People have to face various health-related problems in their lives. In a hectic life, both adults and children deal with two most common disorders namely ADHD and Narcolepsy. ADHD is a common problem which occurs in most people. It is a disorder in which an individual is not able to concentrate properly on their work.
Narcolepsy is a sleeping disorder in which a person does not have the ability to sleep at night. The symptoms of this common problem are sleep paralysis, cataplexy, sleep-related hallucinations and excessive daytime sleepiness.
To Treat these diseases people commonly use two medications namely Adderall and Dextrophetamine. In this blog, we are going to describe the comparison between the two drugs ‘Dextroamphetamine vs Adderall’.
Comparison: Dextroamphetamine vs Adderall Medicines
Let’s discuss both medicines depending on the following factors-
Overview
Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine is a medication drug that is used in treating the symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy.
It contains some inactive ingredients such as microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, kosher gelatin, methacrylic acid copolymer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sugar spheres, talc, triethyl citrate and opadry beige. This drug is also useful in the treatment of fatigue in individuals.
Adderall
Adderall is a medicine which treats ADHD and narcolepsy in people. The inactive ingredients which are available in this medication drug are magnesium stearate, lactitol, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, saccharin sodium and compressible sugar.
FDA approval
Dextroamphetamine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 9th September 1955.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Adderall medicine on 19th January 1960.
Brand names
Dextroamphetamine is a generic medicine and is available in different brand names such as Dexedrine, Mydayis, Adderall XR etc.
Adderall is a branded drug which contains two active ingredients Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine.
Dosages: Dextroamphetamine vs Adderall
Both Dextroamphetamine and Adderall medicines have different forms and strengths. Read the following dosage forms and strengths of these medication drugs:
Adderall
Adderall medicine is used in the treatment of ADHD and Narcolepsy in adults and children. This drug only comes in oral tablet form.
It is available in the form of immediate-release and extended-release form. The immediate-release Oral tablet form having the dosage strengths are
- Adderall 5 mg
- Adderall 20 mg
- Adderall 30 mg
- Adderall 7.5 mg
- Adderall 12.5 mg
- Adderall 10 mg
- Adderall 15 mg
The dosage strengths of extended-release from are –
Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine is available in the form of oral tablets and extended-release oral capsules. This medicine is mainly used in the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy in adults and children.
The dosage strengths of extended-release oral capsules are 15 mg, 30 mg, 50 mg, 5 mg, 25 mg, 20 mg, 37.5 mg, 12.5 mg and 10 mg, While that of oral tablets are 10 mg, 30 mg, 20 mg and 5 mg.
The brand name Dexedrine of this generic drug is available in Strengths of Dexedrine 5 mg and Dexedrine 10 mg.
Functions of Both Medication:
The functions of both these medication drugs are the same but they treat ADHD and Narcolepsy in different ways. Both these medicines are used to control impulsive behaviour in individuals. This makes him or her stay focused and pay attention to their work. It also provides a better sleep at night.
Half-life
The half-life of both Dextroamphetamine and Adderall medicines is 34 hours.
Drug Interactions ( Adderall vs dextroamphetamine)
Both Dextroamphetamine and Adderall drugs can interact with 201 medicinal drugs. Some of these drugs are Lexapro (Escitalopram), Omeprazole, Zyrtec (Cetirizine), Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine), Ambien, Cyanocobalamin, Cholecalciferol, Levothyroxine, Bupropion, Levothyroxine etc.
Side Effects of Both Drugs:
Both have common side effects. These include the following:
- Diarrhoea
- Change in mood or behaviour
- Loss of weight and appetite
- Fear or nervousness
- Difficulty in sleeping (Insomnia)
- Headache
- Dryness in mouth
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fever
- Upset stomach (Indigestion)
- Sweating
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Unusual tiredness or weakness in the muscle
- Chills
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Blurred vision
- Hallucinations
- Runny nose or nose bleeding
- Sore throat
- Skin rashes, itching or hives
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Swelling in tongue, feet, throat, hands, face and lower legs
- Hair loss
- Pain in neck, back, arms, and jaws
- Redness or irritation in the eyes
- Chest pain or tightness in the chest
- Swallowing problem
- Hoarseness
- Paranoia
- Breathing problem
- High blood pressure
- Alopecia
- Heart palpitations
- Shivering
- Decreased appetite
Precautions
- If an individual taking other medicine then it is advised not to take Dexedrine and Adderall because it can lead to a decrease in blood pressure.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes after taking these drugs.
- Avoid taking the overdose of these medication drugs.
- Women should not take any of these medicines at the time of pregnancy and breastfeeding. when they are pregnant, they must consult with a relevant doctor
- It is important to take rest after taking Adderall or Dextroamphetamine medicine.
- An individual should not drink grapefruit juice after taking any of these medicines. This will delay the effects of Adderall or Dextroamphetamine medicine.
- It is important for an individual to call the doctor immediately when suffering from allergy, asthma, glaucoma, breathing problems, paranoia etc., after taking any of these medication drugs.
- without a doctor’s advice Individuals are not suggested to take Adderall or Dextroamphetamine drug
Which is best for you: How Do You Know?
Dextroamphetamine and Adderall cause similar effects in people. The responses to medicine differ for everyone. The factors that may help an individual to choose the best Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) medicine include:
Age:
- Under 3 years old children cannot take ADHD medicine safely.
- The extended-release forms of both medicines are not prescribed for under the age of 6 years old children.
- The doctor doesn’t recommend Dextroamphetamine for use by people over 16 years old.
Length of efficacy
Most people usually prefer extended-release medication forms such as Adderall XR, and Dextroamphetamine XR to the immediate-release formulas. Because during the day an individual does not need to take any additional doses. Also, doctors can adjust the dosage of short-term formulas more finely in the management of any side effects.
Side effects:
People know whether they are going to face any side effects or not within a week. If any of these medicines including Adderall and Dextroamphetamine cause any side effects, then they can change this medicine and can use another form.
Cost of medicine:
The brand medicine Adderall is also available in the generic form. The generic medicine Dextroamphetamine is available under brand names such as Dexedrine, ProCentra etc. Both generic and brand forms are available at the same cost.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Adderall and Dextroamphetamine are used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Narcolepsy in people. Both medicines have the same function but they treat both conditions in different ways. During this medication course, an individual has to follow the safety measures to avoid the side effects. This blog covered all the information regarding these drugs. Hope it will be helpful for you!
