For anyone with experience, how do you compare these two drugs?

I've taken them both and after a long time of thinking Dexedrine is far superior I'm now thinking perhaps Ritalin is the right choice.

Feel free to interject with Adderall related opinions, I know nothing about that drug.

Between the three drugs you mentioned, I find that dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) is by far the most therapeutic for me. Its effects come on smoothly, and wear off smoothly (for me).

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) caused me too much peripheral nervous system stimulation, however dexmethylphenidate (Focalin) did not cause me too much PNS stimulation at all, and was much more of a CNS stimulant like the dextroamphetamine. I also liked how the effects of the dexmethylphenidate came on smooth, and wore off smooth. The effects of the regular methyphenidate (for me) seemed to come on strong, and wear off in what I can best describe as being harsh.

Adderall actually had a sedating effect on me. I initially thought it was a good drug due to the fact that it seemed to last much longer than either of the others when comparing the immediate release versions of each. However, within a few days it seemed that each time I took it I would get so sluggish that I felt like I was tranqualized.

I had never experienced sedation from a stimulant drug before taking Adderall.

tried Ritalin for a couple months, minimal effectiveness for me. Dex has a much more noticeable effect, but I've only been on it 2 months.

update: Ritalin is the most cheap and worthless drug on the face of the Earth. My humblest opinion

Ritalin=Stronger focus, quicker effects, sharper.
Dex=slower mellower effects (moderate dose) less sharp, harder to gage control of

What dosages of ritalin are you guys taking? I just got a perscription of 10mg tabs.

Average adult dose=20-30mgs, some patients may require 40-60mgs, while for others 10-15 will be sufficient. Ther are folk here who have been on 80-120+mg daily, depends on the patients condition and response to treatment. I read of a narcoleptic chap on 220mgs=11, 20mg tabs daily.

If my perscription does not mention anythign to do with extended release, how long is ritalin supposed to last? My doc perscribed me to 1 10mg tablet daily for 60 days. I can hardly feel anything from it. Plus, don't the effects only last maximum 3-4 hours?

Does it have er,sr,cd or la after the name i.e metadate e.r ? Usually twice daily(b.i.d) administration is used when starting methylphenidate immediate release. I've heard of adults starting at 10mg twice daily. You are right, methylphenidate lasts about 4 hours.

If my perscription does not mention anythign to do with extended release, how long is ritalin supposed to last? My doc perscribed me to 1 10mg tablet daily for 60 days. I can hardly feel anything from it. Plus, don't the effects only last maximum 3-4 hours?


When I was taking IR Ritalin I took it 4 times a day, but I have a very long day, and I had already had experience with another form of methyphenidate (Concerta) so my max dose was already a known factor. I was permitted the 4 doses a day to avoid the peaks-and-valleys rebound effect you tend to see with Ritalin.

I agree, 10 mgs once a day is a small dose but I am presuming your doctor is just being cautious and watching for side effects before he titrates you up. For more on the titrate up process, please see the General Medications forum here at ADDF :) Hope that helps!