Difference Between Adderall And Amphetamine Salts (Page 2) (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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Who are you tell this b.s. about adderal and tell her to stop taking them. She has ADD!! That is a condition they prescribe them for!! I have been on it for 13yrs I have narcolepsy and she is totally correct about the generics of adds, certain ones are crap plan and simple and don't work worth a s***! So don't say you know what your talking about , but come at her like she doesn't know what see is talking about with the generics vs non, you just assume she has built up a tolerance. I know personally about the new generics of adds,that came on the market a few years ago it took awhile to figure it out that it was the pills that they were not the ones I had been taking for years and they were making me sick and not working. I also take xanax I'm @ only have had a script for few months and I need them for my anxiety I highly doubt that I will regret ever been put on them. It's people like you that really don't know much about or have never had like chronic pain, and think the new regulations passed by the dea and cdc with congresses approval that has made it it impossible for chronic pain patients to get their meds to help them function better and not suffer from severe debilitating pain every day. Moral of her post is there is a big problem with the generics of this medication! Not that she has a tolerance and none work for her. And no need for your anti these drugs are bad and no one should be on them.

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My daughter was on vyvanse it seemed to be helping at first but due to she is on another medicine it counter reacted. My advice to you would be if your son is on any other type of med check the effects of a stimulant mixed with it or see how a non stimulant will react with it. I say. this bc my daughter is on a mood stabilizer called lamictal for bipolarism and was put on vyvanse 30 mgs for adhd and BC ur not suppose to put a stimulant with lamictal at all it caused a manic break and she had to be admitted to a facility to be evaluated by a new Dr. So do as much research as u can on the diagnosis and also what meds are used to treat that then talk with the Dr about ur concerns and so on. But the answer to ur other about did anyone feel like u did nervous about taking the meds the answer is yes I was very scared bc I never knew I had adhd so when I began taking the Med I really didn't know what was supposed to happen however after a few weeks I noticed I was staying sleepy which is not a. positive so I spoke with my Dr and he thought it was bc I needed a higher dose so we tried that no better response actually it got worse and I was on vyvanse a stimulant so Tuesday I spoke with my Dr again and we as a team decided that I should try the other medicine in the same class which is adderall however I get the generic which is amphetamine salts I'm only taking 15 mgs a day but now without a doubt I see and feel a major difference b4 I felt like my brain was going a 1000 MPH and my body was in slow motion and no matter how hard I tried I never could get them in sync. But finally they are in sync and I feel so much better I know that the dosage may not be perfect but we will get there all I can say is I feel like I have control of my disorder now my disorder isn't controlling me anymore like it was.

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Logan: I am almost 40 and was on Ritalin from about 8 till the middle of college 17 when I decided to stop taking it. One of the side effects was stunting of growth supposedly, however how can you truly tell...I am 5'11" and my Dad is 6'1"...but my mom is 5'7"...so how tall was I supposed to be... It did certainly improve my ability to focus and organize my thoughts better. However like you, over the years I was able to learn to cope and overcome my feeling of lost focus until about 35 years of age when being in a very busy job felt overwhelming and very hard to find that focus and feeling of being able to organize my thoughts...at which point I went back on Metylphenidate (Generic Ritalin) which recently became impossible to get so my Dr. put me on 20MG Vyvanse 1 pill / day which seemed to work for me even better than the Methylphenidate except with my Insurance the Methylphenidate is $10.00 per 30pills and the Vyvanse is $180.00 for 30 pills. I saw the Dr. today and switching to the 20MG Amphetimine Salts 2 x per day...that cost me $84.00 for 60 pills...Hoping I don't have the side effects the others above speak about...Good thing though Logan is that if it does not seem to work for you in a way that makes you feel better in terms of focus, let them know and make a change till you find the right solution for you with your Dr's help.

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Margarita, you need to do a little bit more research before you open your mouth. Adderall is prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD. It is low dosage and closely monitored. I have been taking the generic amphetamine salts for years without having the desire to go on to more addictive drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine. In fact, when I started taking Adderall I quit drinking and smoking. I just didn't want to anymore.

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The Butler, You are probably a friend of Margarita's, if not her yourself. You should go find a different forum to decorate with you fecal matter, Margarita did a good enough job on her own here. Please, if you must patrol this page, do so without leaving a response. We don't like Margarita's thoughts on this topic, so it's unnecessary to try to change our opinions of her. You can keep your opinions to yourself, this is a discussion for differences between two different legal pills, not the difference between street drugs or cocaine, neither is it a page to defend a person who proclaims that we are stupid because God made us that way. Sorry no, she can be stupid all she wants, and you can join her insolence, but please do so elsewhere.

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I was diagnosed with adhd 3 months ago I never even knew what that signs were but my Dr started me out on 30 mg vyvanse at first it seemed to be working I noticed I was able to focus a lot different than I had been. But after about 2weeks I began staying sleepy. I would get up in the morning and be fine well rested then eat breakfast and take my medicine and go about my day. Well it takes 2hrs for the full effect and as soon as it began to kick in I became so sleepy and didn't understand y. So I told my Dr and he had no answers. So rather than taking me off and trying another he increased my mgs to 40 once a day in the am so I began taking it and I became even worse so bad in fact I fell asleep behind the wheel going to take my Mom to the Dr she said I was talking one minute and then I just went out. So I called the Dr and told him and again nothing no answers so today I went to him told him everything about the side effects I was having and he basically made me as if I were crazy or uneducated so I had to literally tell him about my physical that I had bc of me being tired constantly I was concerned something was wrong but all my tests come back normal and he still didn't want to change me but he did he put me on the generic adderall. Amphetamine salts 15mgs and specifically added that the highest dosage. For adults is 20mgs and hes full of it I think he's just saying that BC hes pissed at me bc I won't allow him to treat my daughter anymore BC I had to admit her to a behavioral facility and she had to have a 72hr evaluation. My daughter has bipolarism and has and is currently taking a mood stabilizer called lamictal 200mgs once in the morning then after 6 months now he wanted to treat her adhd and added 30mg vyvanse and it caused my daughter to have a manic break and he told me that the meds had nothing to do with it the Dr who treated her in the hospital said it was without doubt the medicine. He said u never put a child with bipolarism and on a mood stabilizer on a stimulate so he took her off and she has been fine again herself thank God so I worry BC what happens if I have other problems bc I do I also have anxiety and panic attacks and when we discussed that issue he made it very clear it was either control the adhd or the anxiety not both but yes he put my baby girl on 2 without hesitation Idk what I should do in this situation bc he's supposed to talk with nope in and out maybe 15 minutes

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just because you have ADD or ADHD does not mean that you are stupid or dumb in fact usually people with this are extremely intelligent one of the reasons why you end up with ADHD or ADD because of the way your brain works.

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I posted earlier and wanted to thank the person who stated they have taken Vivarin to help them. I have consumed large amounts of caffeine in my adult life. Coffee, Diet Coke, iced tea, energy drinks, etc. Usually, a combination of all of them in the same day. Why? Because when I wake up, I am extremely foggy and feel anxious, emotional, lost. I have had a very difficult time functioning in the morning and have found if i consume enough caffeine it takes me to a level that clears things up, gets me focused, allows me to be productive. That was the first clue I really noticed that maybe I have attention deficit issues. I tried an antidepressant and it helped ovreall but not with the attentional issues. Since I started taking Amphetamine Salts, I have found no need to drink more than a cup of coffee or one or two caffeine drinks per day. I don't claim to have any answers for anyone else but I may have found an answer for myself.

Thanks to the kind people on this site who are working hard to feel better and reclaim their lives. Keep it up!!!!

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@Margarita, I certainly understand your concern, but you need to understand that while for most people, d-amphetamine does act like "speed," for people with ADD/ADHD, it actually calms brain activity and allows for better concentration and impulse control. Some sufferers of ADD/ADHD (myself among them) even find that Adderall helps with problems falling asleep because, again, it calms the hyperactivity in the brain.

Read the books of Dr. Russell Barkley, one of the top experts on adult ADD/ADHD, who explains why Adderall, Ritalin and their ilk are not "speed" or addictive for those of us with this disorder. He contends, as well, that these drugs have the highest success rate by far of any treatment for brain/psychological disorders. These are drugs that have been studied for decades. One neuro-psychologist told me, if I remember correctly, that d-amphetamine has been around for a century or so and has proved to be safe.

Like so many others I resisted these drugs--refused to even consider them--despite the fact that I have struggled every single day from childhood and into middle age with the effects of my ADD. It's not an issue of smart or not smart, or procrastination, of laziness or of lacking respect for others when one is chronically tardy, late on deadlines and on and on (these are among the typical traits of someone with adult ADHD) -- it's a brain disorder, and is most often genetic (When I learned about adult ADHD, I also understood my mother's "failings"). I went through years and years with a therapist who also didn't believe in drugs, and while she was wonderful and helped with some things, I made absolutely no progress on the problems I now know are associated with this disorder. My current psychiatrist says that, while some behavioral therapy can be helpful, talk therapy does nothing for ADHD itself. I wasted SO much of my life fighting for concentration, struggling to keep track of time and feeling like a failure every day (despite running a business and having the respect of my peers), when this medication could have been helping me. It's not a panacea, but it makes a real and immediate difference.

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Adderal isn't just some drug kids take for fun. I take it in order to function because my ADHD makes it practically impossible for me to concentrate. I have an attention span of 20 seconds or less and can't function or pay attention in school without it. On top of that, having adhd reduces the amount of dopamine being produced in my brain causes me to have mood issues and be depressed. The adderall not only helps me focus more normally, it keeps my depression and anxiety from getting bad, and improves my general mood. So, actually adderall can totally be taken by others than narcoleptics. It's far more frequently prescribed to people with add and adhd anyways. And fyi, methamphetamine is also a legally prescribable add and adhd medication. Both meth and dextroamphetamine (adderall) are nothing like cocaine. They are chemically very different are aren't even in the same drug family.

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Re: Margarita (# 2)

Christians make me laugh. They go out of their way to try and claim that Christ's message was one of "peace", but then turn around and spew venom at everyone who doesn't bend a knee to or disagrees with their hate cult.

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I absolutely agree these generics are trash. They didn’t use to be but the have definitely changed.

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Yes, I just took my first dose, and I was scared what if they were wrong about the diagnosis and I ended up all tripped out from the upper?
I am starting at 2.5 mg bid. I felt weird for a while, but then I did settle into a good period of focused work.
I think the effects lasted more like 8 hours, rather than 6, so I did not take the 2nd dose. I will be using it only when needed for focus.
Some of these doses are much bigger. If you are strggling with side effects, try a lower dose, at least temporarily.

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I think those side effects sound more like those from the drug itself. I don't know how often it's the inactive ingredients, but sometimes ISTM that the distrust of generics I see is from a generally suspicious attitude toward healthcare. But maybe I'm too trusting. I used to be a nurse, and we gave generics all the time.
I like the way my doctor started me on such a low dose. I did have funny feelings after my first 2.5mg dose of amphetamine salts/ generic Adderall, but nothing like that since. In a few more days, I will increase to 5 mg bid. It helps lower the soundtrack noises so I can focus better, but - as they keep reminding us - the drugs are not magic, and they are not a cure. They are a tool to be used in conjunction with the other stuff.
I don't think my ADD is as bad as so many others, and I had no idea I even had it, but this is HARD.

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Everybody already knows that drugs and pretty much everything else usually entails some sacrifice to achieve a desired or peceived effect. If it makes someones quality of life better then thats the chioce we make. The question was about a comparison between brand name and generic drugs...not your pretentious ignorant opinion

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Amphetamine Salts: Peach Oval: good. Orange Round: bad.

Taking Adderall regularly for the past 10 years has had a significant, positive affect on my life. A couple of years ago, my insurance (BC/BS) stopped paying for the original. So, I switched to the generic Amphetamine Salts. It didn’t seem to last as long as the brand name but basically I found minimal difference.
Last year my pharmacy shifted from dispensing the peach, oval-shaped tablet (B-974) to the dark orange, round-shaped (E-404). Truthfully, I didn’t really pay any attention the change. However, within 2 ½ months, at my next doctor’s appointment, I was very frustrated. After years of working well, Adderall didn’t seem to be helping me much at all. He increased dosage (from two 30mg tabs a day to three). The next three months didn’t go any better. I was too anxious much of the time; then, in the evening, there was a huge drop-off and I would be exhausted. At my next appointment, he figured-out the problem: I was getting the inferior generic.
It has been a challenge with the overall FDA created shortage to have to not only find a pharmacy that has Amphetamine Salts in stock – but find one with the right version. Still, it is totally worth it. At least for me, there is a significant difference in these products that are supposed be identical.

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I do well on generic Adderall, a.k.a. amphetamine salts.

In fact, I would think that IF someone does NOT do well on the drug -- worse than tolerable side effects -- that it is NOT the correct drug, either the person was misdiagnosed, or they should be on Ritalin or some other drug.

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I have been on amphetamine salt 30 few years. I was diagnosed after my second child was. After numerous conferences with teachers and doctor visits I realized what the monkey on my back was for most of my life. I struggled all through school and college and after a change in job duties I really struggled. The meds have been a godsend.

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There are people who abuse it, and these don't usually feel content with just this unless they take half a months worth of the bottle at once. Working in the field, I've encountered many educated people state this unfortunately as well, but so is there attitude towards most narcotics. In some ways I agree with the part of the criticism that this should not be handed out to minors so often and frequently. But unfortunately most managed healthcare has protocols and formulary processes that limit the care, time and testing that even great doctors would prefer doing, the world of healthcare is big money and treating symptoms rather than the root of a medical problem is naturally what HMOs and pressure from other areas of the system.

That said. What you just stated was truly offensive. And working in pharmacy taught me Not to share your medical decisions because of this prejudiced view. I have ADHD, and struggled through school feeling as though I were stupid. But I worked hard, it had it set backs for me in my life, but being diagnosed in my 20s helped save my employment, made me realize I wasn't dumb and I excelled in my profession. Taking it or not should be dependant on you and mainly a doctor familiar with the pros and cons of prescribing it yo those diagnosed. Its benefits outweighed its side effects an had positive results for me individually. However, in my circumstance a few years ago my Doctor increased my dose and his nurse said it was a typo. But a former family member was messing with my medicine and then very demanding and bombarded my days with full work schedules then expected me to also maintain this with a full schedule he made for me daily in addition to this. So i ended up letting my Dr know i would continue this increased dose, seeing how it would go over despite my own reservations about it. After getting physically away from this abusive person he cancelled my medical and i ended up on Immediate release instead of XR. I have seen many kinds of people and yes a large majority of these on this and other meds can be concerning. But adderall long term slowly increased to 40mg XR has given me a more productive life and improved my follow through and attentiveness, since I'm an easily distracted person. A surprising amount of successful people with ADD or ADHD work and live among you in the healthcare field as well as many other respected lines of work. I know this first hand, but respect for their privacy would not make me name drop,even if I were the type who did this and still working in the pharmacy field.

I personally have been struggling with other issues from a hostile environment and PTSD, and between that and difficulty relating the things that happened that caused and prolonged separating this destructive personality from my life, I know I have been misunderstood or misidentified and judged by certain other people at times because of the stigma and the lack of understanding of what caused my unusual survival mode feelings, that still come and go. .. I look forward to decreasing/adjusting this dose and its taken time to get other chemicals out of my body from my former 'care-giver' who was managing not just my life but what I didnt know he was having me ingest in an herbal mixture that supposedly was to increase my immune system for lyme disease. This person, my ex husband, was a true drug abuser, he messed with prescriptives as I learned later BUT this was FAR from his drugs of choice. He wanted illegal things and was only using prescriptives when its all he could to come down. When soneones leading a double life its not always recognizable what is going on with them, but especially confused me because he spoke of medically necessary prescribed medications as though these were used by drug addicts. His comments and prejudice towards me and others using medicine appropriately, was his mask to disguise from the fact that he was an addict, Among other things.. I would love to Not be on medicine At All! But as a teenager I was misdiagnosed and put on medicine for depression for years, which I regret happened to me. But did. Later hormone problems, lyme disease, car accidents, other junk made doctors put me on too much medicine. But I'm proud of the real support team, my parents and a few really amazing doctors who looked outside thebox and assisted alternative medical therapy and true herbal and physical therapy coordination that helped me get off most of medicine I had been given, because it was Not enjoyable being on alot of medicine. Being functional with improved quality conditions id the most I can expect after your body has been put through the windmill. And it sucks worse when its happened to you at a younger age or if you appear to look fine when your not. Because it just adds to the negative stigma attached to treatment for attention deficit, especially combined with other health issues.

Your statement that adderall is equivalent to taking speed is an ignorant statement. But that's your opinion, and so your entitled. I will choose to respect your choice and personal decisions, as most have respected my privacy and appreciated my work, prior to being inappropriately identified by some recently, Only after my confidentiality was breached.

Being high strung or nervous in certain situations that trigger flashbacks or create awkward vibes happen for other reasons sometimes.. I don't care to go into that, just as I'm sure it would not interest someone, such ad yourself, to know why this is. I would be wasting my breath to try to convince someone who does not know gray areas do exist and medicines such as these in normal circumstances with positive outcomes DO have their proper place.

Not everyone can afford the medical treatment they used to have access to. And not everyone likes to see repeated doctors after several negative Guinea Pig experiences that made my health worse long term in the past. Once you find a certain treatment that works, you don't want to try things that didn't work again as they didn't in the past. I prefer long acting adderallfor myself personally but I cannot afford this now in my current financial circumstance, that is now my life after a person with bad motives came into my good life, and like a whirlwind destroyed the majority of the things I earned and achieved up to that point in my life. But that's fine. Because I'm picking the pieces back up, and you know that's OK too because I will eventually be fine. Some things just take time. Sometimes a while to work through. Especially when you did not get the closure appropriate to the crimes done to you Nor the security of completely getting your perpetrator out of your life.

My cousin and my two exes All Abused Drugs, although I still deeply will always love and Carr for these people who were once part of my life, I don't care for the idea of being compared to their actions or told the treatment I was prescribed is now going to result in me turning to higher doses or other drugs. Because I know people who have done this and in my experience that is Not how this resulted in them making poor choices and inappropriate behavior.

I know Doctors and other health field specialists that would agree with your statement and ALSO Others that would Completely Disagree.

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2 post grad degrees, and you used the incorrect form of "your?" You're or you are; whaat are these schools teaching these days!?

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