Mental health conditions can impact our daily lives just as much as physical disorders. For treating them, medication drugs that affect the brain, and in some way change its function, are required. Two such medicines are Buspirone and Adderall.
Anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two common mental health conditions, which are seen widely in the USA. In America, almost 18 % of people suffer from anxiety and around 4%, mostly teens and young adults, suffer from ADHD.
This blog provided you with a comparison of Buspirone Vs Adderall to treat both anxiety and ADHD that will help you to understand how both medicines work, their uses, forms, and all the safety measures that should be taken. So, let’s start with the blog!
Comparison: Buspirone Vs Adderall
What is Buspirone?
Buspirone is a generic drug, belonging to the class of drugs called, “Miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics”. The brand names of this drug are BuSpar, BuSpar Dividose and Vanspar.
Buspirone can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription, and is approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). This medication drug is used in the treatment of anxiety, and its symptoms like fear, worrying, increased heartbeat etc.
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a branded drug. Its generic variant is a combination of two drugs, called amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It belongs to a class of drugs called CNS stimulants. Other brand names for the combination of ‘amphetamine and dextroamphetamine’ are Adderall XR and Mydayis.
Adderall is approved by the FDA and is used for the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleeping disorder) and ADHD.
Uses: Buspirone vs Adderall
Adderall:
Certain medications are used in the treatment for more than one condition, so is the case with Adderall. Narcolepsy, a condition that affects the sleep-wake cycle of the brain, and ADHD can be treated with Adderall.
Buspirone:
Buspirone and its branded variants are used in the treatment of anxiety and its symptoms.
Forms of Buspirone and Adderall:
Forms of Buspirone: Generic buspirone is available in the form of oral tablets. The available strengths of buspirone tablets are 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 30 mg.
Forms of Adderall:
Adderall is available in two forms: Extended-release capsules and immediate-release tablets.
- Adderall immediate-release (IR) tablet strengths: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg.
- Adderall extended-release (XR) capsule strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 and 30 mg.
Doses and Dosages :
All the doses mentioned in this section are initial doses. The doctor will likely change the frequency and/or strength of each dose. The dose will be regulated until the desired effects are achieved.
(1) Doses of Buspirone:
For Anxiety
For individuals of ages 18 to 64 years, the initial dose of buspirone is 15 mg per day. Patients who are less than 18 years of age are not prescribed this medicine. For people who are 65 or more in age, doctors will start the treatment with a dose less than 15 mg per day.
The maximum daily dose of buspirone shall not be more than 60 mg per day.
(2) Doses of Adderall IR
(a) ADHD :
(i) Patients who are 6+ of age: In the initial phase of treatment of ADHD, the dose of 5 mg, one or two times a day.
(ii) Patients between the ages of 3 to 5: The initial dose is 2.5 mg, taken two times every day.
(b) Narcolepsy:
(i) For ages 6 to 11 years: 5 mg per day is used in the starting of treatment.
(ii) For ages 12 and up: Initial dose of Adderall IR is 10 mg per day.
(3) Doses of Adderall XR
(a) ADHD:
(i) Individuals aged 18 and up: Adults are prescribed 20 mg of Adderall in the initial stages of treatment of ADHD.
(ii) Individuals aged 13 to 17: For patients of ages that are 13 to 17, 10 mg of Adderall is administered every day.
(iii) Individuals aged 6 to 12: If children of ages 6 to 12 suffer from ADHD, they are given 5 to 10 mg of Adderall XR every day.
(b) Narcolepsy
(i) For children of age 12 and less: The recommended initial dose of Adderall XR is 5 mg per day.
(ii) Patients who are older than 12 years of age: For such individuals, the prescribed dose is 10 mg once a day.
Side effects of Buspirone and Adderall:
All medicines, including buspirone and Adderall, show side effects. Few side effects of both these medicines are mentioned in this section:
Common shared Side Effects :
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Reduced appetite
Severe Shared Side Effects:
The following side effects may be life-threatening. If they are experienced, seek medical treatment as soon as possible:
- Pain in the chest
- Finding it hard to breathe
- Faintness
Buspirone vs Adderall Non-shared Severe Side Effects
Buspirone can cause allergic reactions, symptoms of which are swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat.
Adderall can cause psychosis, problems with blood circulation, seizures, and/or muscle twitches.
Key Differences
- Adderall is a branded variant, while buspirone is the generic variant.
- Adderall is used for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy, and buspirone is a medication used for treating anxiety and its symptoms.
- Adderall is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, on the other hand, buspirone is not classified as such.
Buspirone belongs to a class of drugs called ‘Miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics’, whereas Adderall is a Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant.
Precautions of Adderall and Buspirone:
- Adderall and buspirone should be taken with accordance to the doctor’s prescription. Failing to do so may result in severe side effects
- Both, Adderall and buspirone, must not be used by individuals who have used an MAO inhibitor in the last 2 weeks.
- Do not use any other medication drugs, while using Adderall and buspirone, without consulting your doctor.
- These medicines can cause the user to get dizzy or sleepy. Do not drive or operate any heavy machinery until the effects of these drugs wear off.
- Consumption of alcohol is prohibited while the patients are in the treatment course of Adderall and buspirone.
Conclusion:
Mental health problems are becoming more and more common every day. Healthcare professionals are prescribing many medication drugs to individuals, depending upon their needs. Two of such medicines are buspirone and Adderall.
This blog contains information of Adderall and buspirone, which includes definitions, forms, doses, side effects and precautions. All the comparisons regarding the two drugs are not mentioned, but a few key differences are given.
