Some people in the USA depend on stimulant drugs such as Adipex and Adderall. Adipex is prescribed by a doctor to treat both ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and Narcolepsy while Adderall is prescribed by a healthcare professional to treat overweight or obesity in patients. In this blog, we will explain a detailed comparison between Adipex vs Adderall drugs. We will also compare these medications on the basis of their definition, use, doses, effectiveness, and side effects.
Comparing Adipex vs Adderall Drug:
Let us discuss the comparison between Adipex and Adderall drugs on the basis of some factors. These factors are described below:
1) Definition
Adipex
The brand names of this medication are Adipex-P, Lomaira, and Suprenza. The generic name of Adipex-P is Phentermine which is prescribed by doctors and healthcare experts. Also, it is a prescription medicine that is common to Amphetamine.
It is a CNS (Central Nervous System) stimulant drug, including both nerves and the brain that increases the heartbeat and blood pressure in individuals. It also decreases appetite in people. Adipex is helpful for reducing weight when used together with diet and exercise.
Adderall
The generic name of Adderall medication is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine drugs. It belongs to stimulants family of drugs.
Both amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are CNS stimulant drugs that can affect the brain and nerve chemicals and can contribute to hyperactivity and impulsivity in patients.
Adderall, Adderall XR, and Mydayis are branded names of this generic drug which are recommended by doctors and healthcare professionals.
2) Uses: Adipex vs Adderall
Adipex
This generic drug is used to treat obesity and can affect individuals with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and so on. This medication helps people to lose weight or lessen appetite and is usually prescribed by a certified doctor for weight loss (obesity or overweight) conditions.
Phentermine offers a combination of another stimulant drug, topiramate, which is beneficial for weight loss (Qsymia). All branded medications such as Adipex-P, Lomaira, and Suprenza are more effective and commonly associated with oral weight loss drugs. It can be used only for a short-term interval.
Adderall
This prescription drug is used to treat both ADHD and narcolepsy in patients. Adderall is a commonly prescribed stimulant drug that is helpful for the treatment of ADHD in individuals. Doctors and healthcare professionals may prescribe it to manage symptoms of ADHD in patients.
This medication should not be used to treat tiredness in people. However, it is used to treat patients suffering from sleeping disorders (narcolepsy) and also helps them to stay awake during the day time. It may help people to improve their listening skills as well as to organize tasks sequentially.
3) Dose and Dosage strength
Adipex
This drug is available in both oral tablets and capsule form. The various dosage strengths are as follows-
- Adipex 15 mg
- Adipex 30 mg
- Adipex-P 37.5 mg
The normal dose of this drug starts from 15 mg and ends at 37.5 mg. It must be swallowed completely and can be taken by mouth orally.
Adults and children who are above 17 years and older can take it once a day either before breakfast or after breakfast within 1-2 hours.
The normal adult dose is 37.5 mg (one tablet or capsule) and the dosage may be adjusted according to the patient’s condition. In some cases, doctors may prescribe half tablets which is 18.75 mg two times a day to the patients.
Adderall
Adderall is a drug that is available in the form of both oral tablets and capsules. For children from 3 to 5 years of age, the usual dosage of this generic drug starts with 2.5 mg daily and the daily dosage may increase by 2.5 mg at weekly time periods to show positive results.
Also, for children 6 years of age and older, the usual dosage of this generic drug starts with 5 mg once or twice daily and the daily dosage may increase by 5 mg at weekly time periods until and unless the optimal outcomes have been shown.
Hence, in rare conditions, it is necessary to exceed a total dose of 40 mg per day. Patients may take the first dose which helps to stay awake during the day and the additional dose is either 1 or 2 but to take within 4 to 6 hours.
In addition, this drug is available in the form of Immediate-release (IR) tablets and extended-release (ER) capsules.
So, the dosage strength of Adderall (IR) immediate-release tablet, which includes:
- Adderall 2.5 mg
- Adderall 5 mg
- Adderall 7.5 mg
- Adderall 10 mg
- Adderall 12.5 mg
- Adderall 15 mg
- Adderall 20 mg
- Adderall 30 mg
Also, the dosage strength of Adderall XR(extended-release (ER)*) capsule are as follows:
- Adderall XR 5 mg
- Adderall XR 10 mg
- Adderall XR 15 mg
- Adderall XR 20 mg
- Adderall XR 25 mg
- Adderall XR 30 mg
4) Effectiveness: Adipex vs Adderall
Adipex
The efficacy of this drug may differ in individuals. As we mentioned above, it is an effective oral weight-loss medication. In several studies, it is found that a maximum of 80% of people lose at least 5% of their body weight when taking phentermine, which is a combination of both Adipex-P and Lomaira drugs.
It is also found that phentermine is essentially effective for weight loss in people. A person may lose approx. one or two pounds of his or her weight in a week when taking this generic drug.
According to a study, it is found that the effectiveness of phentermine drugs showed positive results when tested on more than 300 patients. This generic drug may help in reducing appetite so its effectiveness may vary among individuals.
Adderall
In a study, it was found that approximately 80% of children have improved their symptoms by using Adderall and so on.
This generic drug is one of the most effective drugs for managing ADHD symptoms in patients.
In addition, its efficacy is beneficial for reducing the symptoms of both hyperactivity and impulsivity in individuals. Also, to ease the symptoms of inattention, aggression, anxiety, depression, etc.
Thus, the effectiveness of Adderall may differ in people when taking as recommended by a doctor.
5) Side Effects
Adipex
After taking Phentermine, a person may experience some common and severe side effects which include,
- High blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Weakness
- Xerostomia (dry mouth)
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Heart palpitations (fast heartbeat)
- Hives (urticaria)
- Swelling in ankles and feet
- Vomiting
- Mood swings
- Diarrhea
Adderall
A person may feel some common and severe side effects after taking Adderall. These side effects are as follows:
- Hypertension
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- Hallucination
- Stomach pain
- Anorexia (loss of appetite)
- Allergic reactions
- Seizures
- Heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
- Changes in libido
- Paranoia
- Mood changes
- Pain in chest
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Xerostomia
Precautions to be Taken When Consuming Adipex or Adderall Drugs
Here are some precautions to be taken when taking either Adipex-P or Adderall drugs. These are as follows:
- Take these drugs after taking the recommendation from doctors.
- Doctors don’t prescribe Adipex to those who are below 16 years old.
- A patient should tell a doctor about his or her medical history if he or she is experiencing it.
- Must tell a doctor, if a person is having any allergy.
- A person should avoid Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) or Fenfluramine (Fintepla) when taking phentermine.
- A person should not drink fruit juices or take vitamin C when taking Adderall.
- Do not crush, break or chew the oral capsules and tablets.
- Patients can phentermine take with or without food.
- Do not leave these oral tablets or capsules in a cold and warm environment.
- Do not increase or decrease the dosage strength of these drugs by itself until and unless recommended by a doctor.
- A person should take proper rest after consuming both the drugs.
- Patients should take specifically the dosage strength of this drug as recommended by a doctor.
Conclusion:
So, concluding the blog we have understood that doctors prescribe Adipex and Adderall for treating ADHD, Obesity, and narcolepsy in people. However, both are similar but, they may have some Adipex vs Adderall differences depending on some factors.
However, the Adderall drug is specifically used for treating ADHD conditions in patients. A person may feel more relaxed and energetic after taking these drugs under a health specialist’s supervision.
