Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesRitalinAdderallDifferencesEquivalenceCost ComparisonWhat About Vyvanse?Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Ritalin
Adderall
Differences
Equivalence
Cost Comparison
What About Vyvanse?
Frequently Asked Questions
Ritalin (methylphenidate) andAdderall(dextroamphetamineand amphetamine) are twocentral nervous system(CNS) stimulants. While these drugs contain distinct main ingredients, they treat the same types of problems.
They are alike in how they can trigger asubstance use disorderfor those at risk. These drugs may also cause harm to pregnant women. Ritalin and Adderall differ in dosage and the length of time they work in the body to relieve symptoms.
This article describes how Ritalin and Adderall are alike and different in their uses, side effects, ways they behave with other drugs, and dosages.
Jamie Grill / Getty Images
What Do Ritalin and Adderall Treat?
Ritalin and Adderall are two of the most commonly prescribed medications used to treat:
ADHD
ADHD is a medical condition that interferes with a person’s ability to pay attention and/or act with the amount of self-control needed to function or develop normally. The condition affects about 8.8% of children aged 4 to 17 and 4.4% of adults aged 18 to 44.
Symptoms of ADHD include the following:
While everyone, especially young children, may demonstrate these behaviors occasionally, people with ADHD exhibit these behaviors in an ongoing pattern that lasts longer than six months.About 85% of people with ADHD can control their symptoms with Ritalin or Adderall.
Research indicates that people with ADHD have an imbalance of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, so they may not receive messages efficiently.These drugs cause increased neurotransmitter activity that promotes alertness, energy, and attention. For people with ADHD, they enable a calming effect.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological sleep disorder that interferes with the normal sleep-wake cycle. It can cause excessivedaytime sleepiness, that lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. Episodes can occur up to several times each day. Those affected are also unable to maintain normal sleep cycles during the night.
Other symptoms of narcolepsy are:
Conditions/Disorders That Might Not Tolerate Ritalin or AdderallWhile Ritalin and Adderall can be safe for most people when used as advised, they should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:Cardiovascular diseaseArteriosclerosis(hardening of the arteries)Moderate to severehypertension(high blood pressure)Hyperthyroidism(overactive thyroid)Agitated states or history ofpsychosisKnown allergy or sensitivity to stimulantsDrug or alcohol abuse disorderGlaucomaRitalin and Adderall are both pregnancy Category C drugs. Since well-controlled studies have not been conducted with these drugs in pregnant women, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that they should be used during pregnancy only when their potential benefits justify the potential risks to the fetus.
Conditions/Disorders That Might Not Tolerate Ritalin or Adderall
While Ritalin and Adderall can be safe for most people when used as advised, they should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:Cardiovascular diseaseArteriosclerosis(hardening of the arteries)Moderate to severehypertension(high blood pressure)Hyperthyroidism(overactive thyroid)Agitated states or history ofpsychosisKnown allergy or sensitivity to stimulantsDrug or alcohol abuse disorderGlaucomaRitalin and Adderall are both pregnancy Category C drugs. Since well-controlled studies have not been conducted with these drugs in pregnant women, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that they should be used during pregnancy only when their potential benefits justify the potential risks to the fetus.
While Ritalin and Adderall can be safe for most people when used as advised, they should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:
Ritalin and Adderall are both pregnancy Category C drugs. Since well-controlled studies have not been conducted with these drugs in pregnant women, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that they should be used during pregnancy only when their potential benefits justify the potential risks to the fetus.
Ritalin is one of the brand names for the CNS stimulant methylphenidate. This medication is taken orally two to three times daily before eating. The average total dosage for adults is 20–30 milligrams (mg) though 40–60 mg daily can be used if needed.
Ritalin is available in immediate-release tablets of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg for oral administration. Ritalin-LA is available as 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg capsules.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of Ritalin are nervousness andinsomnia. Taking Ritalin also increases your risk of the following physical and psychological side effects, which range from mild to serious conditions:
This may not be a complete list of side effects. Side effects can vary based on drug interactions or your reaction to this drug.
Drug Interactions
Ritalin can interact with many types of drugs. Your healthcare provider can review whether you should modify existing drugs when taking this medication.
Ritalin may interact with the following drugs:
Potential for Abuse
Ritalin is safe and effective when used as prescribed under the direction of a healthcare provider. However, it has a high potential for overdose, abuse, and dependence when misused at higher doses.
Some teenagers and young adults misuse it to discover what Ritalin feels like. They try to take advantage of its perceived ability to cause increased alertness, improved energy, and heightened focus and attentiveness. It is a growing problem on college campuses as up to 38% of college students seek this so-called “study enhancer.”
Ritalin is also used for its euphoric effect, or “higdea
h,” that can be achieved when misused at high doses. When Ritalin is abused, it is usually diverted from peers, family, or friends who have legitimate prescriptions for this drug. People who abuse this drug swallow the tablet, snort the powder from crushed tablets, or dissolve the tablets in water to make an injectable mixture.
Drug Status of Ritalin and Adderall
Adderall is one of the brand names for the CNS stimulant that contains a combination of the neutral sulfate salts of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. This medication is taken orally two to three times daily at intervals of four to six hours. The average total dosage for adults is 40 mg or less.
Adderall is available in immediate-release tablets of 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg for oral administration. Adderall-XR is available as once-daily, sustained-release oral capsules of 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, and 30 mg. This drug can be taken with or without food.
The primary side effects of Adderall can include an irregular or fast heartbeat and increased blood pressure. Other side effects range from mild to severe and include the following conditions:
This may not be a complete list of side effects. Side effects can vary based on drug interactions or your individual reaction to this drug.
Adderall can interact with many types of drugs. Your healthcare provider can review whether you should modify existing drugs when taking this medication.
Adderall may interact with many of the same types of drugs that can cause problems with Ritalin. When taking Adderall, talk to your healthcare provider about potential interactions with the following drugs:
Like Ritalin, Adderall has a high risk of addiction and the potential for abuse. Misusing this or any other prescription stimulant can lead to a substance abuse disorder. The results can include addiction, health problems, and failure to meet work, home, or school responsibilities.
Adderall has the reputation of being a “smart drug” among high school and college students who use it to help them stay awake to study or complete assignments. However, these students may be putting themselves at risk for little reward.
Research indicates that people who take this drug don’t perform better on cognitive function tests than control subjects who took a placebo. Instead, they increase the risk of long-term physical and mental problems among the healthy people who use them.
What Happens If You Take Ritalin or Adderall Without ADHD?
Research suggests that using Ritalin without a prescription can change your brain chemistry, causing side effects such as sleep disruption and changes in your risk-taking behavior.
Ritalin vs. Adderall: The Differences
The key difference between Ritalin and Adderall is in their main ingredients, as follows:
When comparing amphetamine vs. methylphenidate, research indicates that Ritalin is the best choice for children or adolescents with ADHD, while Adderall is generally better for adults with this condition. However, Adderall is the only one of these drugs approved for children aged 3 to 6 years.
Ritalin starts working faster than Adderall, as follows:
Short-acting Ritalin lasts three to five hours, and long-acting Ritalin (Ritalin LA) lasts about eight hours.
While Adderall takes longer to work, the short-acting version lasts about four to six hours, and the extended-release version (Adderall XR), is only taken once daily. Since Adderall stays in your body longer, it controls symptoms with fewer doses.
Strattera vs. Adderall: What’s the Difference?
How Much Ritalin Is Equal to Adderall?
If you’re considering switching from Adderall to Ritalin, it’s important to know that the efficacy of Adderall is about twice as strong as Ritalin. A 5 mg dose of Adderall is equivalent to 10 mg of Ritalin.
Like other medications, thegeneric formsof these drugs usually cost less than the brand-name versions. According to the FDA, the cost of generic medications can average around 85% less than brand-name drugs when there are multiple generics for the same drug on the market.
The cost of Ritalin and Adderall are relatively close. Consider the following strategies to help lower costs:
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is a stimulant used to treat ADHD in children age 6 years and older. It is also prescribed to treat moderate to severebinge eating disorder (BED)in adults.
Vyvanse is administered as a once-daily, timed-release capsule or chewable tablet in an extended-release only. It lasts 10 to 14 hours. There is no generic drug for Vyvanse, which means it can be more expensive than other ADHD drugs.
Vyvanse is different from other ADHD medicationsbecause it is a prodrug. This means it is an inactive substance that must be metabolized in the body to become an active medication calleddextroamphetamine. Because it requires an extra step to work, Vyvanse is considered less harsh, so its side effects are not as strong as other ADHD medications.
Summary
While these medications use different drugs, they both work as central nervous system stimulants They are also common in their risk for causing substance abuse. They may also pose problems for pregnant women.
When used the right way, these drugs can safely produce results. When choosing the right drug and dosage, a healthcare provider weighs issues like current health problems and your other prescribed drugs and other medications. While it may take some time for you to find what works, you should eventually find a drug that provides relief from symptoms.
Ritalin and Adderall are safe and effective treatments for ADHD and narcolepsy when used as prescribed. Research indicates that Ritalin is the best treatment for children or adolescents with ADHD, while Adderall is generally the preferred medication for adults with this disorder.Learn MoreADHD Medications: Types, Side Effects, and More
Ritalin and Adderall are safe and effective treatments for ADHD and narcolepsy when used as prescribed. Research indicates that Ritalin is the best treatment for children or adolescents with ADHD, while Adderall is generally the preferred medication for adults with this disorder.
Learn MoreADHD Medications: Types, Side Effects, and More
Neither of these drugs is stronger than the other. Ritalin begins to work faster but lasts for a shorter time than Adderall. Adderall takes longer to work but remains in your system longer.Learn MoreADHD Medication: Types, Side Effects, and More
Neither of these drugs is stronger than the other. Ritalin begins to work faster but lasts for a shorter time than Adderall. Adderall takes longer to work but remains in your system longer.
Learn MoreADHD Medication: Types, Side Effects, and More
Learn MoreHow ADHD Is Treated
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