Subjectively, Amphetamines or Methylphenidate?

[selita]

Here's a question for all those who've tried both themselves. Which one did you prefer? Which one would you choose if you had to pick one for the rest of your life?

I wonder if there's a correlation between what type of ADHD you have and what drug works best.

For simplicity, consider Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, Methamphetamine, Benzedrine, and related drugs as Amphetamines; and consider Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, and other Methylphenidate derivatives as Methylphenidate.

PLEASE DON'T ANSWER if you are not the patient... I don't want to know what your child did well on, I want to know which one worked best for YOU.

Thanks for participating

[Roxanne6680]

I take both Ritalin and Dexedrine, and Ritalin's better for me. (ADHD combined, more hyperactive than inattentive), but Dex works great too, the main reason why I dislike Dex is the side effects. (dry mouth, weird tastes, etc)

[HighFunctioning]

I think it would be interesting to differentiate between predominantly inattentive individuals that have never fit the criteria for ADHD-C at a prior time in life and inattentive individuals that have (hyperactivity in remission).

[Notafadd]

My diagnosis is "combined" mainly because the psych is not comfortable with the medical distinction (I didn't ask about this much but it has something to do with inattention being in part a symptom of hyperactivity and vice versa). As a kid, the combined type best described me. As an adult, it's more inattention. I'm a pretty mellow dude nowadays . At the moment, the best for me is dex. I don't experience any side effects, even on my weekend 'holidays.' Ritalin on the other hand worked ok at first, although the rebound was terrible (pounding heart, depression, anxiety). Now ritalin mainly makes me anxious and deeply pessimistic.

[StoicNate]

Sandoz Adderall IR is where it's at for me. I'm combined ADHD.
Ritalin was a rollercoaster ride. I hated it.

[selita]

Thanks for the answers guys

Don't worry if you're not 100% sure about what subtype you are, just make your best guess... I match all PI symptoms so that's what I said... but I might be Combined type. I've never been totally sure.

[sprite]

I've tried dex IR, dex SR, Concerta, ritalin IR, ritalin SR, and a combination of ritalin and dex. And the one I ended up sticking with is the ritalin SR. I'm not so fond of the short-acting ritalin as I find it's too short acting for me. Plus I didn't like the feeling of the drug dropping off in my system. But I love ritalin SR.

(oh....and I put myself down as "combined". )

[tired1823]

I'm addpi and adderall had unacceptable side effects for me.

[PI_guy]

I am predominantly inattentive, but have only taken Adderall. I guess you could say that I have "No preference", but that doesn't really seem like the right answer. I'd be open to trying other drugs, and probably will eventually if Adderall stops being as effective.

[ellipse]

I'm of the inattentive type too. I am on dexamphetamine on a 20mg per day dosage.
I find this helps greatly with focusing and also socializing. Mild anxiety too.. which is odd.. it's a stimulant?

The only other option we have for a stimulant is Ritalin here in AUS. I am open to try that as maybe it will be even of greater help. Who knows until try, right?

[aeon]

ADHD-PI here, and I never displayed the presentation of ADHD-C when younger.

I’ve tried sustained-release formulations of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine sulfate.

Dextroamphetamine sulfate has, for me, greater efficacy and less side-effects (the biggest one relieved being anxiety).

I’d be interested to try dexmethylphenidate to see if removal of the levo would result in less side-effects, but that’s just speculation on my part. No need when the dex works so well and it is less expensive.


cheers,
Ian

[harris88]

Ive tried Dexamphetamine and ritalin and ritalin SR.

Inattentive type.

With dexamphetamine i need 30 mgs to get the coverage i need. And i feel like a zombie on it. Zoned out. Tried lower doses... just doesn't cover the symptoms.

However with ritalin i can get by on ritalin SR 20 mg x 2 a day.

Theres a huge difference in potency between ritalin 40mg and dexedrine 30mg. So it's very strange that i benefit more from the ritalin.

I now have to make the transition back to ritalin. I've trialled it for a few days and there is a withdrawal period with the dex and ritalin doesn't work like it did. I assume it is just a matter of time.

[Honeybadger]

firstly, polling people on this matter is purely testimonial evidence. Which means that your final, formulated opinion could be compared to those of penis enlargement products.

Secondly, studies have shown that methylphenidate works as a slam dunk med for 70% of ADD patients. ALL of the other meds and combinations of meds, fit into the other 28%. Your brain and ADD is most likely unique, and will react in a unique way to these meds. That's why we have so many, with such wide dosage guidelines, in the first place.

As far as I'm aware, there is no distinct correlation between subtype and effective meds. My ADD specialist confirmed this.

[selita]

That's alright. I want to know what people prefer in very general terms, not what simply relieves symptoms. This is obviously not a scientific poll, just a curiosity.

Methylphenidate helped my attention but I found the short half-life and mood-related side effects difficult to live with in the long term, even in long-acting formulations. So it's not the right drug for me. However, if you gave it to me and tested my attention and working memory, it absolutely would improve it.

Keep in mind that a larger proportion of patients are combined type as they're more frequently diagnosed early. Fewer with inattentive type are ever diagnosed. The responses here are roughly 50:50 Inattentive:Combined, which is not surprising as this is the Internet. There is a selection bias whenever you draw a sample.

I have seen some researchers and clinicians claim that they find MPH preferable for hyperactive/combined type, and amphetamines preferable for inattentive type. I don't really care. I just want to know what the patients here on this site like better. I am looking for anecdotes, not data.

[Honeybadger]

Originally Posted by selita

That's alright. I want to know what people prefer in very general terms, not what simply relieves symptoms. This is obviously not a scientific poll, just a curiosity.

If that's the case, go right on ahead and ignore me

As far as real research is concerned, there has been major progress in really understanding what ADD is and how it works since dopamine was tagged and tracked with an FMRI in 2009.

The problem is that our PFC's form differently. So while one portion may lead to hyperactivity, it may respond better to methyl, adderall, or desoxyn, for example.

Thusly, attaching a subcategory of ADD to a medication doesn't really work.

Here's some more reading that's actually up to date with the current science behind ADD.

http://www.adultaddfacts.com/