Comments on: Adderall vs Ritalin – Benefits, Problems

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:57:48 +0000

I am 55 and have been using Adderall about five years – it has been very effective. Due to the Adderall shortage and cost concerns (XR and brand are more expensive) my doctor switched me to Ritalin. I have given Ritalin a chance (about two months) but it is not the same. Ritalin does provide some concentration and focus – but my thinking is not as clear and I do not feel or as motivated. I am concerned as I feel I have regressed.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 03:42:12 +0000

Regarding the Adderall shortage question – yes, there is a shortage. Yes, it is due to government regulations. And the reason it’s not available one week and then it is has to do with the annual allotment. Specific amounts are being released on a month-to-month basis. It has been an issue all year, so if you only just started experiencing it, then you’ve either been really lucky or you only recently started taking it. The active ingredient in Adderall is completely different than that in Ritalin, therefore there should be no issue with obtaining Ritalin. it’s extremely difficult to obtain any info on this subject, but the rumor is the annual amount of the problem ingredient in Adderall has been increased for 2012, so by February it should be easier to fill your scripts.

By: Brandee

Brandee — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:46:41 +0000

Right now I am on 10 mg adderall 5x a day, that dose was perfect for the first month but now I can take a 20 mg and lay down and sleep for 3-4 ;hrs, I called and left a message for my doc asking her to up my dose but all she did was write a brand new script for the same thing so I cant get it filled. Grrrrrr !!! I cannot keep my eyes open no matter how much sleep I get, the adderal is a godsend and keeps me positve and in a good mood, I actually want to due something in my life!!

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:07:56 +0000

The shortage is still a mystery. I have asked my Dr and many pharmacists and no one has given a definintive answer for the shortage. My Dr disagreed the FDA limits how much they allow to be manufacturered per year. He said they could care less about that. The pharmesists could only say that they had no reason other than it was on back order and was not given any date for being Available again. The good news is, the pharmecys have started to get them back in stock and is no longer problem to get in my area at least. So who knows. unless the calendar year is earlier than jan 1 for the FDA, then that theory is not true obviously.

By: debbie s

debbie s — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:08:33 +0000

i’m a 48 yr old female with MS, multiple sclerosis, i was diagnosed 17 yrs ago. ms causes fatique and i find myself so tired that i can’t function. since then i used amandine with no success, ritalin with some success, provigil no success, nuvigil with some success. adderall is the only presp. drug that works for me, i take 40 mg in am and 40 mg in pm. however my insurance only pays for the fda requirement and i pay the difference….yes, the price has skyrocketed and hard to come by, i have to call my pharmist a week ahead of time so he can make sure it is available and of course since it is a controlled substance the hassle of getting the presp………

By: Brandee

Brandee — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:56:43 +0000

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 4 yrs old. I kinda remember taking all the meds but my mom ended up dumping them down the toilet because of the side effects. I am now 26 and have been struggling to find the right medication that benefits me with my ADHD. I have tried straterra but that had no affect what so ever, then switched to adderall and it made my life so much easier I can not explain, then there was a back order and my doc had to put me on Ritalin never again will I take that. It made me mean and have outburst and just full of rage by the end of the day. I would not switch back everrr

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:52:33 +0000

PS. The Ritalin is in short supply in this area and very hard to get but reasonable 120 tabs @ 20mg was $38 from Target. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t do the job for me.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:41:56 +0000

HELP…. IS THERE ANY PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE FOR ADDERAL, NEXIUM AND ABILIFY? Hi, I am a 52 yr old formally diagnosed in the past 8 months. The Dr prescribed Ritalin IR @ 40mg x 2 per day and at first it did just OK, but 8 months later it doesn’t work to keep me focused, motivated or help me retain information. I had to change Dr’s because the first one didn’t want to listen to me about meds. The new Dr did prescribe Adderal XR at 30mg x 2 caps 1 per day, Abilify @ 5mg x 1 per day, increase Welbuterin SR from 200 mg x 1 per day to 150 mg x 2 per day and Nexium 40 mg x 1 per day, severe GERD. Here’s the problem, the cost of these 4 drugs is $1000 per mo. in my area even with my sorry insurance and over 6 discount cards. I can’t afford that on any day. I only filled the Adderal XR 60 cap @ $326 and Welbutrin SR 60 tabs @ $29 for a total of $365, which is insane and really depresseing me. Here’s the rest of the break down. Abilify 30 tabs @ 5 mg is $445, Nexium 30 caps @ 40 mg is $189. I have never taken Ability and after researching not sure I want to along with cost, so I opted not to get it. The Welbuterin, Nexium and Adderal are essential. I like Adderal over Ritalen because it worked great ending my last school yr with a GPA of 3.79. On Ritalin my grades have fallen to the point of barely passing even though I am only taking 2 classes and dropped 2 others. I have always had major issues with ADD ( didn’t know that was the problem) along with depression and anxiety which have affected me throughout life with employment, education, and self-esteem. I returned to school (last attempt) but couldn’t do it. I have insurance but the deductible is $4500 meds. included and the premium is $321 mo. . The is the only insurance I can get because I am un-insureable. My husband is having a cow over the cost of meds. saying they I don’t need them, can do without them, just using them to get high on (past cocaine use) absolutely not true evidenced by past and present GPA and I am getting addicted to them, I just don’t know what to do. He is such an condescending ass.

By: Jasia

Jasia — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:07:01 +0000

I was diagnosed with ADD several years ago, however never took any meds. I was a stay at home mom and just made do with how I was. Recently I went back to school and It was apparent that I needed the meds now. I couldnt study, or focus in class, things at home were very unorganized, and all of the things that go along with ADD. My Dr. put me on 10mg of adderall 3 times a day to start, while this helped some i didn’t feel it was enough. She increased it to 20 mg 3 times a day. I used only the generic version of the medicine. The first script of 20′s seemed ok, and worked better then the 10′s, but my 2nd script of 20′s did NOT help. They were definitely not the same. (20′s-1st script -barr/teva); 2nd script-sandoz) I went back to see what my options were. She then prescribed me 30mg/ 2x’s a day but brand name only. I got this filled today and took it for the first time, and maybe its just me, but its just like the generic :(. I have done so much research, and looking at the dates of the stuff that was out there, it was from 07-09, nothing recent. The brand name adderall that I was given was by barr/teva. I thought the Brand was made by Shire? am I wrong? Anyone have any insight about this? I have finals coming up soon and I dont want to fail them because of wrong medication.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:42:11 +0000

Im fifty two years old, and have been diagnosed with ADD nine years ago; since then I’ve taken Adderal, however it’s been difficult to get in the states, so my physician switched me to ritalin. these are not the time release because I have no insurance I can’t afford these, but the ritalin makes me want to sleep, I can’t function, it seems to have the opposite effect as Adderal. Please help