Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine together are sold as the prescription stimulant Adderall. Adderall is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, a psychiatric disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Adderall can improve performance at school, work, and in relationships. Adderall is effective but has a large number of potential side effects, so proper dosage is a highly important issue.
Adderall
Adderall works soon after ingestion, but only lasts approximately four hours, leading to Adderall dosing two or even three times a day. The starting dose of Adderall is 5 mg twice a day, while the max dosage is 30 mg twice a day.
Adderall XR
Adderall XR is the extended release version of Adderall, and only needs to be taken once a day. Adderall XR comes in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mg tablets. A single 20-mg dose of Adderall XR is comparable to two doses of 10-mg Adderall spaced four hours apart. For children, the starting dose of Adderall XR is 10 mg/day, with dosage increasing if necessary in 5- to 10-mg increments per week with a maximum dose of 30 mg/day. For teens, the starting dose of Adderall XR is 10 mg/day and for adults, the starting dose is 20 mg/day.
Dosing Considerations
With higher doses of Adderall, management of ADHD symptoms may be more effective. However, side effects of Adderall are also greater with higher doses. Common side effects include nervousness, stomachache, insomnia, and appetite suppression. Adderall also has high abuse potential, and those with substance abuse problems should be put on lower doses of the drug.
Drug Holidays
Due to numerous side effects of Adderall and abuse potential, many patients take doctor-recommended "drug holidays" on the weekends, or on school or work holidays. Adderall may cause slowing of growth in children, so drug holidays can be important for growth catchup so height is not negatively affected.
References
- The Merck Manual
- Adderal XR Prescribing Information
- "What Your Patients Need to Know about Psychiatric Medications," Robert H. Chew, Robert E. Hales, and Stuart C. Yudofsky; 2009
