Adderall alternatives?

[Stopthepain]

Hello Everyone,
I could use a bit of information concerning Aderall and possible alternatives. To give you an overview of my situation: I broke my back some years ago and am now disabled. I endured three major surgeries and am left with horrible chronic pain. To deal with the pain I take extended release morphine with percocets used for breakthrough pain. We (my doctor and I) have finally gotten the pain meds at the right level and they are controlling the pain well for the current time. The problem is with all of the opiods I am taking I am lethargic, almost to the point of sleeping more than I am awake.

The good news is after months and months of pleading with my doctor, he finally put me on Aderall to counter the lethargic effects of the morphine. Life is really good now, I am awake, alert and able to live a normal life. Now the bad news. I had to change insurance and they do not cover Aderall, in fact I could find no plans that do for adults. My doctor is going to try and petition the insurance company for an exception, but told me not to get my hopes up. The problem with paying out of pocket is the monthly cost for the Aderall is $237! When you are on disability it might as well be $2000 a month. I am very upset about this as I finally have gotten my life back and I don't want to have to go back to the way it was, being tired all of the time.

I have been trying to explore my options and there doesn't really seem to be much out there in the form of stimulants. The only one that I have come up with is a drug called Vyvanse. Does anyone know if this is a realistic substitute for Aderall? How about Ritalin? The Ritalin is covered almost 100% by my insurance? Would this work the same as the Aderall?

Also, my doctor started me out on a very low dose of Aderal, 5mg. After about a month we went up to 10mg. It works well, but I can see that I am quickly developing a tolerance to the drug. For a 220lb adult what would you say the proper dosage of amphetamine would be? I have heard around 20mg is common. How about the tolerance? Will this eventually not work on me any longer? Can much larger amounts of amphetamine be taken safely?

I will be covering all of this with my doctor. The reason I ask here is that he is very good about discussing my treatment options and the more I know the better I will be prepared to discuss this with him. Thanks in advance, any advice you might have would be appreciated.

 

[Tommyboy]

Dexedrine is probably the closest thing to adderall since its active ingredient makes up 75% of adderall. I'm not sure if your insurance will cover it, but it's cheaper than the adderall, well at least for me it is.

 

[Doug2113]

I thought I replied to this, and sorry if this post got UA'd, but phentermine is another amphetamine, and it seems to pep me up. Albeit, it's not going to be as strong as adderal, from what I see tolerance builds quickly (as with the adderal you mentioned), and it's normally Rx'ed for weight-loss, so I don't know if there's an indication like that for the drug.

 

[laCster]

vyvanse or dexedrine, or you could try desoxyn (methamp.)

 

[Stopthepain]

Thanks for the replies and I will investigate the suggestions. Has anyone had any experience with Ritalin. Has mentioned in my OP, it is fully covered by my insurance and I am hoping that it can be used as an alternative.

 

[Alex000]

There are a number of meds that would help you with your issue, the simplest being caffeine. It might surprise you what a healthy dose of caffeine can do for your sleepiness, but it effects everyone differently. If you want a very similar alternative to the Adderall, I might suggest Vyvanse, Dexedrine, or Desoxyn. All of these are amphetamines, and all of them would be quite like, but probably better than the Adderall. Ritalin (methylphenidate) IS a good stimulant IMO, but its effects don't last as long, and aren't as pronounced as those of amphetamines, perhaps Concerta (a VERY extended-release methylphenidate) could help throughout the day. I normally wouldn't recommend it because it could make you feel kind of shitty, but you are on morphine so I doubt you'd feel any negative effects. Another option is Focalin XR, and extended-release version of dexmethyphenidate, quite like methylphenidate itself. Provigil or Nuvigil could be of great help, but aren't like amphetamines in the euphoria and stimulation department, or methylphenidate for that matter. BUT, they will help you stay awake, and are stimulants, just of a slightly different variety.

 

[iewed]

Vyvanse is VERY expensive ($6+ per pill) and if your insurance won't cover Adderall I'd doubt they'd cover vyavnse.

If possible, always go generic. Generic adderall should be very inexpensive, as should generic ritalin if you choose to go that way. Vyvanse is still patented and that's why it cost so much.

Another product your doc might suggest is called Nuvigil, but nuvigil is the brand name. If he suggests that ask for provigil and get the generic instead (modafinil), it'll be way cheaper and to the best of my knowledge nuvigil is basically the exact same thing as provigil once it enters your body.

If possible, ALWAYS go generic

 

[Stopthepain]

Vyvanse is VERY expensive ($6+ per pill) and if your insurance won't cover Adderall I'd doubt they'd cover vyavnse.

If possible, always go generic. Generic adderall should be very inexpensive, as should generic ritalin if you choose to go that way. Vyvanse is still patented and that's why it cost so much.

Another product your doc might suggest is called Nuvigil, but nuvigil is the brand name. If he suggests that ask for provigil and get the generic instead (modafinil), it'll be way cheaper and to the best of my knowledge nuvigil is basically the exact same thing as provigil once it enters your body.

If possible, ALWAYS go generic

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I did try Nuvigil prior to the Adderall and unfortunately it didn't really do much of anything. My pharmacist had her doubts that it would be able to counter the effects of the morphine. As far as generics, the generic price of Adderall that I got via my insurance company was over $200 a month. I will check on everyone's suggestions and see what is covered. Once I know that I can consult with my doctor and we can come up with a solution.

And thanks everyone for the kind responses. This site is a breath of fresh air when discussing medication. I realize that the site also caters to casual users as well, but I have been on sites where you are trying to find solutions and you get bombarded with those accusing you of trying to get stoned, whatever. I just want to get back to normal again, somehow!

 

[TheAzo]

There is a generic of Adderall. Your pharmacy should be able to substitute the generic (amphetamine mixed salts) for the brand name, unless your doc has specifically stated that it's not to be substituted (in which case you should ask him to change that, because the brand name stuff is expensive).

It seems that they're picky about brand name/generic on medications - I was actually unable to fill my script when they were out of the generic (without calling my doctor), even though they had the brand name in stock. Happened earlier this year when the generic adderall shortage was in full swing.

 

[Stopthepain]

The price of prescription meds is unbelievable. Even something like the morphine I have to take is un-godly expensive. You would think that a drug that has been around 150+ years would be dirt cheap, but no. My prescription costs are in the neighborhood of $3600 per year. I realize that this isn't much compared to what some have to pay, but damn, that is a lot of money.

 

[iewed]

The price of prescription meds is unbelievable. Even something like the morphine I have to take is un-godly expensive. You would think that a drug that has been around 150+ years would be dirt cheap, but no. My prescription costs are in the neighborhood of $3600 per year. I realize that this isn't much compared to what some have to pay, but damn, that is a lot of money.

Well when you break it down you have to cover the cost of medical equipment, research and technology, facilities, supplies, pay the doctors, pay the lawyers, pay the businessmen and pay for all those other people and costs involved in the process from growing/harvesting the poppy plants to the end product arriving at your pharmacy. And then on top of all that you still need to have room for profit.

But yeah it's pretty expensive.

 

[Tommyboy]

There is a generic of Adderall. Your pharmacy should be able to substitute the generic (amphetamine mixed salts) for the brand name, unless your doc has specifically stated that it's not to be substituted (in which case you should ask him to change that, because the brand name stuff is expensive).

It seems that they're picky about brand name/generic on medications - I was actually unable to fill my script when they were out of the generic (without calling my doctor), even though they had the brand name in stock. Happened earlier this year when the generic adderall shortage was in full swing.

There are generic adderall IR, and the adderall XR has "authorized generics" which are generics that are made by the brand name, have all the same active and inactive ingredients, and only differ in markings on them, and that they are marketed by another company.

The shortage is another factor that has not been brought up. Depending on your location, you may not be able to get adderall or dexedrine if that is what you end up being prescribed. The shortage didn't really hit NY until a month ago, and nobody seems to know when it will end. The shortage is being discussed on BL in this thread.

 

[Stopthepain]

Well when you break it down you have to cover the cost of medical equipment, research and technology, facilities, supplies, pay the doctors, pay the lawyers, pay the businessmen and pay for all those other people and costs involved in the process from growing/harvesting the poppy plants to the end product arriving at your pharmacy. And then on top of all that you still need to have room for profit.

But yeah it's pretty expensive.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I am not bashing the Pharmaceutical companies for wanting to make a profit. If that's what it cost to make a drug and a decent profit, that's what it costs. However, that sure doesn't help out the poor sap trying to get his meds.

 

[laCster]

adderall IR > adderall XR

the XR feels more dirty to me, but IR feels clean and euphoric

 

[Jim Renolyds]

The Addieup looks new but I think this is the one my friend bought and loves it, I'll find out. I took my damn Adderall the last couple of days and turned into absolute asshole, not sure if I got more work done but my adhd is so bad anyway, when I go back to adderall after being off it I see how much it turns me into "adderahhhole"! I'm gonna keep trying to find more natural stuff like those Addieup.com, I tried synaptol though and that homeopathic crap doesn't do anything for me.