David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Chart Comparing Popular Medications Used to Treat ADHD
by Devon Frye, ADDitude
March 30, 2018
Treatment for attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. This means parents and adults have more options than ever when it comes to medication — but it also means that the plethora of medication choices can be confusing, overwhelming, and time-consuming to sort through when you’re trying to design your ideal treatment plan.
If you’re considering — or already taking — medication to treat your or your child’s ADHD, use this simple, easy-to-follow chart to learn the dosages, formulations, and special considerations for all the major medication players, including stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta, as well as nonstimulants like Strattera, Intuniv, and Wellbutrin. Click on each brand name for an in-depth breakdown of that particular medication, including side effects, precautions, interactions, and more. Please note that this chart is best viewed on a wide screen; you can also download this chart here.
For more information on savings programs, go to this chart.
*Administration with a high-fat meal may delay the time to peak absorption, but has no significant effect on total efficacy of medication.
by Devon Frye, ADDitude
March 30, 2018
Treatment for attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. This means parents and adults have more options than ever when it comes to medication — but it also means that the plethora of medication choices can be confusing, overwhelming, and time-consuming to sort through when you’re trying to design your ideal treatment plan.
If you’re considering — or already taking — medication to treat your or your child’s ADHD, use this simple, easy-to-follow chart to learn the dosages, formulations, and special considerations for all the major medication players, including stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta, as well as nonstimulants like Strattera, Intuniv, and Wellbutrin. Click on each brand name for an in-depth breakdown of that particular medication, including side effects, precautions, interactions, and more. Please note that this chart is best viewed on a wide screen; you can also download this chart here.
For more information on savings programs, go to this chart.
| MEDICATION | FORMULATION | COMPOUND | DURATION | DOSING CONSIDERATIONS | SAVINGS PROGRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| METHYLPHENIDATE | |||||
| Aptensio XR® (Rhodes Pharmaceuticals) | Extended-release capsule 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg | Capsule with multilayer beads; 40% of dose in the immediate-release layer and 60% in the extended-release layer (2nd peak at 7–8 hrs) | 12 hours | Capsule may be opened and contents swallowed completely with applesauce | YES |
| Concerta® or generic (Janssen and others) | Extended-release tablet 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, 54 mg | Tablet with OROS osmotic pump technology; biphasic release with initial peak at 1 hr (22% of dose) and 78% gradual release over 9 hrs | 12 hours | Must be swallowed whole; non-absorbable shell may be passed in stool | YES |
| Cotempla XRODT™ (NEOS Therapeutics) | Extended-release orally disintegrating tablet 8.6 mg, 17.3 mg, 25.9 mg | Dissolving tablet with 25% immediate-release microparticles and 75% extended-release | 12-13 hours | Grape-flavored, allow to dissolve in saliva | YES |
| Daytrana® (Noven Therapeutics) | Transdermal patch 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg | Drug dispersed in adhesive layer; applied daily | 10 hours with 9 hour wear-time | The time worn can be varied to control the duration of effects; monitor for skin rash or sensitivity. Discard patches appropriately | YES |
| Metadate CD® (UCB, Inc.) | Extended-release capsule 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg | Diffucaps capsule with 30% immediate-release beads and 70% delayed-release beads* | 8-10 hours | Capsule may be opened and contents swallowed completely with applesauce | |
| Methylphenidate HCI (Lupin) | Chewable tablet 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg | Methylphenidate HCl | 3-4 hours | Grape-flavored chewable tablet | |
| Methylphenidate HCl (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals) | Extended-release tablet* 10 mg, 20 mg | Methylphenidate HCl | 6-8 hours | Swallow whole; do not crush or chew | |
| Methylin™ Liquid or generic (Shionogi Pharma and others) | Oral solution 5 mg/5 mL, 10 mg/5 mL | Methylphenidate HCl | 3-4 hours | Colorless, grape-flavored liquid; store at room temperature | |
| Quillichew ER™ (Pfizer) | Extended-release chewable tablet 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg | 30% of the dose is immediate-release and 70% extended-release | 12-13 hours | Cherry-flavored; may be taken with or without food | YES |
| Quillivant XR® (Pfizer) | Extended-release oral suspension 25 mg/5 mL | 20% of the dose is immediate-release and 80% extended-release | 12-13 hours | Fruit-flavored; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle for at least 10 seconds. May be stored at room temperature | YES |
| Ritalin® or generic (Novartis and others) | Short-acting, immediate- release tablet 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg | Methylphenidate HCl | 3-4 hours | Abrupt onset and offset increase the number and severity of side effects | |
| Ritalin LA® (Novartis) | Extended-release capsule 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg | Capsule with Spheroidal Oral Drug Absorption System (SODA S) technology; 50% immediate-release beads and 50% delayed-release (2nd peak 4 hrs later)* | 8-12 hours | Capsule may be opened and contents swallowed completely with applesauce | |
| Ritalin SR® (Novartis) | Sustained-release tablet 20 mg | Methylphenidate HCl | 8 hours | Tablets should be swallowed whole, never crushed or chewed | |
| DEXMETHYLPHENIDATE | |||||
| Focalin® or generic (Novartis and others) | Short-acting, immediate- release tablet* 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg | Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride | 4-6 hours | Isolated active dextroisomer; give approximately 1/2 methylphenidate dose | |
| Focalin XR® or generic (Novartis and others) | Extended-release capsule 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg, 35 mg, 40 mg | Capsule with SODA S technology; 50% of the beads contained in the capsule are immediate-release and 50% are delayed-release* | 8-12 hours | Capsule may be opened and beads swallowed completely with applesauce | YES |
| AMPHETAMINE | |||||
| Adzenys ER™ (Neos Therapeutics) | Extended-release oral suspension 1.25 mg/ml | 50% immediate-release and 50% delayed-release particles | 10-12 hours | Orange-flavored; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle vigorously before dispensing the dose. | |
| Adzenys XR-ODT™ (Neos Therapeutics) | Extended-release orally disintegrating tablet 3.1 mg, 6.3 mg, 9.4 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.7 mg, 18.8 mg | Dissolving tablet with 50% immediate-release and 50% delayed-release particles | 10-12 hours | Allow tablet to dissolve in saliva. | YES |
| Dyanavel® XR (Tris Pharma) | Extended-release oral suspension 2.5 mg/ml | Oral solution with bubblegum flavor | 13 hours | Bubblegum flavor; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle before preparing the dose. May be stored at room temperature | YES |
| DEXTROAMPHETAMINE | |||||
| Dexedrine® (Amedra Pharmaceuticals and others) | Short-acting tablet 5 mg, 10 mg | Dextroamphetamine Sulfate | 3-4 hours | Take first dose on awakening | |
| Dexedrine ER® (Amedra Pharmaceuticals and others) | Extended-release spansule 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg | Dextroamphetamine Sulfate delivered in a sustained-release spansule. Initial dose released immediately, remaining medication released gradually. | 5-10 hours | ||
| ProCentra® and generic (Independence Pharma, Tris Pharma, and others) | Oral solution 5 mg/5 mL | Dextroamphetamine Sulfate | 3-6 hours | Bubblegum flavor; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle before preparing the dose. May be stored at room temperature | YES |
| Zenzedi® (Arbor Pharmaceuticals) | Immediate-release tablet 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg | Dextroamphetamine Sulfate | 4-6 hours | Take first dose on awakening | YES |
| METHAMPHETAMINE | |||||
| Desoxyn® (Recordati Rare Diseases and others) | Immediate-release tablet 5 mg | Methamphetamine | 4-6 hours | ||
| MIXED AMPHETAMINE SALTS | |||||
| Adderall® or generic (CorePharma and others) | Short-acting, immediate-release tablet 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg | Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate and Amphetamine Sulfate | 4-6 hours | May be taken with or without food | |
| Adderall® XR or generic (Shire and others) | Extended-release capsule 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg | Capsule with Microtrol delivery system: 50% immediate-release and 50% delayed-release beads* | 10-12 hours | Capsule may be opened and beads swallowed whole with applesauce | |
| Mydayis® (Shire Pharmaceuticals) | Long-acting capsule 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 37.5 mg, 50 mg | Long-acting, triple-bead, mixed amphetamine salts formulation | 14-16 hours | Capsule may be opened and beads swallowed whole with applesauce | YES |
| AMPHETAMINE SULFATE | |||||
| Evekeo® (Arbor Pharmaceuticals) | Immediate-release tablet 5 mg, 10 mg | 50 percent dextroamphetamine and 50 percent levoamphetamine | 4-6 hours | YES | |
| LISDEXAMFETAMINE | |||||
| Vyvanse® (Shire Pharmaceuticals) | Long-acting capsule 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 60 mg, 70 mg | Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate; peaks in 3.5 hrs* | 10-13 hours | Capsule may be opened and contents dissolved in water, yogurt, or orange juice; use immediately after dissolving | YES |
| Vyvanse® (Shire Pharmaceuticals) | Chewable tablet 10 mg, 20 mg, 30mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, and 60 mg | Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate; peaks in 3.5 hrs* | 10-13 hours | Strawberry flavored; may be taken with or without food | |
| ATOMOXETINE | |||||
| Strattera® (Lilly) | Long-acting capsule 10 mg, 18 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg | All day atomoxetine | 24 hours | Selective norepinephrine inhibitor. Starts working in a few days to one week, but may take several weeks to achieve full effect. Swallow capsule whole; powder is irritating. Dose is commonly divided in two to lower side effects | YES |
| CLONIDINE | |||||
| Kapvay® (Concordia Pharmaceuticals) | Extended-release tablet 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg | Clonidine Hydrochloride | 24 hours | Swallow tablet whole | |
| GUANFACINE | |||||
| Intuniv™ or generic (Shire and others) | Extended-release tablet 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg, 4 mg | Guanfacine | 24 hours | Swallow tablet whole; a high-fat meal may increase absorption and lead to toxicity. FDA -approved for doses up to 7 mg | YES |
| BUPROPION | |||||
| Wellbutrin XL® (Valeant Pharmaceuticals) | Extended-release tablet 150mg, 300mg | Bupropion HCL | 24 hours | Low efficacy; takes 8 weeks to fully develop benefits. | YES |
*Administration with a high-fat meal may delay the time to peak absorption, but has no significant effect on total efficacy of medication.
