I'm seeing my pdoc today. I've tried regular Adderall for three weeks and prefer it to Ritalin. So I am either going to ask him for more Adderall or for Dexadrine.

For me, Adderall is very smooth (at lease compared to Ritalin), it seems to last about 3-4 hours. I like this duration and don't want to try extended release anything, at this point.


I was wondering if Adderall really lasts longer than Dexadrine? Dexadrine is cheaper, and contains all d-enantomer, so would presumably require a lower dosage.


Personal experiences appreciated.

Dexedrine last about the same amount of time as Adderall, and does require a lower dosage - I'm guessing around 30% less, but this will depend on the person, I think.

Thanks for your response, Gregster. I'm going to ask my doc for Dexedrine.

I took a quick look on the internet, and there seems to be some hype about regular Adderall lasting longer than Dex, but no data to back that up.

It's possible. Levoamphetamine, a component in Adderall that is not in Dexedrine or DextroStat or generic dextroamphetamine, does according to some literate show a longer half-life. Levoamphetamine is about 30-40% of Adderall, if I'm not mistaken, but it's much weaker in terms of its effect of norepinephrine, which dextroamphetamine apparently boosts 10x as strongly as levoamphetamine. And then there's psychobiochemical indivuality . . . some people might get more out of levoamphetamine than others, I guess. In general I think levoamphetamine is just a waste of time however. It has more of a peripheral stimulation effect than dextroamphetamine and might contribute to anxiety in my opinion.

I just switched from reg.15 mg Adderall to reg Dexadrine and I find that Dexadrine seems to increase in strengh as your on it in it's half-life, so yes it does! Plus Dexadrine seems to be more consistent than reg.Adderall as well. Adderall was never strong enough for me and I found out that the 15mg Adderall that I was taking only has a 9.4 amphetaimeine equivalence compared to the full 15 mg. Dexadrine that I'm currentely taking now 3x's a day. When I found this out I was surprised. Now the reg.Dexadrine just comes in 5mg tabs and I reccomend that you NEVER take any generic Dexadrine because I just switched from the generic Dexadrine because it was giving me bad stomach aches & cramps. And the generic isisn't much cheaper at all for the trouble it put me through.---You can go to the shire website and find out your Adderall amphetaimine equivilence depending on what mg's you're currently taking. I do find that the Dexadine is a little more harsh when it wears off, but it's no big deal at all (after a while you hardly notice it anymore.) It's just that the Adderall was not as effective for me at all. Let me know what you think or how it works out for you!

If you get the spansules, really and truly make sure you tell the pharmacist you want "Mallinkrodt" for the manufacturer as generics--not BARR. M is harder to find, but waaaayyyy better. They'd told me before, and I'd been like, "ehh...sounds weird, but I'll try it." The only place in town that had it was Osco...man, those work wayyyy better than the BARR ones. I daresay that whatever dose you're on, after you start taking those it's like you've upped the dose. Weird. They're so much better, though. If it's not too late, and you haven't already gotten them, make sure when you do you get the Mallinkrodt version--just like these guys told me to!

(p.s. don't know if I mentioned this, guys, but my doc said thank you to you, because he had no idea that specifically these were really better than the BARR ones. He grumbles about believing everything I read in an online forum--especially if I interrupt him to say " but so and so said this", but he trusts me, so he believes the Ms are better. Anyway, "thanks by proxy."

Thanks for your response, Gregster. I'm going to ask my doc for Dexedrine.

I took a quick look on the internet, and there seems to be some hype about regular Adderall lasting longer than Dex, but no data to back that up.

Thanks for the comments. My pdoc wanted me to continue on Adderall for the time being. He told me it is covered by the usual drug copay and then signed me up for a couple of months worth.

So, there it is. Oh, and when I picked up my generic Adderall from the HMO pharmacy:

It's 20mg tablets manufactured by Barr, of course!

I tried the pills today, ovoid orange one, and they seem fine.

Next time.

Funny that Barr Adderall has such a bad reputation. I found them more effective than Mallinkrodt's.

Hi there,

I have a question about why you like reg adderall compared to extended release adderall is what I like, I tried both, I had the 5 mg extended release..and that I could hardly tell I tok it, but then was switched and moved up to 2 10 mg ER tabs..and I really like these, the only problem is it seems to take a while first dosage of day to kick in..maybe I could ask for a reg 5 mg tab for first dosage and take it along with my ER tab..as far as generic , I have only had name brand . Also have never heard of dexadrine before, do they have ER tabs also? Any info is fine with me.

Thanks

It's possible. Levoamphetamine, a component in Adderall that is not in Dexedrine or DextroStat or generic dextroamphetamine, does according to some literate show a longer half-life. Levoamphetamine is about 30-40% of Adderall, if I'm not mistaken, but it's much weaker in terms of its effect of norepinephrine, which dextroamphetamine apparently boosts 10x as strongly as levoamphetamine. And then there's psychobiochemical indivuality . . . some people might get more out of levoamphetamine than others, I guess. In general I think levoamphetamine is just a waste of time however. It has more of a peripheral stimulation effect than dextroamphetamine and might contribute to anxiety in my opinion.well im no doc and dont have any reference in chemistry but from what you say it sounds like adderall should have alittle less of a come down as the d isomer doesnt last as long but as it wears off you will still have the levo isomer acting thus causing a little smoother comedown in my poiont of view though i think there isnt much difernece as its such a low dose it really wont matter much, but i preffer dex over adderall hands down! dex the first few days was amazing so talkative no anxiety or anything but then that wore off :-( but the effets of concentration were still there :-) and the first few days were hell on the comedaown i felt like crap with thte comedown but my body adjusted and all is fine now. its jus tthe first few days your body must adjust and it does and i like it now.

wow didnt realize how old this post was yikes