I have been taking adderal for the last 2 months for adult ADD. My Doctor prescribed 10 mg twice a day to start- but she gave me an RX for 90 20mg tablets to maximize my pharmacy benefits. I have worked with this dr for years, and she will routinely prescribe more tablets so my money will go further- this is rare, I know, so I am fortunate.

So, I was splitting the 20mg tablets in half- this I did for two weeks. I was bumped up to 15 mg twice a day when my response was not quite adequate. With the 20mg tablets, that meant splitting them once and then again. My response has been adequate-

But I did not want all the 5 mg chips around, so the DR prescribed 15 mg brand name. I still had some 20mg tabs left, but started the 15mg tablets for convenience. Now here is my issue- it seems like the absorption rate has gone down with the 15 mg tablets! I know it is not a tolerance issue, as I experimented a few days with the 20mg tablets I had left (they are now depleted)- and the absorption was fine.

Has anyone else experienced this? 15mg of the 20mg tablet was absolutely stronger and more effective than taking 1 15mg tablet whole. The tablets are different shapes- sometimes this can cause a difference in the response curve with meds. I wonder if that is the case here?

I also wonder if the inert ingrediants in the 15 mg tablets are different than the 20 mg tablets. I cannot take any kind of generic adderal as the side effects are intolerable. If anyone can point me to where I can read the inert ingrediants, that would be most helpful.

More importantly, if anyone has experienced something similar with brand adderal, let me know. The pharmacy ordered the 15 mg tablets for me- a pharmacy I have worked with for years- so I know it is not an issue of these tablets laying up on a shelf and expiring.

I am thinking that the manufacturer is pawning of old meds- taking the old meds and just putting them in new containers and slapping a new expiration date on it. Hell- we know the supermarkets were caught doing this with fresh meat. Has anyone else ever thought that the manufacturers could be doing this?

I am going to speak with my dr within the next few days- I may tell her to write the 20 mg again- I would even leave the rest of my 15mg tabs with her when I walk out with the new RX- she would not make me do this because of the trust we have developed- but you get my drift. I may also go to the pharmacy tomorrow and ask them to order again from another distributor- they may take back most of these 15 mg tabs and replace them with new product

My pharmacist is wonderful like that- recently he dispensed generic when I first started, and 3 days later they took everything back after I once again had a bad reaction- and replaced with brand- no questions asked.

Your comments are appreciated. Sorry this is so long

The only thing I can think of is maybe the coating on the tablets? See, you are "breaking up" the 20mg tablet whereas you are taking the 15mg tablet whole (not breaking it up). However I wouldn't think this would have an effect considering that both are Adderall IR tablets.

I have been breaking the 15 mg tabs in half and my response seems to be better.

One of the other reasons I asked for inert ingrediants is I seem to be having gas and stomach cramps with the 15 mg that I did not have with the 20 mg.

I am trying to rule out other things first- looking at my diet since I started the 15 mg.

I will report back.

They are different colors right? maybe it has to do with the colorings or other inert ingredients that you are extra sensitive too. Or maybe one of the bottles was exposed to extreme heat or light? I'm not sure really. Just trying to think of why this could be happening to you. Let us know.