Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesBefore TakingDosageSide EffectsWarnings and Interactions

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Table of Contents

Uses

Before Taking

Dosage

Side Effects

Warnings and Interactions

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What is the most important information I should know about generic Adderall?You should not take the generic for Adderall if:you are allergic or hypersensitive to stimulant medications; oryou have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the previous 14 days.

What is the most important information I should know about generic Adderall?

You should not take the generic for Adderall if:you are allergic or hypersensitive to stimulant medications; oryou have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the previous 14 days.

You should not take the generic for Adderall if:

Generic Adderall is a combination medication used to treatattention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) andnarcolepsy.It belongs to a group of drugs known as stimulants and comes in the form of a pill.

The generic name for Adderall is dextroamphetamine-amphetamine. It’s also sometimes referred to as amphetamine salts. Generic and brand-name drugs perform the same functions and contain the same active ingredients. They are also just as effective and safe as their brand name equivalent.

Generic drugs, however, are cheaper than brand-name drugs and might have different inactive ingredients, such as coloring.

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Uses for Generic Adderall

Off-Label Uses

Before Taking Generic Adderall

Before Adderall is prescribed, a doctor will determine whether or not you have any allergic reactions to stimulant medication. Your doctor will also ask about your family history to make sure it’s safe for you.

Your doctor will not prescribe Adderall if you’ve taken anymonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs) within the last 14 days.

Precautions and Contraindications

When talking to your doctor it’s important to disclose if you have any history with the following conditions:

Adderall is also not prescribed for pregnant women, as it may cause premature births or other pregnancy complications.

Other Stimulants

There are other types of stimulant medications also used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD aside from Adderall. Some of them that perform the same functions as Adderall include:

Dosage for Generic Adderall

Adderall dosage depends on what form of the drug has been prescribed to you and what condition it’s being used to treat. They are two forms of Adderall: immediate-release andextended-release. The generic version of both forms is available.

The difference between both forms is that while the immediate-release version, as the name suggests, works quickly, the extended-release version takes a longer time for the full effect of the drug to set in. The effects of immediate-release drugs also tend to wear off much quicker than extended-release drugs.

For ADHD

For Narcolepsy

The immediate-release form of Adderall is what is indicated for narcolepsy. The initial dosage is usually a total of 10 mg daily, it may be increased up to 60 mg in divided doses and taken at four- to six-hour intervals throughout the day.

Modifications

In children with ADHD who are between the ages of three to five, an initial dosage of 2.5 mg a day is usually recommended. This might go up according to the child’s needs. For children between the age of six and 12 who have narcolepsy, an initial dosage of 5 mg a day is typically recommended, which can then be increased weekly.

All listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer. Check your prescription and talk to your doctor to make sure you are taking the right dose for you.

How to Take and Store

You should take Adderall according to your doctor’s prescription. You can also read the prescription label on the drug if you are unsure of how to take it.

You don’t have to take the pill with food, but you should swallow it whole, especially if it’s the extended-release form of the drug.

You should also store the drug in a dry place at room temperature. If you miss a dose of your medication, you can take it as soon as you remember.

Side Effects of Generic Adderall

Someside effectsfrom regular use of Adderall have been reported. Some are fairly common while in rarer cases they might be more severe.

Common

Severe

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Certain interactions with other drugs might hinder the effects of Adderall. Let your doctors know all of your medications if Adderall is prescribed. You should avoid taking Adderall or switch to another antidepressant to avoid developingserotonin syndrome.

Adderall use may also cause false results in certain tests. You should disclose use of the drug to laboratory technicians before any blood and urine tests or brain scans.

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6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.Desai RJ, Sarpatwari A, Dejene S, et al.Comparative effectiveness of generic and brand-name medication use: A database study of US health insurance claims.PLOS Medicine. 2019;16(3):e1002763. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002763Briars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192Abad VC, Guilleminault C.New developments in the management of narcolepsy.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:39-57. doi:10.2147/NSS.S103467National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Adderall XR.Additional ReadingAdderall (CII). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting. Pharmaceutical Press .

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.Desai RJ, Sarpatwari A, Dejene S, et al.Comparative effectiveness of generic and brand-name medication use: A database study of US health insurance claims.PLOS Medicine. 2019;16(3):e1002763. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002763Briars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192Abad VC, Guilleminault C.New developments in the management of narcolepsy.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:39-57. doi:10.2147/NSS.S103467National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Adderall XR.Additional ReadingAdderall (CII). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting. Pharmaceutical Press .

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Cancer Institute.NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.Desai RJ, Sarpatwari A, Dejene S, et al.Comparative effectiveness of generic and brand-name medication use: A database study of US health insurance claims.PLOS Medicine. 2019;16(3):e1002763. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002763Briars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192Abad VC, Guilleminault C.New developments in the management of narcolepsy.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:39-57. doi:10.2147/NSS.S103467National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Adderall XR.

National Cancer Institute.NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

Desai RJ, Sarpatwari A, Dejene S, et al.Comparative effectiveness of generic and brand-name medication use: A database study of US health insurance claims.PLOS Medicine. 2019;16(3):e1002763. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002763

Briars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192

Abad VC, Guilleminault C.New developments in the management of narcolepsy.Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:39-57. doi:10.2147/NSS.S103467

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?

Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Adderall XR.

Adderall (CII). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting. Pharmaceutical Press .

Adderall (CII). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Pharmaceutics: Drug Delivery and Targeting. Pharmaceutical Press .

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