Epic Pharma Adderall Review
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Epic Pharma Adderall does not seem to work at all no matter the dosage. Anyone else experience this?

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Re: Jules (# 11)

Testing for amphetamine in pills is a waste of time and money because the problem is the inactive ingredients that may help or hinder crossing and staying across the blood brain barrier.

The bioequivalence requirement for the ANDA already proved the active ingredient is absorbed and lasts in the blood nearly the same as the brand name. Which ignores the fact that psychoactive drugs have to cross and stay across the BBB to have any therapeutic effect. It is possible to have more amphetamine in the pill than a brand name and still not be effective at all.

You can also check the inactive ingredients in any generic and name brand here. So, if you know what excipient (inactive ingredient) you or your family is sensitive to, such as causes headache or stomach ache, you can use this link to sort out the brands you may want to avoid. The search in this link brings up genetics and name brand drugs for several different drugs. So, will need to pay attention to the exact differences and check the label to be sure you look at the right drug. (ex. Adderall IR, Adderall XR, MyDayIs, etc.). May mis some generics which may list the active ingredient slightly different.

https:/­/­dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/­dailymed/­search.cfm?labeltype=all&query=dextroamphetamine+saccharate%2C+amphetamine+aspartate%2C+dextroamphetamine+sulfate%2C+and+amphetamine+sulfate&pagesize=200&page=1

Can also use the advanced search option to filter by excipient etc.

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Re: Jules (# 8)

Drug identification tool I personally prefer. I am guessing you have used one of these tools as you listed Norwich which on some tools would show up instead of the labeler Alvogen:
https:/­/­www.drugs.com/­imprints.php

Brand should be listed somewhere on the prescription you have filled. But, the tool can help also. Some brands may be white labeled under a different brand name so don't worry if you find discrepancies. Example both Aurobindo and Sun Pharma have been white labeled as NorthStar. The pharmacy you get it from does not really matter. It is the suppliers and backup suppliers they use, which may be different for the same stores in different locations. So, brands aren't pharmacy specific. And suppliers may "allocate" a limited amount to each store during a shortage. And some pharmacies can request certain brands while others you are stuck with what they are sent.

The Norwich one you like is labelled as Alvogen. Norwich is the maker, Alvogen is the labeller.

You would likely find Teva or Sandoz to be way too strong for you. Mallinckrodt likely too strong but not nearly as bad as the other 2. Elite, stronger than Mallinckrodt and not as strong as the first 2.
These are not 100% true for everyone, but, most people respond about the same to generic brands.

You can do a couple things that may help. Have the prescriber write
"[preferred brand or brands you will accept list] generics only please" on the script.
If not available the pharmacy should contact you and you can accept what they can get, or choose to have the script transferred to another pharmacy (if electronic) which varies by state whether you can do it once per script yourself or always needs the prescriber to do it.

Or, get a paper script with the same thing written on it, and go pharmacy to pharmacy till you find it.

Can also call pharmacies. but they don't always tell you what they have in stock or can get. Some even lie to you. They are afraid of getting jacked by people, so, can't necessarily blame them. I have had mixed results over the phone. But, may still be quicker than physically going one to another.

I'd also recommend Vyvanse for you kid over 5 mg Adderall as it has lower chance of causing side effects and tolerance vs other amphetamine based drugs. And has a longer duration. (skipping the technical info). The good brand for Vyvanse is Teva. I do not know what others are good or not good, but that can be researched.

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Re: CourtD (# 5)

For Adderall IR: (not sure of Adderall XR good/bad generics)
To save you time, tell your prescriber to write "Teva or sandoz only" on the script. If they can't get those then....
Good: Teva, Sandoz
Mediocre: Mallinckrodt
Probably between Good and Mediocre: Elite
Bad: Most or all the others.

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Re: Optimistic (# 3)

If other generics caused sweating and jitters, that is because the dose was way to high. Not because of the brand. Epic is weak. Which is the equivalent of a very reduced dose of your other brand.

If yours are prescribed, I'd call into question your therapist's understanding of the drugs the prescribe. If obtained for recreation or for school or work, then taking a half or a quarter of your other brand would be an approximate equivalent.

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Re: VerFree (# 2)

There can be individual differences between people. For example, 15% of people respond best to the 50/50 dextro/levo amphetamine mix of Evekeo. But, most people respond best to dextroamphetamine (dexedrine, zenzedi, etc.) while some to the 75/25 dextro/levo of Adderall.

That being said, most amphetamine based generic meds are terrible. Reason being, the inactive ingredients (excipient) help or hinder the active ingredient (amphetamine) from crossing and staying across the blood brain barrier. I don't know if it is due to the good brands having adjuvants (excipients that assist or improve the active ingredient). Or if the junk brands have excipients that hinder crossing or staying across the blood brain barrier.

In the 80s, the FDA dropped the therapeutic equivalency requirement to promote generics in the market. Bioequivalence (proves matching absorption to name brand into the blood stream) almost always predicted therapeutic equivalence so it generally worked well. But psychoactive medications have to additionally cross the blood brain barrier which is not accounted for with the bioequivalence requirement. So, ANDAs for psychoactive med generics assume therapeutic equivalence but never actually tests for it. Which is why we have problems with so many generics. Name brands tend to use high quality ingredients while generally, generics use cheaper options. Even then, if a generic used high quality ingredients, not checking therapeutic equivalence means it still may fail having the API cross and stay across the BBB.

Generally, for Adderall IR at this time:

Good: Teva, Sandoz
Mediocre: Mallinckrodt
Between Mediocre and Good: Elite (more explanation below)
Bad: Most, maybe all the others. Don't know every single brand. But have looked into most in reviews at least. And tried quite a few myself.

Elite is a special case. Before summer 2022, most people who tried Lannett if I recall correctly, thought that one worked best. But, Lannett only marketed it, while Elite made it. Elite decided to market their drug themselves. And the list of ingredients is the exact same as it was when Lannett was marketing it. It did take them a long time to complete the ANDA which makes me wonder if they kept the same ingredients but modified the amounts. Maybe a little less amphetamine as it was often considered a bit stronger than Teva or Sandoz. Or an excipient adjustment. I have not seen any info on adjustments or no adjustments. I can say that I have responded to Adderall generics in line with the general sentiment of people on social media. I never tried the old Lannett that was well liked. I did try the new Elite which may or may not be the exact same. For me it was pretty good but noticeably less effective compared to Teva or Sandoz. So, at this time, a bit undetermined. Others have thought it was decent in reviews but not raving about it like when Lannett marketed it. Which may be just bias and similar to effects of expectations as most don't know this stuff. I do know the new Lannett replacement formulary is not liked.

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Re: Deb (# 22)

It’s not a pain med

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There is Tylenol in that now
They are putting Tylenol in every pain med

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I've been literally struggling every single day since I received this script from Epic Pharma Adderall 15mg - (hot pink oval tablets) from Optum Rx. I have read over 50 patient reviews complaining about this manufacturer Epic Pharma's Adderall- all strengths. They are probably about the the worst I've encountered- and I just received 400 tablets---- I can only compare them to the very first ADHD med I was prescribed--- the non-stimulant- Strattera! I've barely gotten anything done at work all week.

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Absolutely Horrible Garbage.

How this company is allowed to produce this is mind blowing.

Have to now wait 30 days for a refill from this garbage

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YES! No matter what dose, I'm struggling to focus, and stay awake. I never had this problem with any other script from any other manufacturer.

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Re: Optimistic (# 1)

Don’t waste your time or money. Epic Adderall is concerning. You cannot even tell you have had your medication. It is a joke and should be removed from the market.

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Re: Lisa (# 16)

I already posted the results. See my October 1, 2023 response.

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Re: Jules (# 11)

What did u find out? Been wanting to do this experiment for awhile. But I'm unmedicated and narcoleptic so ??

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The 30mg pink tablet does not work at all. It’s like taking a sugar pill! I was getting my script filled at Walgreens using the Good Rx coupon and they worked great until the pharmacist decided he wasn’t going to let me use the coupon. Epic brand DOES NOT WORK!!!

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Does not work at all... 20 mg and 10 mg

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Re: Jules (# 11)

I did some additional testing of the Epic Pharma adderall with the Norwich adderall. The adderall in question is Epic and I am using Norwich as a control which I believe works.

The pills were crushed to a powder and evaluated with reagents that were Marquis, Mecke, and Robadope A+B.

The tests rely on color changes in the reagents and so the dye added to the pills made them difficult to evaluate with some of the reagents. The Epic is dyed blue and Norwich orange.

This page shows how each of the reagents shift color:
[1] How To Test Amphetamine

Marquis: This test turned dark brown and showed clear presence of Amphetamine in both samples. The Norwich was slightly darker and may have a higher concentration but purity is difficult to determine with a reagent test like this.

Mecke: This test is not supposed to change color in the presence of Ampetamine but it turned a light brown for both samples. All sorts of substances could turn it brown like this including ibuprofen.

Robadope: This reagent is supposed to turn light pink in the presence of Amphetamine. I can see evidence of this with the Epic adderall but the orange dye of the Norwich sample makes it impossible to determine.

In conclusion both samples contained Amphetamine. The Norwich may have a stronger concentration but this could be due to it being a different dose and volume.

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I've had to take the Epic brand a few different times because of the shortage and each time I did, I had serious stomach issues and worst of all I had very bad vertigo...not just minor dizziness!

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Re: hateRX (# 10)

Adderall contains amphetamine. It is incredibly easy to test for the active ingredient in the drug. We don't need to be in the dark about the content of this medication because there are easily obtainable and inexpensive kits that can verify the purity.

I ordered an amphetamine reagent test kit and it should hopefully help me get a handle on what is going on with my son's and my own prescriptions. There are also labs that will provide Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy services for $200.

We can take matters into our own hands and produce our own evidence that these manufacturers are producing defective medications.

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Re: VerFree (# 2)

We know what Adderall is and what it contains and that yes it can be addictive. That was not their question.

I do not intend to be disrespectful, but there are many of us that have been through very intensive testing and examinations before the medication was prescribed and there are others that take it for other reasons. i.e. narcolepsy. I take it for both reasons and provigil causes serotonin syndrome, I cannot take it.

I never took my full prescribed dosage prior to the shortage, All was working fine, Then the change...

This shortage has cost me my job, my life, my self-worth, everything. I cannot drive, I fear falling asleep, I do not focus, I don't care or have the desire to do anything and this is not depression related.

Prior to the shortage and the continuous changes in manufacturers at the very same pharmacy that I have gone to for years have put my body through a roller coaster. Ups and downs.

I was at the top of my company, excelling, being a top performer, and making great money. Since the shortage, the changes in the different manufacturers, and the lack of quality, my job performance went to zero, I lost my job, I lost my home, and I am staying with my family, I am 58 years old, and now have NOTHING.

I have stopped taking Adderall (the real stuff) many times, the withdrawals, were minimum, A few days of lack of motivation and focus, but nothing major. I did fine with Teva, that is the brand I always took. But with these new "generic brands", something is wrong with them.

I am able to get my prescriptions filled, but every month the pharmacy has a different brand, Each generic manufacturing brand seems to get worse and worse.

Last month while taking a new (to me) generic made by "Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals", I might as well have taken a placebo. For the past month, I have been worthless, mid-moment falling asleep, unable to focus, and gained 25 pounds. I refuse to take this brand ever again. This has to be the worst. I questioned it the first couple of days I was on it, and continue to question it.

It literally dissolves in your mouth before you can even get water down. It lacks everything. Like I said, I might as well have taken a placebo or an aspirin. I and others that I know who have been on this brand feel the same way. I just hung up with my pharmacy and asked what manufacturer was filled this month. I will be picking up "Epic" again. (Not as good as Teva or before the shortage, but they are better than Mallinckrodt. Now to find a ride so I don't fall asleep at the wheel.

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Re: Jules (# 8)

I have an update on this. My wife tried the same experiment as my son. She took 5mg of the Epic Adderall with imprint E 339 and it made her stomach sick and had no beneficial effects. The next day she tried 5mg of Norwich Pharma Adderall and it worked as expected.

Both my son and wife reported stomach upset. This is not a known side effect of Adderall. Many similar pills use sugar as the filler and can be dissolved in the mouth. The active ingredient (amphetamine) can be absorbed in the mouth and does not even need to enter the stomach. The only way the pill could cause stomach upset is from a bad filler.

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