Differences in ADHD meds

[Basteel]

ATTENTION DEFICIT DRUGS

Methylphenidate (Methylin, Ritalin, Metadate, Concerta, Focalin, Attenta, Equasym, Rubifen, Daytrana)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
Amphetamine salts (Adderall)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
Atomoxetine (Strattera)
Benzphetamine (Didrex)
Modafinil (Alertec, Provigil)
Pemoline (Cylert)
Clonidine

My situation is that I've been prescribed stimulant meds for over 20 yrs (I'm now 60) and I live in the UK. I was originally prescribed Dexedrine, but there was a subtle change around 2004/2006 to generic Dexamfetamine Sulfate and immediately I noticed the change in effort, nowhere near as effective as Dexedrine. I wish someone could explain why and how they are different?

 

[Basteel]

I might attempt to answer my own question here. There must be a difference between 'dextro' and 'dex' and 'amphetamine salts' (we do not have access to Adderall in the UK BTW)
But, we do have Lisdexamfetamine the pro-drug.

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

There is no difference between dexamphetamine and dextroamphetamine, it’s just a shortened version of the name similar to the way dexamfetamine is also used. ‘Salts’ just refers to amphetamine in an acidic crystalline form, which both of those will be (‘sulfate’ is the type of salt they are).

Amphetamine in pharmaceutical form will always be a salt of some sort because freebase amphetamine is an oil not a solid product. The same applies to amphetamine bought on the street unless you are buying it right at the top of the supply chain in very large quantities despite the fact that it has the slang name ‘base’. Anything that is a powder/paste/rock is an amphetamine salt.

Changes in physiological effect may be caused by different isomeric make up of different company’s products, or it might also be caused by the differing physical composition of the tablets causing differing digestion and adsorption rates in to the bloodstream.

 

[Basteel]

There is no difference between dexamphetamine and dextroamphetamine, it’s just a shortened version of the name similar to the way dexamfetamine is also used. ‘Salts’ just refers to amphetamine in an acidic crystalline form, which both of those will be (‘sulfate’ is the type of salt they are).

Amphetamine in pharmaceutical form will always be a salt of some sort because freebase amphetamine is an oil not a solid product. The same applies to amphetamine bought on the street unless you are buying it right at the top of the supply chain in very large quantities despite the fact that it has the slang name ‘base’. Anything that is a powder/paste/rock is an amphetamine salt.

Changes in physiological effect may be caused by different isomeric make up of different company’s products, or it might also be caused by the differing physical composition of the tablets causing differing digestion and adsorption rates in to the bloodstream.

Thanks for that, it's very comprehensive.

 

[Nurse Ratched]

Moving this over to Basic Drugs.

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

Thanks for that, it's very comprehensive.

No bother. The fact that the two medications contain the same molecule doesn’t mean that you are imaging different effects