Which is stronger focalin or adderall

Among patients diagnosed within the previous year, Concerta, Adderall, and Vyvanse were in a dead heat with a new class of generics that have recently hit the market. Below, we see that the medication used by the fewest households surveyed — Evekeo — was rated extremely or very effective by the greatest percentage of caregivers.

Following closely behind was Vyvanse, which is also one of the most commonly used. This may be due to the small sample size of caregivers who have administered Evekeo — just 20, compared to the who have tried Concerta or the who have tried Vyvanse. So we asked survey respondents to report the the prevalence of three common side effects — irritability, sleep disturbances, and dampened personality — with each of the following medications.

The chart below shows the percentage of individuals who reported experiencing these side effects while on the each medication. She began to lose weight and became irritable due to low blood sugar from not eating. No appetite. Increased irritability due to low blood sugar from not eating. Lost weight. However, he started complaining of feeling sick after about one week, so our pediatrician lowered the dose from 30mg to 20mg. This stopped the nausea. Also I prefer to say that, rather than lessening his appetite, the medication delays his appetite.

He eats little during the day but is hungry from about through to 9 at night. At home the effects of being on the medication were subtle. He still gets some headaches now and then and he still had some appetite loss but it works better than the previous medication that we tried before.

He is well behaved at school. He is happy overall and doing better about completing homework. But he becomes overwhelmed easily with school work. He has no appetite during the day. He has trouble settling down for the night.

He is grinding his teeth terribly in his sleep. She still eats a decent breakfast and dinner. No sleep issues on this medication. Mainly, it helps her focus to complete tasks.

It decreased her appetite for a month, but then that symptom faded significantly. The disease is diagnosed after several tests and criteria are used. For a person diagnosed with this disorder, the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity must be persistent and chronic. ADHD comes with no prevention or cure. Discovering the disease early enough is however quite beneficial since you are able to come up with an efficient management plan, which includes therapy and use of medication.

As much as the two stimulants are used to treat the same disorder, there are a number of differences between the two. There are a couple of similarities as well. The process for diagnosis from medical professionals to determine which drug is the best fit for your particular situation, personality, and medical history is based on the following:.

Adderall is a drug that contains a combination of both amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. The two are stimulants which have a calming effect on the central nervous system since they effect on the chemicals in the brain and nerves which lead to impulse control and hyperactivity. Adderall is an amphetamine since this is the active ingredient in the stimulant. All these functions are achieved by regulating the amount of dopamine and norepinephrine chemicals in the brain thereby changing brain chemistry as well as assisting neurotransmitters to send messages between nerve cells in the brain.

Focalin is a drug that contains dexmemethylphenidate, a mild stimulant used by the central nervous system to treat ADHD. It is administered in tablet form and it can be bought over the counter or it can be prescribed by a doctor. Focalin is similar to Ritalin and Concerta in function. It is used in the treatment of ADHD since it has a stimulating effect so that there is increased release of chemical neurotransmitter levels in the brain. It works in a manner similar to that of Adderall.

The amphetamine should be used only under the prescription of a doctor since using it inappropriately or for non-medical reasons could lead to potential dependence, drug abuse and could lead to withdrawals. It is habit-forming if overdosed or used without prescription. The user should use the stimulant alongside engaging in other forms of treatment such as special education, diet, exercise, supplements, behavior modification as well as regular counseling.

Dexmethylphenidate which is a mild stimulant has the effect of blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine into the presynaptic neuron and this way there is increased released monoamines into the extra neuronal space. This form of medication should be used alongside other forms of treatment such as therapeutic treatments.

These include psychotherapy and behavior therapy. Adderall should be taken according to the prescription of a doctor or a pharmacist to avoid situations of overdosing or under dosing. The intake also varies with age. This means that the less costly option of the two IR versions is clearly Focalin. The generic versions of each are cheaper than the brand name counterparts, and the immediate-release generics are nearly identically priced.

The extended-release version of Adderall is slightly cheaper in generic form than the extended-release format of Focalin. Focalin is manufactured in the formats of immediate-release IR and extended-release XR.

Adderall is also manufactured in immediate-release IR and extended-release XR formats. The duration of effect for both the IR and XR versions of each drug are considered to be nearly identical at 4 to 6 hours immediate-release and up to 12 hours extended-release.

In the regards to formats, the drugs are very similar. There are three dosing options for Focalin IR at 2. By comparison, there are significantly more formulations for Adderall IR at 5 mg, 7. Those taking Adderall IR may have an easier time titrating dosages than those taking Focalin IR due to the fact that they have more options and move up in increments of 2. Focalin XR is manufactured in more dosing options than Adderall XR, although each increases in 5 mg increments from 5 mg to 30 mg.

That said, some would argue that manufacturing Adderall XR at a greater dose than 30 mg is unnecessary due to its heightened potency. Each of these drugs is regarded as being significantly more effective than a placebo in double-blind, randomized studies; this is why they were approved by the FDA.

Stimulant equivalency charts suggest that 10 mg of Focalin XR packs nearly the same punch as 10 mg of Adderall XR, meaning the strengths of dosages may be nearly identical. Similarly, 5 mg of standard immediate-release Focalin is thought to be an approximate equivalent to 5 mg of standard immediate-release Adderall.

These studies suggested that a single dose of Adderall may produce the same effect as 2 doses of methylphenidate. That said, Focalin is not methylphenidate — it is d-threo-methylphenidate, the more potent of methylphenidates two isomers. A publication suggested that d-threo-methylphenidate may be up to twice as potent as standard methylphenidate and was significantly more effective in improving ADHD symptoms.

This means that both Focalin and Adderall should be nearly identical in terms of potency. Individual variation will often dictate whether a person prefers Focalin over Adderall or vice-versa.

The respective mechanisms of action for Focalin and Adderall are similar in that they both provide psychostimulation. Both drugs inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, thus increasing their extracellular levels.

Focalin contains the d-enantiomer of methylphenidate, and functions by inhibiting dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake into the presynaptic neuron, allowing neurotransmitters to be released into the extraneuronal space.

The mixed amphetamine salts dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine within Adderall inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. These mixed amphetamine salts elicit further presynaptic activity by triggering release of these neurotransmitters. In other words, Adderall is not only acting to inhibit their reuptake, but it is stimulating presynaptic release.

The delivery for both Focalin and Adderall is regarded as being nearly identical — especially for the extended-release versions. Due to the similarities of these two drugs, some speculate that Focalin may also prove to be an effective option for narcolepsy. In fact, one investigative use for Focalin XR is the treatment of narcolepsy. Both Focalin and Adderall are thought to be effective antidepressant augmentation strategies among individuals with refractory depression.

Some doctors may favor Adderall over Focalin due to the fact that Adderall has been on the market since and has been involved in more studies. Some studies speculate that it is nearly double the potency to standard methylphenidate. Unlike Focalin, Adderall has been investigated for cognitive rehabilitation in stroke patients and some psychiatrists may be more likely to test Adderall for anxiety disorders as a counterintuitive treatment.

As of , reports suggested that generic Adderall mixed amphetamine salts was the most prescribed psychostimulant medication. Within the past couple years, its popularity has decline somewhat in part due to the promotion of Vyvanse, a drug developed by the same company Shire Pharmaceuticals as Adderall. The patent for Adderall has expired, so Shire devised Vyvanse as a more appealing prodrug by comparison. From a generic perspective, Adderall clearly is more relevant and popular than Focalin. The side effect profile of Focalin is very similar to that of Adderall.

Exact side effects are subject to significant individual variation, but most people taking psychostimulants experience similar side effects.

Commonly reported side effects from both drugs include: appetite loss, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, stomach aches, and weight loss. These preferences may have been partially influenced by the severity and total number of unwanted side effects experienced during treatment. Due to the fact that both Focalin and Adderall are considered nearly equal in terms of potency, and have similar mechanisms of action, the side effects should be similar.

Some individuals may find that their physiology responds better to mixed amphetamine salts, while others may notice that they respond better to dexmethylphenidate. Those with a sensitivity to methylphenidate may respond worse to dexmethylphenidate than they would mixed amphetamine salts.

Subjective, anecdotal reports have suggested that Focalin produces less jitters and a cleaner effect than Adderall. Regardless of whether you are discontinuing Focalin or Adderall, it will likely be difficult. Although withdrawal is influenced by individual factors such as dosage and time span over which the drug was taken, the sheer potency of Focalin and Adderall can lead to psychological dependence. Individuals that have been taking either medication for a long-term may find that they are unable to function without the drug.

Withdrawal symptoms associated with Focalin and Adderall often include: excessive fatigue, lethargy, sleepiness, and psychomotor slowing. In other words, you feel physically sluggish and as if your ADHD symptoms have amplified ten-fold. In fact, many people report that after they discontinue stimulant treatment, their ADHD symptoms are significantly worse than prior to taking either drug. This is due to the fact that over time, the brain expects to receive the dopamine and norepinephrine boost that it has been getting from Focalin or Adderall.

Dopamine receptors are downregulated as a result of excess stimulation, which results in tolerance. During withdrawal a person must endure low dopamine levels for awhile until their brain reorganizes itself and increases endogenous production of dopamine and receptors.

Individual physiology and subjectivity often plays a role in determining whether Adderall withdrawal or Focalin withdrawal is more severe or protracted than the other. As you can see, Focalin and Adderall are considered similar drugs in that they are both psychostimulants and considered relatively equal in terms of potency.

Their IR and XR formats are thought to produce the same duration of effect. The most notable difference between Focalin and Adderall is the active ingredient in each. Neither drug should be considered better than the other for treating ADHD. One comparison study conducted in children found that these medications were nearly identical in terms of ADHD symptom reduction.

These preferences are likely stem from physiological reactions to the active ingredients. Some people may find that their physiology reacts better to mixed amphetamine salts, whereas others may find that dexmethylphenidate produces a more favorable effect.

Both medications are estimated as being twice as potent as methylphenidate and on psychostimulant equivalency charts, 10 mg of Adderall is thought to equal 10 mg of Focalin. Determining whether one is more effective or favorable over the other is a matter of individuality and should be considered subjective.

Mention whether you found one to be more effective than the other, which drug produced less side effects, and which provided superior ADHD symptom reduction. Also share any thoughts in regards to whether you felt as if one drug was more potent than the other.

I am prescribed to 60mg vyvanse capsules that I take every morning but I ran out of mine and had a chance to try Focalin XR. I took 2 15mg XR capsules. Now I have taken adderall many many times as well and have been on Vyvanse for a few years but Focalin felt intense to me!

I took some about 2. So far I feel clear headed compared to adderall and vyvanse but my heart rate is high and higher than it usually is on adderall or vyvanse!