Adderall is a prescription medication marketed by Shire Pharmaceuticals, indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. Extended-release and generic formulations are also widely available, and contain the same active ingredients: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. However, there are other stimulant drugs--both prescription and illicit--similar to Adderall both in function and chemical structure.
Methylphenidate
Classified as a mild central nervous system stimulant, methylphenidate is also used to treat ADHD. Sold in generic forms as well as under well-known trade names such as Ritalin and Concerta, methylphenidate is not an amphetamine drug. It does, however, act on the brain stem's chemical arousal system to produce stimulant effects similar to those of Adderall, states DailyMed. Like Adderall, methylphenidate is a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States, meaning that it is illegal to possess without a doctor's prescription, and that a new prescription must be written for each refill of the medication.
Lisdexamfetamine
Lisdexamfetamine, brand name Vyvanse, is a formulation of dextroamphetamine, the primary active ingredient in Adderall. As a stimulant amphetamine, lisdexamfetamine is very similar to Adderall in its effect on the brain, causing increased release of the neurotransmitters--or brain chemical "messengers"--norephinephrine and dopamine. However, lisdexamfetamine is a "prodrug," which means that in pill form it is not yet converted into dextroamphetamine--that happens in the gastroinstestinal tract. This medication is used to treat ADHD as well, and due to its unique method of absorption into the body, has a longer duration of action than Adderall's mixed dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts. Lisdexamfetamine is also a Schedule II controlled substance under federal law.
Methamphetamine
A powerful amphetamine stimulant, methamphetamine shares some similarities with Adderall. Although most commonly known as an illegal drug of abuse, methamphetamine is also used--in extreme cases--to treat ADHD. According to MayoClinic.com, methamphetamine--sold as a tablet under the trade name Desoxyn--can help increase attention and reduce restlessness in people with severe ADHD. A physician may decide to use this Schedule II controlled substance to treat ADHD if she decides that it is the best option. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration reports that methamphetamine is highly addictive and toxic--especially when produced in clandestine "meth labs" for sale on the street in crystal or powdered forms.
Cocaine
Perhaps the most infamous drug that shares some similarity to Adderall, cocaine is a powerful stimulant. Although it is not a member of the amphetamine family, cocaine's stimulant effects are similar to those of amphetamines, reports the DEA--although these arise more quickly and do not last as long as those of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Cocaine is snorted, smoked or injected; abusers of Adderall often crush tablets and snort them to achieve effects more quickly. Like Adderall and other similar stimulants, cocaine has a high potential for addiction, and is also a Schedule II controlled substance.
