Generic Adderall XR in the US
ByAs of April 3, 2009, generic Adderall XR is available in the United States. It is being made by Teva Pharmaceuticals. (You can review a news report about this here.)
What Does ‘Generic’ Mean?
When a medicine is first released – it is patented by the company that invested in the research to develop it. They have a certain number of years to market the medicine exclusively. After the patent runs out – the medicine can be created by other drug manufacturers – the ‘generic’ companies – generally at a significant discount.
The analogy here is ‘Kleenex’ vs. tissue.
Kleenex is a brand of tissue. It is only made by one company. However, tissue is made by many companies.
Using this analogy – Adderall XR is the ‘Kleenex’, and generic adderall XR is the ’tissue’.
Will it work the same?
The short answer is yes. Generic drug manufacturers are able to have a minor variation in how much of the medicine will be absorbed, but for most people, this will not have an impact. In my clinical experience, a small percentage of people are sensitive to the differences and may need to have the ‘brand name’ medicine only. If that is the case, the doctor needs to write a prescription for Adderall XR NO SUBSTITUTION. When the words ‘no substitution’ are there, it tells the pharmacist that only the original Adderall XR will do.
For further information on generic medicines in ADHD, please visit this article that I’ve written previously on this topic.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you have wanted to take a newer, long acting medication like Adderall XR – it just got cheaper.
If you have insurance to pay for your medication, then this is unlikely to matter much to you. If you have to pay for your medication yourself, then it may make a difference to you.
Please remember – this news just applies to the US, as Adderall XR has not gone generic in other countries – such as Canada.
Does this impact you? Share your thoughts and comments below.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
i get really irritated when dr. kenny handelman and others like him say that the generic adderall XR is just like the brand name adderall XR, when it so clearly is not. it is a real problem when dr’s and prescribers don’t take us seriously when we tell them that generic medications have side affects that brand name medications do not have, and they do not work as well even if we forget about the added side affects. a common problem for women with ADHD that is not mentioned or written about is sensitivity to noise and smell. i am surprised by how much the adderall helped decrease that sensitivity, but now with the generic stuff, i am back to square one. i am nervous and jumpy and can’t focus, and am unable to get anything done. i just stand in the middle of the room and don’t know where to start. i take the 20 mg. capsule, and they switched on me, and didn’t say a word, because the capsules look the same. i wouldn’t have noticed except for that i just picked up my adderall that day and i noticed the difference in price. i am pissed.
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.
I started on the generic Adderall XR 30mg on June 7th and didn’t think anything about it. My son also started on the generic 20mg about the same time. I didn’t think anything about it until last week when the counselors at his day camp informed me that he was being very aggressive and got in trouble twice for fighting and for relentlessly teasing a kid. Both of these behaviors are VERY out of character for him even before medication. While thinking about any changes in his routine the change to the generic meds popped into my head. Always the skeptic I asked my wife if she had noticed any changes in MY behavior, mood, attitude, etc. in the last few weeks. Her response wasa that I was acted very angry, had a short fuse, and walked around like I had my head up my a**. My boss at work indicated that I seemed more agitated in the last few weeks. Self analysis of my work performance shows that I have been seriously slacking off compared to previous times. Plus I have been so hungry and gorging so much at work that I have put on 6 pounds in the last 3 weeks!!! This makes me think there is something seriously different about the mixture and I’m asking my dr. to put me back on the brand name. I only hope that I can get the insurance company to pay for another 3 month supply.
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
Dr. Kenny, So you are convinced this is a typical response to a generic? It’s just that I have never had a problem switching to a generic until this Adderal XR thing. Then we are told they are the same and manufactured by the same company. Something seems really wrong when people are having the opposite reaction to the med than they are supposed to. It doesn’t seem to be just a side effect to me when the pill simply doesn’t work and makes people worse for the main reason they take the medication. I can see something like digestive or a head ache maybe but the thing plain doesn’t work. This is just a new wrinkle in my life as lived so far. I am glad my doctor was able to fiddle with my insurance so that I can get the real XR but I worry about the power of the insurance companies. Respectfully, kmc
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, did you even read my comment? I stated that I was aware that we are being told it is the same thing. Well, it isn’t. Either the ingredients are different or something is wrong with the release mechanism so that we are not getting a smooth amount as the day goes on or it isn’t releasing at all. I did this research by taking the pill itself. I wish it worked for me. It would be cheaper and i wouldn’t have had to go through the hassle of getting the nongeneric form by having my doctor send in a special request. I have been screening the internet to see what the deal is. My doctor said there has been problems other than mine. kc
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 just got on amphetamine salts er 20 mg cbrr substitution for adderall and it doesnt seem to be working for me.I still cant focus,my mind still cloudy i’ve even increased to 40mg and i just feel restless and cant sleep,unfortunately for me my insurance will not cover because i’m too old lol 40 and it will only cover up to the age18.so i paid the generic.cost a merely 174.00 at cvs ouch does anyone know how much the brand is? btw it doesnt make me less hungry just restless….aaauuurrrghh
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…..
Check with the doctor and see if he/she can fill out a form and send it to your insurance company stating that medicine you are on doesn’t work and ask them to cover the medicine that does work. It worked for me Good luck. kc
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.
has anyone found that generic adderall is at all effective?
i really want to give this medication a chance. and all i read are not so great reviews for generic. i’ve been taking it and it feels like i’m taking nothing, and i think everyone is feeling the same. but is there anyone that it is working for?
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.
Why use a drug with 25% L-amphetamine and 75% D-amphetamine when you can have Dexedrine and 100% D-amphetamine without the cardiovascular hazards of L-amphetamine?
Thats make me really interesed!
L-Amphetamine is not at al so effective as D-Aphetamine in treatment of ADHD symptoms , right?
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 aying a $20.00 copay for the adderall xr now today I got it filled without knowing they gave me generic and the co pay is $35.00 now what the hell paying more for generic? Doesn’t seem right to me I will be getting the doctor to write no generic on next script
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
I am a big fan of generics and was more than thrilled to switch to the generic brand Adderall XR. I buy generic everything!
I must say I have had TERRIBLE headaches at the back of the head or base of neck and back of head. I cannot shake them through anything but constant Ibuprofen. I am glad to hear I am not alone. The headaches get worse if I have any caffeine. I’m calling my Doctor and hope my insurance will cooperate or I will be force to pay out of pocket or drop off because it is unbearable.
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
Sorry I’m off my Meds and forgot to retouch and important point.. I’m off my meds 2 days now.. I no-longer have Diarrhea My gut feels normal.
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
does anyone get hot flashes or heat rash? everyday around the same time 5pm – 7pm, my chest, my neck and my face will get heated up. it’s been going on for a while now.. my doctor up’d my dosage from Adderall XR 25mg twice a day to Adderall XR 35mg twice a day–(because i told him that the pharmacy gave me generic instead of brand, and i felt that generic was less effective with more side effects. but he told me the whole “Shire is making Adderall XR for Barr so it should be the same” crap.) He wrote me a prescription for Adderall XR 10mg-no substitute.
so i’m taking Amphetamine Salts ER 25mg (generic name for Adderall XR) and Adderall XR 10mg. would that why i’m getting the heat rash? i’m only 21, so i don’t think it would be hot flashes, but i get really red-flushed but my lower body and legs are cold..
but my question was, does anyone else get red, hot and flushed?
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!
follow up to comment 68 I picked up my meds today from CVS usually goto Walgreens they were packed didnt want to wait had been out of meds for 4 days. I didnt have any headaches during that time. I was charged 9 dollar copay generics had been cheaper I didnt question continued taking for 2 days no headaches stomach pains, diarrhea, etc… I take my meds usually running out the door late to work .I decided to check when I got home it was Adderall XR. So they cannot say there is no difference the pharmacist did question the capsule and how it breaks down releasing the meds. Also I do get terrible rashes on my neck they itch and burn my skin feels crawling itchy I cant explain how awful it feels at times. At the beginning of taking Adderall xr I weighed 117lbs in 2 months I weighed 107lbs 1 month later I was down to 94lbs (I am 5’3″)I have gradually put some weight on.The weight loss I beleive contributed to my being unbearable cold always.So there are effects of both but the generic are horrible.
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.
I began taking Adderall XR in December 2008 with very positive and successful results. In June 2009, Medco by Mail switched the prescription to the generic. The Amphetamine Mixed ER capsules look nearly identical so I had not realized they had been switched. Since June I have been extremely irritable, unfocused, lethargic, and (in the past few weeks) severely depressed. I could not understand what was wrong until I noticed that the medication I had been taking was not the same. I firmly believe that there is something different in the generic that has caused such an adverse reaction and I have filed a complaint on the FDA website. I would reccommend that anyone else experiencing trouble with the generic do the same.
It is heartbreaking to me that at after being misdiagnosed with depression for 17 years and bouncing from anti-depressant to anti-depressant I finally found success in Adderall XR but my happiness and ability to function was stolen by greedy pharmacutical companies. I would have been better off never taking Adderall XR in the first place because then I would never know what I was missing.
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.
I took 30 mg Adderall XR for more than 5 years with very good results. I am now in my third month of generic and feel as if I am not taking medication at all, except, like others who have posted here, my stomach is regularly upset. I’m surprised to hear that the generic is the same and is supplied by the same maker, since I have noticed such a huge difference. I am having to see my doctor this week and ask to go on the name brand. Unfortunately, this will require serious “lobbying” of Aetna, since they will now not cover the name brand.
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
MY son was on dextroamphetamine 10mg er caps,which was the generic version of dexedrine 10mg spansules. I have been informed that the company who made this generic that I paid around 50.00 a month for is no longer making these and the real version of these are 114.oo a month. I told my sons doc and he wrote a prescription for adderall 10mg capsules and I went to walgreens to fill it because the doc said they have a generic and when I started to pay for this generic the person told me the price would be 179.00 for the generic I asked and that is for 1 pill a day for 30 days. I couldnt beleive it. how could a generic be so expensive when it is the same ingrediant as the other generic I mentioned earlier.I did not pay that and I went right back to my sons doc and got another script for the name brand dexedrine because this name brand was a lot cheaper than the adderall generic. Has anyone else out there without insurance been surprised like this?
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?
Oh man I didn’t read the last few posts about the mood swings- I have had some serious mood swings- I figured it was bad PMS,,, but it sounds like it might be the generic version… hmmm
Maybe I’ll ask for the brand name when I refill~
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 was taking adderall xr name brand (the way we say it were im from) and it lasted almost as long as i wanted it too and I did experience some insomnia but i always slept. I wasnt depressed and coming off the medicine just made me tired and feel like I wanted a cig. Now im on the generic and at first i noticed a big difference. I just felt bluntly high. No attention to detail just zoned. I thought perhaps it was my enviroment. When I first started taking the generic I was visitng family and had a lot of free time. When I came back home the generic worked the same but with in a day or two I did notice strong feelings of depression, anxiety, short temper outburst and at night sometimes I had to take a zanax to relieve the symptoms. Some days were good and some days were bad. I thought it was just because now im about 35 lbs heavier and I just dont intake as much as I used to when I was smaller. Personally if you are truely concerned what I do is keep a journal of how well the meds are working and be truthful because its only going to help. What I found personally is that they work the same on me its just I do occasionally get really bad anxiety at night and I will have to take something. Thats about it. Also just a note to women who are taking the pill if you have bad mood swings and had pms this might effect how you feel and react on the drug. I know it does for me. Also I have found foods can also deplete the drug and your body’s intake of the meds. Research it. Sorry so long but I hope it helps. Any one have any ideas on how to releave the anxiety effects with out narcotics?
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…
Here is the email address for the FDA: druginfo@fda.hhs.gov
Please let them know!!!
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.
I have taken the generic for a month now and will never take it again. Its is extremely different than the regular adderall. It made me very anxious, i had pains in my lungs when i took deep breaths, and did not feel like myself.I felt like i was in la la land all the time, it made me very spacey and dizzy!!!! I will never take the generic adderall XR again, clearly, it is not the exact same, b/c when i take regular adderall the only side effects i have ever had are headache, and dry mouth and a lil weight loss. The first two hours were fine on the generic the whole rest of the day i felt soo sooo sick and out of it. Do not try it.
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.
40 year old mail. Been taking Adderall XR for two years, which was life changing. Started generic about 3 months ago. Noticed slight difference initially (less focus, energy, etc) — but more pronounced over time.
What is really scary is in the past 2-3 weeks memory loss (word recall, what I was doing, etc) has been substantial and frightening. Far more than anything I experienced before starting to take Aderall in the first place.
Very similar to the post above from Misty on Aug 6 — other than the “getting lost driving” parts … at least so far. Would be interested in an update from Misty or others who’ve experienced this.
I’ll be switching back to Adderall, and I’m fortunate to have more options on that front than some on this board (co-pay is only $40 on Adderall)
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?
I take the Adderall XR for narcolepsy and have done so for many years now (not counting the time I was pregnant). The pharmacy tried to fill the prescription with generic in April 2009, but the copay went from $25 to $40 (United Health Care) so I had the doctor put “brand necessary” to save that $15/month.
Then my company went under all of a sudden and I’m having to pay out of pocket. Last month, I paid $275 for the generic at Wal-Mart, that was the best price I could find. I think it works a little bit better than the brand name (I had some of the brand name left over to compare) because I think it is actually a bit stronger. Has anyone considered that there are other factors that might be causing some of your symptoms? No, I don’t think they are all in your head, btw. For my purposes (staying awake and focused) it is working BETTER than the original.
I read that Vitamin C will decrease how well the drug is absorbed. My stupid Gastro Doc had me taking 1000 MG Vitamin C/day. Yeah, I quit that and now it works better. Try looking at other factors.
Additionally, Teva is supposed to have the 180 day head start, I show that should be up tomorrow or Thursday. Has anyone heard of anyone else coming out with a different generic? Maybe the different generic will work better for some of you. I just don’t want to keep paying $275/month until I can get insurance again and hope they get other makers to release a generic ASAP so these drug companies can quit lighting their fireplaces with $100 bills. Jerks.
Thanks – and I am not saying that some of you aren’t “sensitive” but it might be something OTHER than the drug…look for other changes in your diet or routine that could contribute – I swear quitting all that Vitamin C made a world of difference…and when I am ready to go to sleep, I will make sure to consume some Vitamin C at bedtime instead.
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 do not take Adderall XR personally, but my daughter (now 12 years old) has been taking it for roughly 2.5 years. She only takes it on school days, and always takes a ‘break’ over the summer. Her prescription was filled with generic for the first time in September. I’ve read many conflicting reports about the generic version, so I’ve been extra observant and have discussed it with her several times over the past few weeks.
According to her, she can tell no real difference between the generic and the name brand. She says it ‘feels the same’ and the effects on her concentration and tendency to be impulsive are pretty much equal. In fact, some of the side effects that bothered her so much before (primarily lack of appetite and trouble falling asleep) seem to be somewhat diminished. Also, she seems to ‘come down’ much more gently in the evening. She has always been very willing to discuss her thoughts and feelings about her ADHD & the Adderall, so I believe that if she were having problems with her medication in any way, she would let me know. She is pleased, so I am, too.
Obviously, it’s only been about 2 months so I have no idea how she will feel in the long run. For the time being, we are having absolutely no issues with the generic. I really feel for those of you who have had problems, and I hope you are able to work it out.
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.
I have been taking the generic Adderall for five months now and have not noticed any difference. I wouldn’t consider it a placebo effect, since I was very apprehensive about switching to a generic. I would encourage people to at least try it, since it is cheaper, although how much depends on your insurance.Then if you have a bad reaction, go for the brand name – your doctor will have ammunition to justify it to your insurance company.
@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!
I was more than happy to switch to generic Adderall XR at 1/3 the cost. I used it for ~2 mos. I have no qualms with generic medication when it works properly; but, generic Adderall XR does not. I noticed a severe increase in side-effects, and marked decrease in overall effectiveness. Originally, I didn’t associate the rxn to the change in medication. However, when my 7 y/o child complained of similar adverse-effects: extreme xerostomia to the point of gagging and choking, dysphagia, severe chest-pain (presumably angina), palpitations/tachycardia, unilateral flushing w/alternating cyanosis, peripheral and facial edema, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, presyncope, arthralgia, cyclic hyperphagia/anorexia, pruritis with acne-like lesions, nocturnal hyperhidrosis, and severe withdrawal-syndrome: I began to question the new rX. I discussed the issues with our physicians, and both stated that the generic has received poor reviews. We have since switched back to the brand Adderall XR, the side-effects are minimal–as they were before. Not to mention, it actually works! Ironically, while still using the generic I had watched a television programme about illegal meth-amphetamine–street drugs–from what I learned during that programme, I would equate the quality of generic Adderall XR to street-grade meth. Spend your money–save your life.
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!