Generic Adderall XR in the US

Hi,
Yes you can – in the US now.
Dr. Kenny

I too went to the pharmacy today to get my Adderall XR filled and was asked if I wanted the generic. I said no, that I would stick with what I have been taking for the past two years. I was told that they just got the generic last week and that some insurance companies would only fill the generic. My pharmacist tried to fill my Rx with Addreall XR but the insurance co came back saying that I had to try or test the generic. It made me feel like a lab rat! I filled it with the generic, which only saved my $5. She told me that I could get my Dr to say that the brand name was medically necessary, which I plan on doing, but in the meantime, I somewhat freaking out. I’m scared and afraid to take the generic because it’s different that what I’m used to. Have there been any different side effects with the generic? Has anyone experienced anything different? Is it the same exact chemical make-up? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

what is the price difference between adderallxr brand name and generic brand

I just got my script filled for my generic substitute.

25mg XR’s usually cost me about $500 per month.

Generic version is $150 per month.

I almost threw a party!

The generic is available now in NY, Here is the amazing story. Shire makes adderall xr . Rcently they settled a law suit and agreed to let Barr pharmaceuticals infringe on the Shire patent and make and market generic adderall Xr as of April 1, 2009. 9 instead of 2019)

Here is the funny part. For now Shire is supplying Barr with the Adderall XR !!!!!

I couldn’t believe it and just went on the Barr website and looked up the drug and called the consumer hotline and they confirmed it is true.

So for the next 6 months or so until Barr gets it’s own manufacturing going, you get the Shire manufactured Adderall Xr at a really cheap price !

I just started in on the generic today and so far it feels great (meaning the same as before). On my insurance I pay a standard co-pay of $40 for brandname Adderall XR. The new generic cost me $10!!! Not a big deal to some folks but I don’t make a ton of money and this was a pleasant surprise.

I have been taking the generic Adderall XR for about a week now, after using the brand name for about 6 years. I definitely notice a difference. Since day one I have had moderate to severe stomach discomfort, along with intermittent bouts of nausea. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

The Generic doesn’t treat me any different than the Brand Name but I also read that there is NO difference between the two because Shire was actually making the Generic’s for Teva for the next 6 months as per their contract, but since I read this online, THIS INFO MIGHT BE WRONG.

I pay out of pocket for my meds so the Generic version of XR finally being an option is amazing!

I’m not trying to sell this site by any means but since I pay out of pocket and I’m always looking for ways to pay less at the pharmacy, I ran across this site called 1020RX.com that helps negotiate a different price with the pharmacies. And it actually works (I went to ripoffreport.com and the BBB.org before paying), I pay $14.99 a month and it cut my Generic price for 30 25mg from $160 to $100.

They advertise a lot of their discounts to run $10, $20, $30 and $40 for most meds, but that’s only on select ones. The Adderall’s and Generic Addy’s are obviously out of that range but they negotiate a lower price (I called to ask how they get their pricing and to make sure they didn’t charge an extra fee EVERY time you pick up meds -and they don’t, just once a month 14.99.)

If you go to their site you can go to their ‘drug search’ and enter the info -what meds you want, amount, MG etc. and they show you how much you’ll pay with their discount and show you Generic versions that will get you more of a discount (if you’re searching for the new Generic Adderall XR available, it’s under ‘DEXTROAMPHETAMINE-AMPHETAMINE’). It also shows you the participating pharmacies in your area and their price differences (I usually get mine from Walmart but I found out CVS is cheaper $100vs$135)

I do a lot of research before I commit to anything, especially online, so I would tell you to do the same if you’re interested in their service.

Other than that, Generic Add XR is awesome.

LOL! That was supposed to say ‘it’s all in your head,’ not ‘it’s all your my head.’

I’ve been taking the new generic xr for about 3 weeks now. I have been on Adderall XR for almost 3 years now, and I have never experienced any insomnia, hypertension, or anything too severe.

After 2 weeks of taking the generic, i have started to feel a difference. First, I had a terrible pain in my left shoulder and arm for a couple of days, which I am worried might’ve been a small MI. Now, I am experiencing sharp pains in my chest that i could only associate with pericarditis symptoms, which is basically pain when taking deep breaths, pain when laying down, and pain when laughing.
I was in class taking a test, and I felt so badly that I couldn’t stand up to turn my paper in.

It’s horrible and I am definitely changing back to brand name. If it’s true that for the next six months its the same product as the brand name, then I have no idea what could cause my recent chest pains (heart problems), I am only 21. Please be careful if you are buying this medication for children, don’t switch if there’s no need to.

i have not taken any adderol at all untill a coupple weeks ago. I had taken ritalin for six years while in elementary and part of high school, for ADD. I started college in january and found it very diffacult to concentrate, so i asked my Doctor to perscribe me with something for ADD, and he put me on straterra. It made me imppotent, caused bladder constriction, and me very jittery, like i had drank two pots of extra strong coffey!!! So i went back to my doctor about two weeks after my perscription had run out, by then the drug was completely out of my system and I felt completely normal again. I told the Doctor about the side affects, and he then perscribed me with the generic form of Addreall. I have been takeing it for two weeks now and have experienced constipation, appetite loss, and can’t seem to get to sleep until one or two in the morning. i think i will ask my Dr. to get me the name brand Adderall and see if the symptoms go away. I will finish the whole perscription to see if the side affects decrease over time.
The drug i am takeing is manufactured by Barr Labs and is infact produced by them, not by CIGNA. I whish I could just get my old ritalin back!!! As long as you didn’t take it after lunch time, it had no noticable side affects.

I was switched to the generic for Adderal XR and I notice a big difference. The worst part is that it used to lift my mood a little bit. Now I feel like I have a nasty disposition, etc. although I try to keep it under wraps. I have been upemployed so I have been working a lot on sending in resumes’ etc. and wasn’t able to to do anything. My provider gave me a “Dispense as Written” prescription but the insurance company has rejected it so she has filled in paper work with the company to get an exception. She will repeal if they turn it down. In the mean time I am going on like this I checked the formulary and they say they will dispense the brand Adderal XR only for those under 22 years old. Why would they do this? It seems like discrimination to me. It’s definitely not working. I can’t focus. I read on Yahoo something about Adderal XR and the generic being the same stuff but what is different is the smoothness with which the timed release works, if it works. This makes some sense to me but this sure is a mess and is happening at the wrong time for me. Good luck everyone. I was happy too when I picked it up and it was cheaper but it is definately not worth it for me.

I have been taking Adderall XR for a few months and with insurance it has cost me $25/month. Yesterday I filled my month’s prescription and it cost $69 with insurance, apparently because there is a generic available now. Well, apparently my pharmacy in Jackson Hole, WY doesn’t have it yet. When will it be available? I can’t afford $70/month!

To all those out there, control yourselves. Some of you act like crack-feens and some of you are actually appreciative of the fact that Adderall has finally come out with a generic version. For those who are taking Adderall, you’re already suppose to have an IQ higher than the average man out there. So do this. Do some research. Yes, a lot of these responses are quite ridiculas. There is no differences in the actual drug administered into the little tiny balls you ingest. It is only the taste and the pigment color in which is different.

Now, could we do something….like make sure that the people who are actually on Adderall to take that psychological IQ boost and use it towards actual research rather that complaining about the fact that you’re taking something different? Seriously, why are you on the medication, if you’re not using it to benefit your reactions, and to benefit your mental IQ??? If you seriously notice your body reacting differently, you need to go back to your doctor and talk to him or her about your symptoms changing, because you’re not suppose to be on Adderall. You’re on a psychological altering drug, and if you do not have ADHD or ADD, you are letting your dopamine levels to change based off of the drug.

The drug-(Adderall) is nothing but a dopamine booster for individuals with ADD. For those without ADD, its legal methamphetamines, and you should not be on this medication. Get the hell off of the drug, and quit being the individual whom makes our medication look bad for society. Because this drug was meant to help our brain dysfunctions. Increase our IQ’s. Take people who grew up in families that didn’t raise them properly with food and the right nutrients to allow our brains to grow and function properly. I’m not a victim. I’m a person who is solving my problems, and just like gun control, I expect the drug I am taking to be taken seriously. Very seriously. If you were meant to be on this drug, you wouldn’t let your brain to alter just because you got the generic version.

I am extremely huge on this, because there is one drug out there that I can’t get my hands on that my brain requires for the performance I’ve seen to eliminate anxiety. And I can’t get this specific medication because people have taken vicodin and completely taken its, “euphoric feeling of well-being,” effect, and completely took it out of context. Now, doctors won’t even believe me to just try to see the effects on my brain and my brain patterns. Doctors completely forgot about neurotic brain cells, and that, even though someones dopamine levels may be low, doesn’t mean that Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Paroxetine (Paxil), or Sertraline (Zoloft), all anti-depressants, are the only things that a doctor says are acceptable in my brain for my serotonin levels also. In other words, those who are taking the generic version of Adderall, and you claim that it is magically different, think again. Get off the drug. Because if you don’t, you’re eventually going to ruin it for everyone else who actually needs to be on the medication.

For More information about generic medication – and the differences – read this article that I wrote some time ago:
http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medication-are-generics-the-same/
Best,
Dr. Kenny

I have taken adderall xr for 4 years now, and got the generic this month. I have noticed it affects me a little different than the oroginal. Like the good doctor stated in his article, it can effect people sensitive to meds differently. I dont feel the same way I do with the original for some reason. I am willing to give it some time, well have to since I have a month supply now. Thanks for you OPINION Isa, but that is how it works with you. Dont down on those that find help with adderall.

The generic is not the same in this case for my son. We have been on it for 2 weeks and it has been the worst two weeks of our lives.. He is extremely aggitated and angry while the meds wear off ..something we never saw with Adderall XR. He has developed some hand twisting repetitive movements we have not seen on the Adderall. His teachers are telling me he is not as focused..and seems so out of it in his own world enough for me… He is happily back on Adderall xr..we are out $175..but it was the best $175 we have spent.. I dont thinks insurance comapnies should have any right to charge extra when you get a RAW order from the doctor..

I have a 7 yr. old grandson that I have custody of, and he is on AdderallXR. I just got the generic yesterday and gave him 1. He was awake all night and may have slept an hour this morning. He told me his stomach was quizzy(queasy)and I kept him home from school today due to lack of sleep. He is laying around, unlike his usual behaviour, and irritable. He needs this med as he is ADHD, and cannot concentrate, and becomes cranky, and hard to deal with. I was so concerned about this, I looked up this site to see what’s going on. He was fine until he took the generic. He is argumentative and just generally miserable. I should also mention he has an auto immune disorder from birth, but seems to be doing better these days.He is laying in his bed as I write..He stayed in his bed the entire night from 9pm, but never slept! Someone please tell me if this is shortlived as I don’t believe he has any choice in meds as he is a Medicaid kid…

Funny …when I had my May prescription filled for adderall xr 30 the Target Pharmacy substituted the new generic I was thrilled because my co pay was now $5.00 instead of $20.00. On Thursday when I went to get my new prescription filled the Target pharmacist told me my copay was $50.00 – I said what happened to the $5.00 generic? She told me there was some kind of issue and the generic isn’t an exact substitute so they can’t automatically substitute – so my dr would need to write a prescription specifically for the generic. Meanwhile back at the Ranch….the insurance company was quick to update the formulary – so that now instead of my $20 co pay – I’m being charged $50. Ticks me off beyond belief.

Last month I had my Adderall XR prescription filled as normal, but had no idea that it was switched to generic. I could not figure out why I was not feeling well (couldn’t focus, groggy, etc.) Then one day I noticed the generic word on my prescription bottle & figured out what was going on! Anyway, it was an ordeal, but I’m back on name-brand Adderall & feel back to normal. Here’s the catcher – I have BCBS of Alabama and the generic Adderall XR is $60 and the name-brand is now $30! Apparantly BCBS now prefers the name-brand to the generic!!

Fun facts:

- Shire produces Adderall XR and they also produce Vyvance.
- Shire made an agreement with BARR (subsidary of Teva) giving them 100% exclusive rights to the generic version of Adderall XR 180 days earlier than any other company can.
- During this 180 days, Shire will actually supply the generic version of Adderall XR to Teva.

Think about it, you have all these people complaining to their doctors about the generic Adderall XR. The doctor tells them of a similar, “new and improved” medicine called Vyvanse and switches you to the new and improved medicine… Shire wins. Other option, he writes you a script with for a NO GENERIC Adderall XR… again Shire wins, assuming your insurance company will pay. The Vyvance is expensive, about the same as the Adderall XR; but at least if you have insurance they will cover it… most insurance companies will not cover a “designer” drug if a “generic” version is available.

Either there are a lot of people who are having “false” side-effects from the generic Adderall XR; after all it is being supplied by the company that actually makes Adderall XR so it should be identical… or perhaps there is a little tweak in the formula of the Adderall XR that Shire is supplying to Teva; purposly; to get as many of the Addy patients on their Vyvance before the Adderall XR truely becomes generic later this year. Vyvanse will not have a generic for years to come and is actually cheaper to make than the Adderall XR… and once again Shire wins… their goal is to make Vyvanse the #1 ADD/ADHD drug and to capture 50% of the $3+ billion dollar ADD/ADHD market.

All of that said… I do prefer the Vyvanse over the Adderall XR. Both have worked very well for me and there are pro’s and con’s to both. For me, the Vyvanse has a smoother and more consistant effect that allows me to get through the entire work day.

Isa states that Adderall is legal methamphetamine. A friend of mine told me this too. If you look at the ingredients, it does not contain methamphetamine – it contains dextroamphetamines and a bunch of other amphetamine salts, but not methamphetamine. It is an important difference. If something gets repeated enough, people start to believe it is a fact.

I just started taking the generic version two weeks ago, and ever since that day I’ve been feeling tired and unfocused. Others have noticed a difference in my behavior and my work. I think it also has been irritating my stomach. At first I thought I ate something bad, but it’s been going on everyday since I first started taking it. Now that I’m reading other people’s posts experiencing similar symptons,I’m almost sure it’s the medication.

I’m definitely tell my doctor to specifically prescribe the brand version, and not to allow substitutions. I’ll pay more if I have to.

I have been purchasing Adderral xr, with no insurance ofset, for my adult son for about 5 years now. In January of this year the price jumped to almost $400/month, here in California. I sent Teva an e-mail in April asking about a generic (I also had read about the law suit settlement), and was told then that it had no plans to produce a generic. From reading the emails here, it appears that in fact there is a generic available from Teva (although produced by Shire), although it appears to have some adverse side effects.
Does anyone know if the generic Adderall xr (called amphetamine dextroamphetamine extended release capsules) is availabe in California through any of Walgreens, Safeway or Costco?
Any information would be appreciated.

Sorry- I didn’t see someone else had posted something to the effect of my last comment. (I’m at work and haven’t had my meds today

This message is for JennB. I’m a pharmacy technician, well I use to work in a pharmacy now i’m a nurse technician working on my BSN in nursing. Anyway, its not the government that decides what medication to give out. Well in a small way yes they do but here’s the inner workings of a pharmacy and insurance for you to think about. 90% of insurance companies want to make money, so by doing this they usually only pay for generic medications if there is one available. This is called “Formulary” medications. its a list of meds that are approved for whatever you have that the insurance company will cover. So if you have asthma and you need Proventil (the generic is albuterol) if the FDA approves albuterol as a substitute for Proventil (which is does) then your insurance will pay for only the cheaper of the two meds because according to the FDA they work the same. That’s where the government comes in. They regulate the FDA and the FDA has a lot of rules and regulations, on of which states that if a pharmacy is billing for 10 pills of Adderal XR generic with an NDC# of 11111-22-3333 then they have to dispence exactly that. if you insurance covers only 10 pills of Adderal XR generic with NDC# 11111-22-3334 then they pharmacy can only dispence what the insurance is paying for. NDC# stands for National Drug Code, its on all medications both over the counter and prescription. its equal to a UPC code on almost everything that you buy. So anyway, its a mix of both your insurance company and our government that decide what meds we take.

Sue,
I’m sorry to hear that the generic adderall doesn’t work well for you.
In my article above, I explain that for most people there isn’t a difference – but there is for some people.
Unfortunately, that includes you.
I hope the discussion on this page can help you to find some ideas to help you in getting the regular Adderall XR again.
Best,
Dr. Kenny

Do you people realize that the generic form of adderall xr is the exact same as the the brand name one? Shire has the patent until 2019. The gave Barr the rights to sell Adderall xr for 180 days in the same form as the brand name. The reason you shold understand it is the same is because of how the pill looks. Generics can’t look the same. This pill is the exact same. Before you make these claims do some reseach.

Frank… maybe you should do some reasearch… Dr. Kenny says it right in the foward to this blog “Generic drug manufacturers are able to have a minor variation in how much of the medicine will be absorbed.” Just cause Shire is making it; as a generic, they can have these “minor variations”. You think a multi-billion dollar pharmacutical company is stupid; they are essentially losing the patent in October 2009… thats when any company can make it… either they make the current subscribers think they must have the “non-generic” Adderall XR or even get em switched over to Vyvance, which they also make, and which the patent does not run out for years to come. I find it hard to believe that all these people are just “imagining” these symptoms.

Plus… shire has atleast 2 different markings for each dosage of Adderall XR. Can anyone tell me if the markings are the same on the generic as the non-generic? “ADDERALL XR / XXmg”, “SHIRE 381 / XXmg”… anything different?

I have been taking the generic adderall xr for about two weeks. Until today, I did not even know there was a generic version available. Every afternoon I have been experiencing headaches, dizziness, and increased heart rate. Oddly, these symptoms coincide with lethargy and tiredness. The heart palpitations got so bad this afternoon, I looked into adderall side effects online and found out that there is a generic verson now. Lo and behold, that is exactly what I was given – without being told. Needless to say, I hope that Shire still makes their “old” version, and not just the version they are supplying to Teva. I will pay for it myself if I have to, but I certainly can’t continue with the “generic” version. Scary…..

I was just recently diagnosed with adhd. So my doctor tested me, for a few days on adderall xr–starting at 5mg and increasing 5mg accordingly to my ability to work/take a test. We decided on 25mg. On the day I took 25mg, I felt great, focused, I didn’t get bored or side-tracked so easily. I did so much better at my job (I actually met my days quota). So I was delighted to know that my life will get better. My doctor gave me two adderal xr 25mg for me to take, while I had to wait for the insurance approval for my prescription. I took the pills for two days after, and I’m been improving tremendously at my job. When I got my prescription finally filled, they told me it was generic. I didn’t mind because it was only $10 (who doesn’t mind saving money, right?) I’ve been taking amphetamine salts er 25mg for about a week now and I hate it. I don’t know if its early for me to compare brand vs generic, but for me–its not working. I get irritated easily, my mind wonders to do other things when I was at work, I get major dizziness headaches, cramping/aches in my stomach, and I get the chills every now and then… I didn’t have these side effects on adderall xr.

I know I’m not like everyone else who has taken adderall for months and years, but I don’t feel like its working for me(either) so I’m a bit bummed. I’m trying to have a positive outlook on this generic medication, but it doesn’t make me feel positive.

Dr. Kenney I have been using AdderallXR and paying $75 a month for many years. On July 10, 2009 I went to my pharmacy and thought I would try the new generic Mixed Amphetamine Salt ER or Amphetamine ER. Blue Cross took Addxr off their formulary two years ago and my doctor submitted a prior authorization and it was granted. BC considers this a non-preferred brand medication because it is not on their formulary. All of my generic meds under BC are $9. BC is forcing me to pay $75 for either the generic or brand med. They are refusing to allow me to pay $9 for the generic. I know it is all about greed. BC does not want me paying $9 for a $275 pharmacy cost. I have worked in the legal/medical profession and they keep trying to create a new benefit plan by using creative language that does not exist within their benefit book. All I needed was to lower my med expenses from $75 to $9. I filed a complaint with Medicare. It is very frustrating when an insurance co refuses to abide by their own company guidlines and contractual obligations which they expect you to do so. Everyone contact your Fed reps and Pres. obama. Get the hands of these Insurance cos out of the medical health care Industry.

I too have found generic DOES NOT WORK!!! Not just with Adderall, ALL GENERICS. Think about it, if they really were the exact same thing why would brand name even be in business anymore.

I have been on Adderall XR for 3 years I am currently on 50mg a day. I recieved the generic back in April didnt think anything about it. I started to notice I had been getting really bad headaches daily and around the same time in the evening I also had chest pains.It felt as if to much was hitting me at one time. Keeping track of this the headaches came on 20 minutes after taking my meds, the chest discomfort followed. I went to speak to the pharmicist who explained that adderall was supplying the other company BUT the capsule(shell) was made by the generic manufacturer and that might have been the cause the way that capsule breaks up releasing the time controlled meds

OK this has taken sometime to figurer out. But here are my findings. Teva USA and Barr have merged they are one company. I have been taking Shire’s Adderall XR 20Mg for about 5 years It works wonders for me. Last month my script was filled with Barr’s generic adderall, I did not know it was generic until I looked at the bottle yesterday. However I have had Diarrhea for the last month and a half. I’ve been edgy and I’m grinding my teeth again (I have not for 5 years) I’m less productive. Sunday (2 days ago) i went to the ER for Blood (more Blood then poop) in my diarrhea. on monday having spent the night in the ER i forgot to take my Adderall then at 5 pm My wife called a friend of hers who also uses Adderall XR 20mg She was telling her that the doctors are trying to figure out what is wrong with her, she has been bleeding from her butt. Humm. my wife said this to me as i was reaching for a glass (my adderall is in this cupboard) I gasped when I said to her The only thing that has is my prescription to generic. Humm so I started searching. Here is what i found. Teva website states that 6 % of people who use this get uncontrollable DIARRHEA, Shire’s has none???? Teva states that they have changed the capsulation formula of adderall to avoid paten issues.

I urge you all to google”FDA formulation for Adderall XR by Teva” and report any issues you have to the FDA the submissions form is completely done online.

It is OUR voice that can make differences.. LETS use it

Steve

My daughter has been taking Adderall XR 30mg for a year now. This week we switched to the generic. She has had lots of trouble with her stomach and crazy mood swings in the morning. Her teacher thinks it is taking a lot longer for it to kick in now. She had no idea we had switched, and came to me to ask what was different. I haven’t seen my daughter have these problems since before she was on the Adderall. Something is wrong with it. I DO NOT think the generic is the same for this medication. I am all about saving money, and have never had a problem with generic medications before, but this one is Not ok.
Kara

I had unknowingly switched from brand XR to generic XR one month. Felt like something was different after the first few days of taking the new bottle, like I was not being covered the entire day. Also had some dizziness in the evening that usually only comes in the morning upon awakening before taking my next dose (kinda feels like a mild hang-over but without the nausea or headache, just dizzy). After another couple of days noted increased side-effects- increased tremor, palpitations, sweating and agitation. My wife noted the lower cost of my medication (by $35) on the grocery list and at that time realized I had been given the generic. A few days after that the palpitations became more frequent, lasted longer (like runs of dysrhythmia) and became painful! I called the pharmacy and had it approved to change back to brand name, but now have to pay difference ($80 instead of $5)unless my physician approves it for medical reasons. I have spent hours on the phone with both Shire and Barr. Shire actually had me talk to a nurse about my side-effects. I have done some research on my own but have not found an explanation yet. Supposedly the rating and make for the two medications are the same but I am hearing more people complain about the generic. I am wondering if there is a difference in the racemic chemistry or the addition of fillers which might affect the absorption or metabolism of the medication or it’s constituent metabolites. A higher levoamphetamine percentage in the mixture for instance would increased the cardivascular side-effects, however no one at Shire or Barr could confirm this. I agree Shire has every reason not to make the generic medication it supplies to Barr exactly the same! I also found it interesting that Shire and not Barr was conducting the adverse reaction study with regards to the generic form. I am a physician myself and in addition to using this medication I have prescribed both the generic and brand IR forms (but not the XR generic form to date) to my own patients. My expereince is that if the patient was started on the generic they generally do fine, but if they were switched from brand to generic there were problems about 70% of the time or so it seemed. There are some general rules of thumb in the medical arena, a couple of which are; one- don’t fu*! with the pancrease, and two- don’t change psych or cardiac meds from brand to generic if at all possible and/or at least without very close supervison!! I can’t begin to count the number of times I have had patients experience break-thru seizures after being changed from Brand name Dilantin to the generic phenytoin! So to the response above, I don’t believe this to be placebo effect! I would actually love to take the generic if it was tolerable since taking the brand is costing $75 more per month!

This is a response to my own comment made on May 2, 2009. I stated that there is no difference between the generic and brand versions of Adderall XR; I’d like to revise my statement.

I have been on Adderall XR for over 6 years now until this past May.

There is ABSOLUTELY a HUGE difference between the two. I have reached this conclusion after analyzing my behavior over the past 3 months on the generic form.

One month after starting the generic Adderall XR, I got hired at my first job in my new career field… only to get fired 2 weeks later because I couldn’t focus on anything, my behavior was erratic, and I kept forgetting what I was doing – what day it was, I was just overall confused. I have even experienced some Alzheimer’s type moments:

I was driving home from work one day, when, all of a sudden I couldn’t remember how to get home. I knew where I was, but I just couldn’t comprehend where I was and why I felt like I was going the wrong way, so I exited the freeway, drove around in circles for about 45 minutes, then got back on the freeway going the wrong direction! I had to call my boyfriend and have him direct me on how to get home. (I had been going the right way to begin with before I exited the freeway).

A few days later, on my way to work, I got lost again… took the wrong exit off the freeway, and ended up getting lost in the desert. Needless to say, I was late to work… which was one of the reasons I ended up getting fired.

My main issue is; I’ll have an idea, get up to do it – then forget why I got up, start doing something else, then remember why I got up for to begin with, then go to do that, then forget again and start doing something else… this is a viscous cycle! I’m only 28 years old and I feel like I’m on the verge of dementia sometimes, and quite frankly, it’s freaking me the f*ck out!

I’m also experiencing severe anxiety and insomnia, so severe, that I’ve gone from taking 0.5mg of alprazolam once a day for the past year, to up to 3mg alprazolam a day 2 months after starting the generic. If I had taken that amount while on brand Adderall XR, I would have been passed out for 2 days straight. I saw my Psych, who switched me from alprazolam to clonazepam. The anxiety is gone, but now I can’t stop crying… I have been having crying spells for almost 3 days now, crying an average of 4-5 hours a day. I still feel confused, and can’t focus, but at least I’m able to sleep again.

So all you folks out there who are experiencing major side effects, you’re not alone, and for a lot of you – it’s not all in your head.

Some people are just very sensitive to additives and fillers, and for me, one manufacturer’s formula can affect me totally different than another manufacturer’s… not just with Adderall, but I’ve experienced this problem with many prescription and OTC medications.

Good luck to all of you.

It would seem funny if there wasn’t so much at stake for most of us, money being the last, our health being the first. Anyway the irony of this is that it’s been considered a wonder drug for students and people who are motivated to want to learn, and the results have been quite asonishing. So, to try and tell a bunch of super thinkers they’re ‘just imagining’ things is either foolish or shows it doesn’t matter what we say or do – since most people have and will go out of there way to find facts and information that’s undeniable. Keeping this short, ironic yes…helpful, probably not. It’s amazing how much trust I’ve lost in health care. Good luck everyone.

Im very lost. My son’s meds keep going up. My insurance keeps telling me that the generic drug is not an generic drug so i cant get it. Im paying each month more and more.
I

I just started taking the generic 10mg XR- I could tell a difference right away with my ability to focus and stay on task. But I can’t sleep at night, but then I always have trouble sleeping- my brain keeps thinking about everything! Ugh!
My problem is that my insurance stops in a month and I want to continue the med so I can get through school easier. Is it really going to cost me $100+ a month to stay on stuff? Can I stock up on my prescription somehow before the insurance runs out?

My daughter needs the adderall and the prozac. she was on the medicaid and now they just cancelled us and said we have to pay 1000 a month first. we dont have this money because my husband was laid off in January of 2009 and I finally got a job but it pays only 8 an hour and I have only been getting jobs once or twice a week. We are waiting to hear if she is approved for the Florida Kid Care, but it takes 6 weeks or more and she has already been without it for 2 weeks while we have been trying to take care of this. Is there anywhere we can get temporary help with this until the other plan decides what to do. Any information you can give would be very help

I have also felt a huge difference between the two. I get very sick off the generic, huge anxiety attacks and diarrhea. I need to go back to the regular stuff, no matter what the cost. I tossed my prescriptions twice, tried taking time off and realized after all efforts, this stuff is POISON TO MY BODY and it looks like the vote is unanimous after reading all of the above comments. This generic version is hurting us all, so we should make a stink! Being that we can’t contact eachother here, feel free to contact me at amycarney@gmail.com and we can all try to fight to get the generic stuff looked at somehow or tweaked, because it is terrible! I too was in a terrible mood, my head was FOGGY, my stomach hurt, I had NO appetite at all (atleast on Adderall XR I had more of an appetite), I was HOSPITALIZED for low magnesium, potassium, and low electrolites DUE to this generic, and I even lowered by dosage to 5 mg! I am a 130 pound 32 yr old Female, very healthy… I wore a heart monitor over a weekend and was diagnosed with irregular heartbeat (my heart started pausing, then beat-beat-beat PUMP), it was all very scary. Also, by the end of my day, I was too tired and anxious to move. I would just lay on the couch, and I have two little boys I need to take care of, that is not the quality of life I want to live, nor should my children have to witness me looking/feeling like this just because mommy has ADHD and is trying to get through her day, which I obviously am NOT… I called my pharmacy and he made me feel really stupid. I asked if anyone else had mentioned a difference and he said no…

For all of you who say the generic is the same…I know my body pretty good and the generic is not the same. All people react differently. Since my insurance switched me to generic it does not last as long, I have a “coming down” feeling and it makes me feel like crap, and nauseated very often. I am fed up and will be contacting my insurance but will more than likely loose that battle.

My 17 year old high school senior just got switched to generics and it is not the same for her. She is overwhelmed, unfocused and having a hard time sleeping. I also take adderall – I didn’t realize that I was on the generic since July. I started a new assignment at work in July and have been having a terrible time with organization (to the point my manager called out my lack of organization twice since July.) I was very forgetful – I’d start to do something then forget what it was I was trying to do. I was also extremely irritable. I was blaming myself for the issues I was having as a thinking problem – me being stupid again. I’m going to write to the FDAThis is scary.

I live in Texas and I have been taking Vyvanse 70mg for over a year & paying $60/mo. w/ BCBS insurance. A friend told me that she took Adderall XR & that it was offered as a generic. I found that it did go generic in April 2009, and I asked my doctor if I could try it instead, since I could get the generic at a cheaper price. I got the Rx and dropped it off to CVS, but when I went to pick it up I was told that my insurance company does not recognize it as generic. Since I was out of meds, I had no choice but to get the brand name at the $60 price. My friend has a different insurance company, but I saw her meds and it was a generic form of Adderall XR. If the Adderall XR is available in generic, why doesn’t BCBS offer it at a generic price?

OK. Update from Misty…

I started another new job 3 weeks ago. A very easy job, in fact, all I had to do was verify prescriptions all day.

Unfortunately, I can’t focus whatsoever anymore, and low and behold, I get fired again today… and don’t get me wrong, I am a very hard worker and devote my full attention to the task at hand… problem was, I didn’t have any attention/focus left in me. I tried so hard to force myself to pay attention (it was excruciating), but that just made me fall behind the other employees. I had to run to the restroom often because I was so beyond frustrated that I would start to cry, I felt/feel so useless… my stats were so low, and I’m used to being one of the best in any job because of my dedication/hard work/and attention to detail.

This generic XR is CRAP, it doesn’t work… in fact, it makes me feel like I have Alzheimer’s, I have even debated going in to see if I need to be put on Aricept because I’m just not “with it” anymore. It literally feels like my brain is deteriorating, but if I don’t take it, I get very obnoxious and act impulsively… something I never wanted to experience again after going through childhood and my teenage years untreated for my ADHD/OCD.

So now I am freaking out… gosh I feel so alone. No one I know understands what I’m going through, and even my psychiatrist can’t do much about it because we would have to jump through loops to get a DAW (not to mention she keeps forgetting, guhhh). I have even queried Vyvanse intermittently for the past year it seems like… but she insists she has never heard of it, which seems rather odd to me.

Oh, I forgot to mention. Since I last posted, I have been getting bouts of nausea, photo-sensitivity, and terrible migraines. The insomnia has subsided, but I’m still having to take 0.25mg-1mg Xanax (divided doses) throughout the day! I’ve only taken 0.5mg Xanax before bed for the past 6 years or so, so to have to take that amount during the day because of this generic Adderall XR is beyond me.

I’d like to stop taking these pills cold turkey, the only thing is I’ve done that a few times before, and I always end up getting into some sort of trouble…

Anyhoo, I’m rambling and need to hit the hay now.

Good luck everyone, and if you would like, you can email me at mistymu@cox.net

I was recently diagnosed with ADD and I’m going through the early stages of additional testing and figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t. My doctor started me out on 5mg of generic Ritalin, which was horrible. My skin would “crawl”, my stomach was always nauseous, I felt a noticeable “crash” near the end of the day and by the time I got home from work I was an irritable bastard and I got nothing therapeutic out it. So my doctor switched me over to Adderall XR, but I found out when I got to the pharmacy that even with my insurance it was $198!! I can’t afford that, so I asked about the generic. I was told by the pharmacist, as well as my doctor, that there is no real generic available at this time. There’s a “formula alternative”, which isn’t considered a true generic because, according to my doctor and pharmacist, the chemical make up hasn’t been proven to be exactly the same as Adderall XR by the FDA. Plus, it’s only a little bit cheaper then the Adderall brand name. So I’m in the unenviable position of being prescribed something that I can’t afford. So I either go broke trying to pay for the medication I need or I go without it and hope that I can manage my life, focus on tasks and retain what I’m doing, which was getting noticably worse and was the whole reason for me going to be tested, etc. in the first place!

Has anyone else found themselves in this position? Has anyone found any way to help with the financial burden? I know there are programs available sometimes to assist people with medications that are outrageously expensive. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I feeling a little bit lost in this whole process.

@Chris – re: financial burden

I have been unemployed since the end of July and lost my healthcare coverage at that time. Here’s some advice for you on how to afford the XR or what to do when it isn’t an option:

1. There is on PAP (prescription assistance program) for the XR because there is a generic available now. Believe me, I’ve looked.

2. Call around and ask for price quotes from different pharmacies in your area. Walmart had the best price for me, but when another generic was released, that price went up. It makes no sense to me, but that’s what happened. I was paying $275/mo and it went up to $286/mo. INSANE…that’s for the generic.

3. This month I had my doctor change me to Ritalin (generic) which also didn’t work well for me. The $6/90 pills was the only good thing about this drug. Then I had her change it to regular release Adderall which seems to work pretty well. The only difference between it and the XR is I have to take it several times a day instead of once a day.

4. Costco has the best price I could find for the regular release, generic Adderall. $35 vs. $79 (Walmart). I went to Costco.

5. Google “prescription assistance cards” and you’ll see there are tons of cards out there you can print for free. None of them really help with the Adderall (that I have found) but if you have other prescriptions, they are worth the paper to print them out.

Good Luck!

Chris,

Try contacting Shire, the manufacturer of Adderall XR and find out what their assistance programs are like. The worst they can say is no. You and your doctor could consider Vyvance (spelling?). I have heard that there is a trial going on that if you are elligible and end up participating, after the three or four week study, your medication is covered for 9 months. I believe you are compensated for your time to visit the participating doctor during the study and the study medication is covered during the study as well. During the study you may be on medication with active ingredient or placebo though. As I understand Vyvance is one of the same salts as in Adderall paired with long acting delivery system and I believe Vyvance is also manufactured by Shire. Just something for you and your doctor to consider. Good luck!

I started with taken just generic Adderall and it works absolutely fine with me. I sort of experimented with how much I should take and I have found a sweet spot. When I take it, it takes about an hour to feel anything but I become very talkative and very happy. It truly is an amazing feeling. The only real side effects I have gotten are dry mouth and less appetite, which happens with brand name as well. If you do take generic I suggest you try different doses because taking a lot doesn’t mean you’ll get smarter and taking too little doesn’t mean it will actually help. It seems that you people have very low tolerance to medicine and that taking Adderall everyday seems to be the problem for you guys. I suggest you take Adderall only when you actually need it and try to cope with what God gave you. It’s ridiculous that people take it everyday when it can cause liver damage as with any kind of drug. If you guys truly cannot live without any drug than that is truly sad but there are alternative things you can take to help with brain fog and other stuff such as fish oil pills(which I take everyday), ginko biloba, and one of my favorites “L-Tyrosine” which is an amino acid that helps you produce more dopamine. It actually gives me more energy. Also, diet and exercise is important and keeping ADD from becoming too much of a problem. It could be a simple allergy that is causing the brain fog. All I am saying is that depending on drugs when it is not life threatening is pretty bad for your health and your mind because it is guaranteed addiction the moment you say “I need adderall to do this” for every little thing. People with ADD are blessed and cursed. Because we live in a society that practically worship left-brained people we kind of feel stupid to everyone else. But we are the big thinkers that pretty much think outside the box and can see what other people cannot. Schools are pretty much based on memorization of stuff, which I think is pretty much unfair, but we have to live with it. I hope one day society can appreciate all the great thinkers that are hidden beneath the rubble one day instead of praising those who can memorize. BTW There are people with mental retardation and they are able to memorize every single thing they read. This is what society deems as smart? No way, I am glad I can think outside the box and people should be thankful for such a gift. Really, the major place you would need medicine is in school. Find work that doesn’t require memorization if that is the problem. BTW I oppose people who give adderall to kids of really young age. It’s not really necessary to give them anything to get good grades. They will pass to next grade even if they fail. High School and above is what really counts. I can’t believe there are this many crazy kids out there that need drugs to calm down. Adderall is definitely not good to give them, whether it be generic or brand. If you need to calm them down, give them tryptophan. The same stuff that is in turkey that makes people tired and calm. Seriously people, with all that adderall in your bodies try to search online for anything that could be better. I constantly do that but with generic adderall it makes it even more exciting. And I love the feeling of my heart beating quick. It is like an adrenalyn rush and it truly makes me feel alive.

BTW if you have constipation, it is so easily remedied by taking magnesium. If you actually have done some research, you would have known that taking adderall with magnesium increases effect by keeping the drug inside blood longer and that too much magnesium causes one to poop. I take moderate amount of magnesium and I poop everyday just fine even though on some days I don’t eat at all I still poop the next day because magnesium helps loosen the excrement in your intestines. LOOK IT UP PEOPLE. If you have a problem all YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK FOR REMEDY. IT IS NOT THAT HARD PEOPLE. I DID SOO MUCH RESEARCH BEFORE I ACTUALLY TOOK ADDERALL. So I wouldn’t be ignorant on how I can make it not uncomfortable for me to take it. Plus I have somewhat of a high tolerance. SO TAKE LESS IF YOU DON’T.

Editor’s note – Thanks, Aldo for your comments.
When it comes to some of the comments you’ve made, they are close to the ‘line’ of being insulting to people who participate on this blog. Because they are aimed generally at everyone, and not any one specific person, I have allowed these comments to show on the blog. I hope that your comments are taken as a starting point for discussion, rather than as insults to people who rely on their Adderall as a treatment for their ADHD (as I rely on my eye-glasses to see as I type this).
Dr. Kenny

I’ve been taking generic Adderall XR since it was introduced (April, ‘09) & it’s indistinguishable from brand for me (i.e., works well, can’t tell the difference. I’ve been on Adderall XR for a total of ~ 3 years now (recently changed dose from 15 mg/day to 10 mg/day)). Now that there are 2 generics out (Impax/Global & Teva/Barr), I do wonder when price will come down significantly. This is a medication for which there is a lot of off-label demand, & I’m sure that’s part of it; the details of the patent litigation (& legal payments (”kickbacks”?) involved) I’m sure also play a role. But I wish the antitrust/FTC people would be more aggressive in the U.S. in policing/enforcing these situations (as they do in Canada & generally in Europe) so that pricing fairness / integrity is more transparent & consistently enforced.

Question for the Doc. and everyone.

I am one of those for whom the generic from Teva/Barr did not work. Is the new one from Impax/Global any different? Is there any legal reason why the generic companies use slightly different fillers, etc. or use maybe a different mix than the original? For Aldo, it is bad news when a drug not only doesn’t work but makes one’s symptoms worse and possibly make a person more aggressive or easy to rage. This is miserable for the patient and possibly dangerous for those surrounding them or could cause a job loss. It is scarey for us who were diagnosed late and finally found what helps us. We don’t want to lose it. One thing I might try is Vyvance if it gets to that. We who have been misunderstood so much of our lives don’t need “one of us” to think that because a drug works for them it will work for all of us. Why should we waste money on a drug that makes us feel unfocused, aggressive and cause us to not be ourselves?

Hello James,

We have been through this before. I think you should read further back into the comments and you will see that the problems are way more than the placebo effect would reflext. I went to you link and if you notice it doesn’t say that Shire sent the exact same ingredients to Tevo to quote “Shire has been supplying Teva with authorized generic ADDERALL XR since April”. The authorized generic can contain different substances by a certain percent. Also, I think someone raised the point that part of the miracle of Adderal XR was when they figured out how to release just the right amounts at the right times during the day to keep us with the correct dosages for most effective treatment. Also, Shire has a vested interest in now promoting Vyvance as the best extended release ADD/ADHD medication. You have a right to what you think but I am almost certain that there is something different between the brand Adderal XR versus generic. I was really happy to get the generic and i was super disappointed when I felt so awful. I never thought there would be a difference as I take a lot of generic medication and it works fine.

I have BlueCross BlueShield as my incurance through the COBRA program and have been on Adderall XR 60mg for almost 2 years now. It cost me $100 every month to have it filled as it was still brand name. Then when April 2009 rolled around and the generic version was released, I was elated to think that I would be paying only $10 for it, like I do my other meds. But, no. The Adderall XR generic is still $100, just like the brand name.

So, since April, I’ve been receiving generic brand Adderall XR and was still paying $100 when I should only be paying $10. Can someone explain this to me because the pharmacist or my psychiatrist certainly couldn’t explain it. Nobody seems to have the answer as to why they cost the same. I’ve never encountered a situation where a generic medication cost as much or more than it’s brand name counterpart.

And on the pill it’s read adderall xr but on the bottel it’s reads amphetamine salts er

Karen, I can’t help you because I take brand name Adderal XR but since the Adderal thing seems to be so messed up, I don’t know if I will be able to get XR in the not too distant future. Adderal XR works fine.

I would like to know if you get any help for your ADD/ADHD from Pristiq? I take Effexor XR for depression and clonopin for anxiety.

I have been trying to get my Adderall XR prescription filled for 5 days now with no luck. As of January 1st, Blue Cross will no longer cover the brand name product. However, they will not cover the generic either. They actually keep telling me that it is not “FDA approved” which I know is a bunch of crap. Pharmacies would not be able to offer it if it wasn’t FDA approved. Is anyone else having this issue with Blue Cross and the generic version of Adderall XR???
Help!

Ive been on Adderall Xr for years now and I too was told months ago that I HAD to take the generic or get a prior authorization from my insurance. I was not thrilled but I gave the generic a go… not a fan. I found the generic to be very different, maybe I am just more sensitive than other/most people but I was shakey and kind of restless/anxious. I called my dr. and he told me a few other people had the same problem, I actually tried a different medication made by shire that is similar to adderall xr but metabolized differently and it was awful. Needless to say I got my prior authorization and everything was fine until I lost my insurance and had to go on the states… they have refused my prior authorization from my dr twice now and I am so aggrevated. Obviously my dr is asking for this for a reason, they aren’t drs they dont know… I think im going to appeal it and hopefully go back on brand name. In December I had to pay out of pocket for the brand name and it was $500… talk about ridiculous. In the meantime I told my dr I would give the generic another go… not looking forward to this. What really aggravates me is that the generic is like 20% cheaper… oh gee great savings.

If anyone else got denied let me know what happened/if you appealed… thanks!

I had been taking the Adderall for about 2 years when the generic came out. Like so many, I picked up perscription to find that it cost $4 instead of $60. Cool. Didn’t think anything about it just figured the generic was now available. Well, I began with extreme fatigue to the point of feeling like I needed to close my eyes from two hours after I took my medicine at 7:30 a.m. ALL DAY I was exhausted! I was bloated, easily irritated, and the worst part, spaced out. I was putting the dog snacks in the fridge, the milk in the cabanet. I couldn’t remember what I had just done or said. The constant yawning and sleepyness was enough but add in the total destruction of brain function…well. At first, I just figured my body had to get used to the generic. This went on for a full month and a half. I tried to wait it out thinking it would eventually pass but not the case. I contacted my doctor and made a mad dash to her office emotionally expressing the issues I had been having with the generic. That was four months ago and all has been fine since. Name brand Adderall XR. Check. That is until this week. Monday, I picked up my perscription. Bottle says Adderall XR, pills have Adderall XR printed on them. Guess what? It is in no way shape or form the original name brand formulation of Adderall XR. It is Friday and I am so damn sleepy, cloudy, unmotivated, out of focus, and bloated! The pharmacy says they have had no complaints. I have called the FDA Consumer Complaint hotline and am awaiting a return call. I am at my wits end now. If I can’t even trust the name brand of this drug what are my alternatives. I have both the generic and supposed name brand as the pharmacy would not take back the perscription they filled incorrectly. Is there any way to have them analyzed? Either way, if ANYONE has had the same issue, please post. I cannot reach my doctor until next Tuesday at the earliest. This is a total nightmare I assure you.

I have been calling the FDA, Shire, my pharmacist and my doctor about the generic/ Adderall XR. Shire told my pharmacist and my neurologist office that Shire is making both the generic and the Adderall XR at Shire . Shire explained to these people that there are two separate medicines going down two separate conveyors. Shire also told these professionals that the FDA has approved the packaging of the Adderall XR formula into either/or a capsule stamped with the Adderall XR on it or into a generic capsule that does not have the words Adderall XR on the capsule–and that it is okay to have the medicine bottle still labeled Adderall XR even if that is not what the capsule has on it. I called Shire and Shire tried to tell me the same thing. The woman from Shire even told me to look at the inlet(the prescription description paper that comes with the prescription) and that the inlet said the FDA approved Shire to use whatever name Shire wanted to use. I checked the inlet and so did my pharmacist. It was UNTRUE. I called and talked to the FDA twice. The FDA called Shire and then the FDA called me back. Shire told the FDA something completely opposite of what Shire had told my pharmacist and my neurologist office. Shire told the FDA that Shire was running two separate conveyors of the SAME product. Shire told the FDA that Shire was packaging the same product into capsules labeled Adderall XR and capsules not labeled Adderall XR. Shire told the FDA that Shire was now giving everyone the Adderall XR. This includes the people that are given a generic prescription. Shire’s explanation for doing this was Shire wanted to stay competitive. I won’t even pretend to understand what that is supposed to mean. Shire told the FDA to have me call Shire back and speak with a specialist who worked at Shire named Sylvia. I called Shire and was told that no one named Sylvia worked there. I called Shire at 2:00PM my time–3:00PM their time. I was told that no one could assist me and that I had reached an “after hours” phone service. I questioned why an “after hours” phone service was needed during the day and was told that EVERYONE at Shire was in a meeting together. Basically, I was blown off by Shire and by the FDA–BUT–I am not finished. This medication that I have been given SUCKS. I don’t care what name Shire puts on the capsule or what name Shire puts on the bottle–because I know that this medication is not Adderall XR.

“Shire told the FDA that Shire was now giving everyone the Adderall XR. This includes the people that are given a generic ”

I wonder if this means that there used to be separate drugs on each convair belt but they (Shire and Teva)decided to just give everyone XR either because it is cheaper when you only have to make one medicine or was the reason that the generic was giving a lot of people trouble? Maybe they found some more cost effective ingredients or a new process and they didn’t realize until people started buying them that there was a problem. They don’t have to do as much testing with generics. This is just pure speculation. Maybe everyone in the factory wasn’t told, especially customer service people, just the have-to-knows and the people on the line would know. One would hope that the company would tell the FDA the truth. It’s pretty sensitive information and who would want to admit that they made a mistake with medication that wasn’t caught until the public had problems with it? Someone could claim that their child who did something horrible or took their life did it because of this generic drug. Instead they quietly get it out of the market by just using the regular Adderall for both. This is just me sitting here in the middle of the night, speculating.