Extended-release Adderall vs. regular

 Adderall vs. regular :- If you or your child has been positively diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, a stimulant drug called Adderall may be recommended to help relieve symptoms. Stimulant drugs block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. As a result, these medications help boost neurotransmitters that improve alertness and focus.

Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) is a popular prescription drug available in different forms. Depending on your condition, the doctor can prescribe Adderall XR or Adderall. Your doctor can also recommend behavioral therapy on top of Adderall medication. Both forms of Adderall consist of the same active ingredients and work in much the same way. However, they have differences in formulations as well as how soon you will experience their effects and how long their effects last.

This blog discusses Adderall and Adderall XR in detail and lists their differences.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a prescription medication commonly used for treating ADHD and narcolepsy. Adderall is available in brand-name and generic forms as an immediate-release tablet. It is usually taken every four to six hours to treat ADHD symptoms.

Adderall XR is a brand-name drug containing a mixture of amphetamine salts. The FDA has approved Adderall XR to treat ADHD in adolescents, adults, and children. Adderall XR is the extended-release form of the Adderall medication taken once daily.

Are Adderall XR and Adderall the same?

Adderall XR and Adderall both contain a combination of amphetamine salts. However, they are not the same drug. Adderall XR is an extended-release drug, and Adderall is an immediate-release drug.

The most effective form of Adderall drug is the one that works best for your condition. Adderall is usually taken multiple times throughout the day, whereas Adderall XR is taken only as a daily dose. Adderall XR has more long-acting effects compared to Adderall.

What are the main differences between Adderall XR and Adderall?

The main difference between Adderall XR and Adderall is that Adderall XR is an extended-release drug, and Adderall is an immediate-release drug. This means that the active ingredients (I-amphetamine and d-amphetamine) are more slowly released over time from Adderall XR compared to Adderall.

Sometimes called Adderall IR, immediate-release Adderall needs to be taken multiple times each day, whereas Adderall extended-release can be taken once daily. Effects will wear off sooner with Adderall versus Adderall XR, which has a more gradual impact throughout the day. The effects of Adderall last for about four to six hours, while those of Adderall XR can last up to twelve hours. It takes about seven hours for Adderall XR and around four hours for Adderall to reach maximum levels in the blood. In this way, some people may experience effects faster with Adderall than with Adderall XR. However, Adderall XR can benefit some people who experience “crashing” with regular Adderall.

Another difference between Adderall XR and Adderall is that Adderall comes as an oral tablet, while Adderall XR is available as an oral capsule. Adderall is available in strengths of 5 milligrams, 7.5 milligrams, 10 milligrams, 12.5 milligrams, 15 milligrams, 20 mg, and 30 milligrams. Adderall XR is available in strengths of 5 milligrams, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 milligrams, 25 mg, and 30 milligrams.

How long is the typical treatment with Adderall and Adderall XR?

Adderall can be used on a short-term basis for 3 to 4 weeks. Long-term use requires to be regularly monitored by a doctor. Adults and children three years of age and older use Adderall. Adderall XR can be used short-term for 3 to 4 weeks. Long-term use requires to be regularly monitored by a doctor. Adults and children aged more than six years use Adderall XR.

Conditions treated by Adderall XR vs. Adderall.

Both forms of Adderall are approved by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA to treat ADHD. ADHD is a chronic mental disorder affecting adolescents, children, and adults. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD symptoms are impulsiveness, inattention, and restlessness. As a central nervous system or CNS stimulant, Adderall can help balance brain chemicals to improve attention and focus.

FDA has also approved Adderall to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that involves sudden sleep attacks and excessive daytime drowsiness. People with narcolepsy have disrupted sleep-wake cycles that may affect their social lives and daily work. Although Adderall extended-release is not usually prescribed for this purpose, Adderall immediate-release can help alleviate these symptoms and improve wakefulness.

Off-label uses of Adderall can include treatment of depression or/and anxiety, especially in those who already have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Approximately 75% of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder also have another condition. Some practitioners may prescribe the use of a stimulant with an antidepressant for treating both depression and ADHD. Other studies have found that stimulant medications such as Adderall can effectively treat ADHD with anxiety.

Is Adderall XR or Adderall more effective?

Adderall XR and Adderall contain the same active ingredients that can help treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD symptoms. Because ADHD treatment is personalized towards your specific symptoms and response to medications, either form of Adderall can work for you. Some children and adults can forget to take their second dose of Adderall later in the day. This could result in its effects dropping off throughout the day. Adderall XR has the advantage of once-daily dosing with effects that can last throughout the school or workday. Adderall XR has good tolerability and can produce fewer adverse effects, especially in people with blood pressure or heart problems.

Some studies have found that Adderall XR is useful for those with hypertension (high blood pressure). Extended-release Adderall also has long-term effectiveness and safety for treating ADHD. Extended-release Adderall capsules contain tiny beads of the drug. Some doctors instruct their patients to open the capsules and place the beads in soft foods like applesauce.

Adderall XR is an effective treatment option for people who have trouble swallowing medication. Whether the doctor prescribes you Adderall XR or Adderall depends on your symptoms and overall condition. The dosing of these drugs is highly individualized and requires to be adjusted over time in some cases. Talk to the doctor to discuss your potential treatment options.

Drug interactions of Adderall vs. Adderall XR

Adderall XR and Adderall have similar drug interactions. Adderall XR and Adderall can interact with MAOIs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, alkalinizing agents, and CYP2D6 inhibitors. Taking these medications with Adderall can increase amphetamine levels in the blood and raise the risk of adverse effects. Adderall XR and Adderall can also interact with acidifying agents, which can reduce the levels of amphetamine in the blood.

Taking these medications together can decrease the effects of Adderall. Adderall XR and Adderall can decrease the effects of antihypertensives (blood pressure-lowering medications) and beta-blockers. This is because amphetamines produce stimulant effects, which may increase blood pressure.