I want to switch from Concerta to Adderall

[i300zxtt]

Started concerta, and the first thing that isn't going for it is that it's crazy expensive!! Second, i'd like taking something with instant release so I could adjust when and how I take my meds...the Dr. pretty much told me that if you forget your concerta or wake up late, your pretty much screwed on adjusting the dosage so you won't have insomnia... How much cheaper is adderall? I understand there is a generic? I've tried Adderall and it was fantastic for my work ethic...(unprescibed) Could someone list the positive effects of Adderall vs. Concerta so I have something to tell my Doc?

[Imnapl]

How about Ritalin?

[i300zxtt]

I've tried Ritalin as well (10mg IR) and it didn't work as well as 10mg Adderall, and it made me feel very crabby after it wore off, (about 2 hours)...Adderall seems to last longer and make me concentrate better than the Ritalin, without the irratibility afterwards

[smithxi]

i just made the switch from adderall to concerta. methylphenidate is far smoother than dextroamphetamine in my opinion. i'm not so compulsive like i was on the adderall, and i don't get nearly as bad of an upset stomach if i drink acidic things like juice or oranges, or lemonade or anything with citrus. hopefully this fact stays true because you'll hear me posting if it doesn't.

granted the effect isn't as intense as adderall, which you may like, but methylphenidate also doesn't dehydrate the brain and body as bad. adderall causes the brain to release all its neuro-dopamine and norephedrine. both of those are important when relaying thoughts in the mind.

im still trying to figure out how methylphenidate works on the brain.

i heard that adderall effects 4 seratonin sites in the brain, where as ritalin effects 2. is that true imnapl?

[vegansoprano]

I take both generic Adderall and Concerta (yup, my brain chemistry is just that weird) and the difference in price would depend on your dose of each drug. I take 36 mg Concerta each day and I am prescribed 20 mg Adderall three times a day though since I'm out of school for the summer I rarely take that much.

A 30-day supply of each drug would actually cost me pretty much exactly the same if I paid out of pocket. But if your doses are different, then the cost would probably be different.

I agree about wanting to regulate the dose more carefully than you can with Concerta. Overall it helps me a lot but I do find that it inhibits my most creative thinking and my ability to pay attention to multiple stimuli simultaneously. Once the school year starts and my regular psychiatrist is back on campus, I'm going to talk to her about switching to Ritalin so I can regulate it a little more closely.