Since most of us take meds here, a series of questions should be a cake walk!
Also, I've searched some of the threads for answers but in case I missed it and you don't want to rewrite then feel free to send a link.

Okay (deep breath)...




1. I recently had a medical procedure that necessitated 3 daily doses of 800mg of ibuprofen (obviously not a major procedure but painful nonetheless). I felt that my meds weren't working as well the two days I took the painkillers nor today, the first day I didn’t take any painkillers. I take painkillers rarely - like three times a year. Has anyone noticed the efficacy of their meds decreasing when taking painkillers (and not just Ibuprofen)?

2. I was prescribed adderall but my University pharmacy carries only the generic (so that is what I was given) which I assumed was Dexedrine. The label on the bottle says "amphetamine salts". Is the generic form of adderall Dexedrine or something completely different?<O:p></O:p>



Which drug company produces Dexedrine and, if the generic form of adderall is different than Dexedrine, which company produces the generic?<O:p></O:p>
3. What is the difference between amphetamine salts, methylphenidate, and dextroamphetamine? <O:p></O:p>



Is there another stimulant medication that I didn't list?<O:p></O:p>


Has anyone tried different ones for a length of time and noticed greater effectiveness with any of them?<O:p></O:p>
4. I am a little confused about Barr vs. Shire and who owns what and which drug is more effective under which drug company. Maybe this goes back to #1 but which company now makes my generic form of adderall? Anyone think one (company) was better than the other?

Thank you all in advance for your input. I have a doctor’s appt in about 3 weeks for a med check. I am currently taking 20mg. in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. I was going to ask for an increase to 30mg. in the morning and 15mg. in the afternoon but maybe I need to try another med.

I would like to go armed with user opinions and knowledge so that I am not so much at the mercy of my emotionless, Vulcan, and oh so clinical Doctor. I seriously feel like he just uses a standard formula. That's the free clinic for ya.

Thanks Again!

There's Focalin which is dexmethylphenidate basically refined ritalin and Desoxyn which is methamphetamine as well as Provigil which I think I remember being called modanifil or modafinil was worthless for me...

they are all just either amphetamine class Adderall being the more prescribed due to the "lessened abuse potential" then Dexedrine or Desoxyn and The milder stimulants such as the methylphenidates and whatever provigil is. They just work different. Focalin is about as much kick as a dexedrine in my experience kind of energizing.

I have no idea :-)..does it matter? :faint:

Adderall is a mixed salts preparation 1/4 of it is Dextroamphetamine which is 100 % what is in dexedrine. I get prescriptions of morphine for pain because I take dexedrine and they are a combination used for pain in other instances. I will only use morphine if it is agony and will not accept any higher than a 10 day supply so I dont get "addiction phobic" over it and today I will be on Ritalin LA with the doctor's okay that is. Sometimes amphetamines and methylphenidates together help the best.

not really just trying to help her... I hyperfocus too much.

I have no idea :-)..does it matter? :faint:Yes, it matters to me. I would like to know my options and what exactly I am putting in my body.

Is it just ibuprofen, or does it contain a narcotic (codeine,etc)? If painkiller contains a narcotic, could be effecting adderall.

Dexedrine---> D-amphetamine,
Adderall---> D-amphetamine,L-amphetamine

Methylin--> methyl-amphetamine

Ritalin, focalin, concerta, metadate, etc.-->methylphenidate.

Adderall's a good medication, contains two different amphetamines.

Some people prefer one medication over the other. I take methylphenidate, would like to try amphetamine and compare side effects vs results.

It seems like some people complain of inconsistant effects from adderall, apparently food and the ph of stomach effects absorption. I don't know if the acidity of stomach makes a great deal of difference or not. I'm sure their are ritalin users who have inconsistent effects as well.

If Adderall is working for you, I wouldn't bother with Ritalin,etc

Beautiful. Thank you for your help. :-)

After rereading my question about painkillers, I see that I didn't make it clear. I was talking about over the counter painkillers like advil, aleve, and tylonol.


So, I'll stick with my mixed amphetamine salts. I'll try and figure out who makes them and if it's changed since my last prescription.


Thanks again for takin' the time, mspen1018, and nzkiwi. :-)

Well Creads,

A little late - but I do have some insight into your problems and questions. 3X800 or 2400mg of ibuprophen is going to (in many instances) make your stomach severely hyperacidic. If you took that much ibuprophen for a couple of weeks you would develop serious GI problems. Given that it is very likely that the pH of your stomach was very low. A low gastric pH will inhibit efficacy of adderall considerably - so I am not surprised that you had a problem. I have had a chronic acidic stomach for many many years and I commonly take an antacid with my adderall in the am for just that reason. Taking the Adderall with a meal might help too - but possibly delay absorption.

If the label on the bottle says "amphetamine salts" then it is simply generic adderall - unless the pharmacy screwed up - which is unlikely.

I'm confused too as to the "real" relationship between Barr and Shire. What I do know is that SHire makes the current brand name variety which is much more expensive - but considered to be superior. Barr seems to be, by consensus, the worst of the generics. Generics by Eon Labs or Malinkrodt seem to get better results - and I generally request those - and recommend that you do the same, unless they will give you brand name.

Finally, I suggest that you hold off on changing meds if adderall has worked for you. There is always a lot of dose modification - let alone issues with generics. The ibuprofen is definitely causing issues with adderall in general. I suggest either stop the ibuprofen, or neutralize your stomach acid. In my opinion, ibuprophen and other NSAIDs are far more problematic than opiates - and certainly just as dangerous.

If it were me, I would go for the increase in dosage. Get it in smaller dose tablets (eg. - 10mg ones) so that you can take less if necessary. All too often, physicians don't understand that the patient might want to use their own wisdom and take less than prescribed. The mantra I live by is to get prescribed more than necessary in smaller incremental units - then take the least amount necessary.

Free clinic or not, your Dr. probably thinks about your case for a whole 2 minutes. Remember, when a Dr. thinks - its not really thinking but rather going through memorized formularies and rules and not using their brains to think. Its sad but true - best to realize this now before you trust one enough to let them kill you. I taught medical students many years ago when I was a grad student - and was severely amazed at their indifference and inability to think. I have since seen the hard way that these people grew up into the amazingly incompetent Dr's we see today.

OK - sorry for the digression - but the best of luck to you. PM me if you need any more info. (Unfortunately) I have had many years experience dealing with the medical system (free and not-free). You are best getting your info from this board and going into your appointment armed with knowledge and telling them what you'd like to do (politely, of course).

i just started taking adderall..is it not safe to take ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen should not affect Adderall. Ibuprofen shouldn't affect GI tract acidity, it's cause for problems in the stomach is because it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, if I remember correctly.

Just for the record:

Adderall: 3/4 dextroamphetamine, 1/4 levoamphetamine (approximately, the molecular weights of the different salts skews this slightly)

Dexedrine: dextroamphetamine

Methylin: d/l methylphenidate (generic)

Ritalin: d/l methylphenidate

Concerta: d/l methylphenidate (extended release)

Adderall XR: same as Adderall, but extended release, half released immediately, the other half four hours later

Desoxyn: methamphetamine

Focalin: d-methylphenidate (dextromethylphenidate)

Cylert: pemoline (discontinued due to possible hepatoxicity)

Strattera: atomoxetine (structurally similar to tricyclic antidepressants)

"mixed amphetamine salts" (or "amphetamine salts"): generic Adderall

hope that helps.