Which is better: adderall or ritalin?

ayars · Silver Member Joined: 13 Nov 2000 Posts: 246

Hi, Can anyone explain me what is better Adderall or Ritalin? I heard that adderall has less side effects.

halligan · Newbie Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 20

Hi, I have been using Adderall for treatment of ADD for some time. The most important thing is whether you react to certain drug or not. In my experience Adderall has been a little bit more effective than Ritalin. But there are many people who respond positively to Ritalin and not Adderall. It is said that Ritalin’s action abrupt suddenly and Adderall interferes with sleep. . Adderall has a longer period of action than Ritalin, even if you take the long acting Ritalin. The higher the dose of Adderall you take, the longer is the action. Some people take Adderall in the morning and afternoon. For Ritalin suggested time for applying it is the late afternoon or early evening.

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 174

This is a question that should be explored with a physician who has prescribing experience in your condition and familiarity with your history. If you aren't satisfied with the treatment you are receiving, you have options. Discuss them with your physician and, if necessary, consult other specialists.

All you'll find here are anecdotes about how different drugs worked for different people, none of whom is identical to you. The reason there are so many different medications being prescribed for this condition is that the effectiveness of different drugs, as well as their side-effects, varies profoundly among different individuals, as do the manifestations of ADD itself. As a very broad generalization, amphetamines are generally better for treating adult ADD while methylphenidate is usually better for children. Take that with a large grain of salt.

Personally, I felt no affect from Concerta (a formulation of methylphenidate, similar to Ritalin but with a unique osmotic release mechanism) or Wellbutrin (or bupropion, an antidepressant often used in ADD treatment). Adderall produced very satisfactory results, but I gradually developed a tolerance, and soon the maximum safe dose became somewhat less than adequate.

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 174

You are correct. While there are certain things you can do to manipulate the bioavailability of a drug (i.e. enhance absorption or accelerate excretion) you can't deviate more than around 20% from the average half-life. While it is true that you will be found more Adderall circulating in your blood the next day if you take 60 mg the day before than if you took 20, a person who is prescribed 60 mg/d won't notice a longer lasting effect than someone who is prescribed 20 mg/d (assuming both prescriptions are correct) because it takes three times as much to achieve the same effect (due to body mass, tolerance, etc.) in the former.

my2cents · Site Admin Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 171

Upton O'Goode · Silver Member Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 174

Thank you for your kind words. Ordinarily I'd be a little embarrassed by this sort of personal attention, but since this is anonymous... what the heck. Wink

I do try to be accurate in everything I put down here and research anything I'm unclear about, but it's important to restate that nothing that I or anyone else says here should be accepted as authoritative. I say it all the time, but it bears repeating: important health questions should be discussed with a physician. If you don't get the answers you want or have other concerns, get a second opinion.

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Which is better: adderall or ritalin?

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