us. See, I don't know who else may have this problem with random things working backwards or not, I.E. Coffee makes me sleep, energy pills made me sluggish, diet pills made me gain weight, and pickles make me hyper. If anyone else has those strange side effects, let me know, but if you take that example into mind, Margarita, you'll see that sometimes peoples bodies work differently. This medication can cause a person without ADD or anything else to get hyper, but with us, it calms us down. It helps us think more rationally and logically. Don't just assume we are drugged up for the sake of getting messed up. None of the people on this page are using it for 'harmless fun'. Maybe you have in your life, but we aren't like you. Not in any way. So please, if you ever come back to this site and read my really long message, please turn around and walk out of this site. We don't require you to insert your misguided opinions into our lives, we are having enough trouble getting ourselves onto a more stress-free, sturdy mindset.

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That has nothing to do with generic or brand name. That is in the ER/IR change. ER meaning extended release-being released into your body throughout the day, and IR meaning immediate release, the medication is all released immediately (as your stomach dissolves the pill/capsule).

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Hello Everyone,

I am a 50 year old male with a Masters degree, and I was just prescribed Amphetamine Salts. I have struggled with attentional issues my whole life and have found some success in spite of myself. It didn't have to be that hard, and I didn't have to always be late, scattered, inconsistent from day to day. Now that I'm on medication, people laughingly ask me what took so long. Nobody has told me they don't understand why I would be on medication for attentional issues. That is both reassuring and frustrating that it took so long to get to the point of help.

I have more focus, more energy, and I'm less cloudy and foggy in my thinking. I also feel shakey at times. Yesterday, I got overheated very easily outside and felt so fatigued I could barely stand while trying to walk 9 holes of golf.

Is this normal?

As for the people out there that feel the need to express their unintelligent opinions? To each his own. At the end of the day, I'm responsible for my own decisions and will live with them, good and bad. Advice from crackpots on the internet is entertaining. Seriously, how mad can you get at someone who hasn't figured out how to spell check yet?

Best of luck to everyone struggling with their ADD/ADHD issues.

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Margarita, I am astounded that you are so ignorant to assume that people would take adderall are both stupid and addicts. I am offended by your comments on here regarding the issue. I was looking for guidance on the medication I'm taking not to be insulted by your rude stupidity. You may speak from your own experience but that does not apply to everyone. It is not like taking cocaine, in fact I tried that in my early years, so yes I speak from experience.

It has taken me many years to be diagnosed correctly, and to find treatment that helps me with my symptoms. I finally have my life back on track, and I am able to focus on my goals, complete tasks, and become organized. I am back in school, in fact I got an A in both organic chemistry and anatomy that my adviser told me would be too difficult to accomplish. Well I did well in them, despite the fact that I have ADHD. It took 30 years to figure out why I am the way I am, and if there is a medication that can give me the same opportunities as everyone else, then so be it. ADHD has nothing to do with being less intelligent, as my IQ is actually above average. I'm not bragging I'm just trying to illustrate that perhaps you should do some research on topics you are not familiar with prior to giving advice to others.

It is people like you that give mental illness a bad name. It is just like any other medical ailment. It requires treatment, usually involving pharmaceuticals. So before you go lashing out at the community with your unprofessional advice, I suggest you should possibly go resume your weekly NA meetings.

Thank you.

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Just wanted to mention that methamphetamine is in fact approved for ADHD and narcolepsy in the Usa. It's called Desoxyn and is very safe and effective when used properly. It is considered a dinosaur drug and rarely used any more, but available for use when other stimulants have failed.

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Boss, how dare you question my religion? I actually am extremely religious and a very proud Christian. I wasn't attacking her, just trying to get her to see why she shouldn't jump to conclusions. You are attacking me. Stop. You have made yourself look like an ass, so just stop. This is about the difference between Adderall and the generic. I will not reply to anything else you have to say, so do me the same service.

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