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
Who knows what is going on. So far I am still ok on the regular XR. I switched back to it after a horrible experience with generic. It is a horrible feeling to not trust the drug companies to tell the truth or that the FDA is being duped. I don’t think the FDA would try to con anybody but I don’t think they have the resources to always monitor as much as they should. I tried the generic quite a while ago and maybe the situation is different now. There is no way to know. It would be nice if they discovered how awful the generic was and covered this up by deciding to make the generic the same as the brand name but I can’t take the chance of them not working. I can understand where if you haven’t read all the posts or it didn’t happen to you that you would think or hope these people were crazy but it did happen to me.
If someone on this list is rich, maybe you could send a bottle of each to a lab. Actually I still have some generic ones from awhile back. Actually what we would need is a bottle of old generics, a bottle of recent generics and a bottle of regular Adderall XR that is known to be authentic. They would have to know what all would need to be tested in addition to ingredients and percentage. Probably they would need to find a way to test if the drug is released in the same intervals.
After reading this post I feel as if maybe I have watched too many CSI television shows
Dear Sandra…Can’t you read?? Why should I be happy? I am one of the consumers who was still paying the higher price for the “same exact” formula other consumers are paying less for. Do you even take this medication or better yet…is this even the right medication for you? Hmmm… I wonder if the medical field has discovered a medication for people who lack compassion and empathy.
For all the other bloggers who have been having problems with Adderall XR and it’s generic–I want you to know that my doctor said enough was enough and put me on a new med. One that Shire and the sub companies of Shire does not manufacture. I have been doing much better.
At least now, I have nothing to complain about. What will I do in my spare time? I don’t know if I have anything better to do than complain about something that is “all in my head”. Any suggestions? Can anyone tell me why Shire is getting away with charging one set of customers the higher price for Adderall XR and charging another set of customers the lower price for generic Adderall XR–when both formulas are “exactly the same”? Sandra does alot of reading. Maybe she can enlighten us. Lucky Sandy must be getting the cheaper price. I hope Sandy stays lucky with her meds…but I think it might be too late. Sandy sounds a little cranky and irritable in her blog. Maybe she is already affected by the meds. No wait…they are the same formula. The same formula with a different price. The same formula with a different name. The same formula with different results. Yeah–exactly the same. Jammie
It’s Dr. Kenny here.
With an important update with this discussion…
This blog is meant to inform, and provide a forum for discussion between readers.
People are encouraged to have differing opinions, and to share them.
People are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED from making personally directed comments at other readers.
And please know that all of the comments are moderated, meaning that no comment appears on this blog unless it is read by one of our staff and approved- which is why it can sometimes take a day or two until a comment appears on the blog.
I have noticed the tone of comments getting a little past my comfort zone on the last few.
I have allowed Jammie’s comment – and this is the last one which will be allowed which goes anywhere toward anger or insults toward other commenters.
(I am not trying to give Jammie the ‘last word’, rather there is enough good info in the comment that I want to allow it, and I want to warn going forward that any future comments which point toward other commenters will be deleted even if there is good info in the comment).
Please remember – we are all people who care about ADHD, and we really need to support one another – rather than put one another down!
Dr. Kenny
I’ve been on Adderall XR for about 7 years now and can’t tell you how much it has improved my work life. When the generic came out, I gave it a try and immediately noticed a “stoned” feeling and my stomach tightened up. I switched back to the name brand the next month and was feeling normal again. Friday I got refill from CVS of the brand and have been a wreck since. The same side effects from the generic even though it clearly says its the name brand.
For kicks, I strapped on my heart rate monitor that I use for jogging to see what it said since I had done some previous tests. My normal resting heart rate without adderall is 65-70 bpm. On the brand it jumped to 70-75 as expected. On this new Brand/Generic it was actually at 85-90!
So, I opened one of the pills I got Friday and compared it with a known Brand pill. You can actually see the difference. The generic is a lighter orange and not as consistantly round. Basically, some of it looks like salt, which it is.
I’m with everybody else on this. If the name brand we’ve all become familiar with is no longer an option, where do we go from here? The side effects from the new formulas outweigh the benefits and I do NOT like feeling like this.
A comment which was a response to this thread was mistakenly emailed in to us. Normally, these emailed comments are not posted to the blog (i.e. make sure to come back here to add your comments).
Because this comment was very relevant to the discussion – I am moving it over here:
Anyone who has been experiencing different responses to either the generic or the brand named pill should read on line the Wikipedia description of Adderall, and look specifically at foot notes 20,21 & 22 and the links described there. Long story short, it appears that both the generic salts and the brand(s) named Adderall xr AND ir have now been reformulated, the generic starting in April, 2009 and the named brand(s) in about the summer of 2009; one can only speculate on why. There doesn’t seem to be a lot left to debate other than how to get back the old formulation or an an entirely new drug, and that probably will require the services on an Intellectual Property lawyer, and/or a competent health professional who has a great deal of CURRENT experience in treating ADD and ADHD.
Good luck to you all in your search for a better or different medication
A Very Concerned Father
I apologize for my tone. This situation with Adderall XR and generic Adderall XR is very upsetting and very real. I still would like to know how and why Shire is being allowed to have two names and two prices for “ONE” formula? If the two medications are one in the same…why not just call it Adderall XR? Why go through the process of two different names on the capsules? How is it ethical for Shire to charge me for Adderall XR at a higher price AND on top of that…give me M.Emphat Salts? This is fraud. I was being charged the same high price for the Adderall XR as I was for the M.Emphat Salts. Aside from the product quality issue, what good is having a generic–if the customer does not get receive the generic pricing? I was under the impression that lower pricing was the upside to generic brands AND that generic branding was good for competition. How can competition exist when the company that manufactures the regular brand is the same company that manufactures the generic of that regular brand? This is a monopoly and a win/win for Shire. Shire is being allowed to sell a generic product and still get the higher price. This needs to stop. Jammie
I was taking Adderall XR for a couple of years before I got a recent refill with M. Amphet Salts instead. I knew this was a generic, but figured it wouldn’t make any difference. I couldn’t have been more wrong: I can barely tell when I’m on them. I normally can tell a significant difference between when I’m on it and when I’m not. Brand XR helps with my motivation, engery, focus, etc. But with this generic I can get up in the morning and take my full normal dosage, and then immediately go back to bed and sleep for 3 more hours. In fact, I’ve actually often noticed that it makes me feel sleepy, where the normal Adderall XR does quite the opposite. I’d write it off as tolerance, but it happened very suddenly and right when I got the refill. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one disappointed with this change. Without insurance I paid $849 for a bottle of placebo pills. Not very happy about that.
I’m a 21 year old college student and I have been on ADD meds since the age of 5. As I grew, I switched from one med to another as my body chemistry changed before settling on Adderall XR as my best option. A little over a year ago, i discovered that I not only had ADD, but depression as well, so I began to take generic Zoloft. A few months later, after talking with my doctor, he informed my that some symptoms that I showed when I felt depressed were actually signs that I have anxiety, but my Zoloft has an immediate effect on it. Almost a year later, I’ve been taking both meds (Adderall XR in the morning and Zoloft before bed) and I couldn’t be happier. I feel like I’m finally ‘normal’ (at least on an emotional level). Before I started taking both meds, I always felt very apathetic and found my emotions easy to shove to the side. However, now that I’m taking both, that apathy is gone and I feel like I’m feeling emotions for real for the first time. Maybe some of the negative side effects of the generic could be countered by use of a drug like Zoloft?
However, I recently found out that my insurance company (Healthsmart Preferred Care) will no longer pay for my brand name Adderall. They said that they will only pay for the generic. My doctor already warned me to stay with the brand name because some people had experienced negative side effects with the generic. My parents tried to fight it, but it looks like I’m going to have to try the generic after all. I’m worried about how I’ll react to it, especially since my cousin and uncle (who both have ADD and have taken Adderall XR) have had negative side effects with the generic. My parents are hoping that if I do have a negative reaction then that will give us more leverage to fight the insurance company.
Does anyone know of an insurance company that will still pay for the brand name? I live in West Texas if coverage area matters. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks
i started on the 10 mg regular adderall, blue football tabs, i’m color blind, so maybe more like purple or dark blue, generics. my rx was 2x early a.m. and early aftnoon. They worked. AND were VERY VERY cheap. after a couple months, i asked for change to xr. Doc gv me 30 mg xr’s. I crush them, and btw, a pill crusher for $7 is a good investmt. I put half of it in my coffee crushed, and the rest i take in the capsule. Works great. BUT, the cost of xr’s generic is a fortune. i went to a diff pharm last x and dn hv my ins card. when she gave me the 30 day (30 xr’s) it was 150 bucks. Generic. I quickly came back with my card and get them for 15 bucks. I like 1x day dosing. Adderall has changed my life. I can concentrate, focus, and have energy during the day for work. I cant say how much this medication has helped me. Other than the crushing half of them, i don’t abuse them. I never knew I had adhd, i just thought maybe i was stupid cause couldn’t focus. I’m still stupid, but slightly less. lol!!
and i had taken stratera before and it was WORTHLESS to me. Maybe it works for others.
My thanks to everyone for the many informative posts.
I noticed this morning that each capsule of my new script of 25mg Adderall XR is labeled “M. Amphet Salts”. My CVS pharmacist showed me the reason, listed on the paperwork attached to the name brand bottle. It describes that the medicine is “imprinted ADDERALL XR or M. Amphet Salts 25 mg.”
He then brought out both bottles, name brand and generic, and showed me the contents, which were visually identical.
I conclude that the “name brand” no longer exists. This is not at all good.
Im on the same boat here. I have taken adderall for 7 years and on February was given the generic amphet salts only to have a horrible narcoleptic/depressive reaction. Then the pharmacy (CVS) mixed the generics in with brand when my doc wrote brand name only. I started to take only the pills market with Adderall XR on them but the symptoms were the same as with the generic. So I bit the bullet and tried vyvanse for 2 months which turned out to be garbage too.
I made a complaint at the FDA’s website in March this year, but I doubt anything will be done. Also, I called Shire only to be told that they were making a “brand name generic” (whatever the hell that means) and distributing it to the other companies such as Barr, Teva etc. So, in my view, Shire has sabotaged their own product in order to puch vyvanse now that their Adderall patent has expired and other companies are biting off their profit chunk. Its all about the money. Health should never be for profit or this criminality ensues.
I take Adderall XR 30mg twice a day for over 2 years…… as of today my insurance CIGNA still will not cover the generic because it is not FDA approved, my question is…… if the generic is not FDA approved then how can it be sold as a prescription? Is it not illegal anymore to sell amphetamines??? If it is no longer illegal and does not need FDA approval to be sold, then why is it not sold as an over the counter as a holistic aid like all the others and say “these statements have not been approved by the FDA user discretion advised”???
Last time I checked it was illegal to sell amphetamines in the united states of any kind that is not approved and regulated by the FDA, so are all our pharmacies selling illegal drugs? I’m sorry but it sounds like it to me. I use to work in a pharmacy and they do get hell if they do not follow FDA guidelines, on top of that my doctors office assistant scribbled out a date on my script after I pointed out the date was written wrong, I took it to my Pharmacy and was given hell because it is AGAINST THE LAW to have any funny business on a script of a controlled substance, it has to be written perfectly for the pharmacy to run it.
So if the FDA is coming down on insurance companies and pharmacies so strict about controlled substances, how is it even possible for an insurance company to insure such a drug? and how is it possible that a pharmacy can even sell a controlled substance without FDA approval? Wouldn’t they be considered just another drug dealer that receives their shipment from the drug lord each week? Shouldn’t the law be busting down the doors of all pharmacies right at this moment???
I think it is hypocritical of our country to be allowing this, what makes it any different if amphetamines are being sold in a pharmacy or in the streets? shouldn’t the pharmacies and the company that makes the drug be shut down and their license be taken away? because in all reality if some dude got caught on the streets doing exactly what the THE BIG PHARMA is doing that dude would go to prison for a long time…..
On top of that I’ve heard, anybody taking a drug that has not been approved by the FDA is basically a lab rat, the reason is a drug has to be tested and approved by the FDA to treat or cure a specific illness, this can take up to many years to push a new drug or a different version of an old drug to become available to the public, so even if it is the exact same ingredients just a “different name” because of that different name it still must go through the same FDA process to get approved to treat or cure an illness.
Since the generic Adderall XR 30mg is an amphetamine and is not approved by the FDA then it is illegal to be sold by anybody in the United States and if they are it is breaking the law, and I stand by my insurance company for not covering it and protecting not only themselves but in turn protecting all CIGNA clients from being sold any illegal substances as well.
It is amazing what drug companies get away with.
you know, I had Cigna as well, and was very curious as to why they would not cover the generic at all… After my own negative experiences with generic, I figured thar had something to do with it.. Your post was very helpful, thank you (o;
I have been dealing with the same problem of paying for the brand Adderall, but getting the M.Amphet Salts. I called Shire, after speaking with Aetna, and Shire assured me that the two capsules are the same medication and that they (Shire) are selling them as Brand name Adderall XR and Generic. SO, if you ask for “generic”, you pay the cheaper price, but if you request the brand name “Adderall”, you get the same M.Amphet Salts BUT pay the much higher price!! This sounds illegal to me, HOW can they be allowed to do this??? I have also talked to pharmacists at Walgreens and they have the same problem. The container that is labeled “Adderall” has M.Salts capsules inside, just as the “generic” container has M.Amphet Salts inside. Sounds like the beginning of a class action lawsuit.
Jumping into this Adderall v. Generic discussion late.
Was on Adderall a number of years ago. Excellent results. My progress at work was noticed.
After a year, insurance company said I had to switch. Switched to Dexedrine CR and later generic Dexedrine CR. Not as good as Adderall, but adequate.
After a few years and having changed insurance companies, I tried to get Adderall XR again (6 months ago). Successful and the results were excellent. If Adderall xr was a 9, then Dexedrine cr was a 7, maybe 8.
Last month, my presription was filled with generic Adderall. Called the pharmacy and was told that it was an error and I will get the Adderall. A few days later I was called and told that generic is exactly the same and the I would have to have the doctor write a new presription and that I would not get a refund of the $1,000 for a 3 month supply. Having been convinced that generic and Adderall were the same, I gave the generic a try.
In the last two weeks, my productivity plummetted, I gained two pounds and I have not felt “clear” or at ease. I looked at all of the posts on this subject. I called the pharmacist back again and they are sticking to their position that generic and Adderall are the same (but I guess that does not mean that Adderall has been “improved” to a new formula that is the same as the generic).
One a scale of 1 to 10, the generic almost did not even register a benefit (a 2 would be generous).
Finally this morning I took some of my old Dexedrine (had some old ones around from before I switched back to Adderall).
I felt more productive, clear and I got that feeling that all is ok (yes the degree changes during the day; as of 7:00, I still feel pretty good; I took one at 5:30 am and the second at 9:30).
I went to lunch with my wife. I had previously complained about the new adderal, but did not tell her I switched to Dexedrine today. I did not even bring up the subject. She brought it up and asked if I switched. She said she could tell that my attitude was better and that I was more talkative.
It would be pretty tough to convince me that I imagined there would be a difference and that belief changed me that much. If it is all in my head and that at any time as can just be “normal,” then I have wasted a lot of money on these drugs.
Something is different. Possibilities range from Generic/Brand Adderal are just a little different and I do not absorb the stimulant to there is something rotten going on. Of course there is the “it is all in my head possibility.”
Short version — I trust neither the Generic or Brand Adderall now. I would love to get a refund for my worthless generic, but now that I have already covered my insurance deductible, I guess it is my insurance company’s problem.
But I would love to hear the full story on the status of Adderall.
here’s the problem I’ve run into: Teva who made the brand name adderall bought Shire who makes the generic so basically, one firm now controls the entire supply. The costs will not change much, if at all, between generic and brand. They also do not offer any kind of patient assistance program so my son is nearly bankrupted by the cost of the meds even tho he has some insurance (it won’t cover the XR pills). we’re looking at other options than Adderall. even his doctor said that this is nuts and Teva is playing with people’s lives. Its never been their intent to make people feel better, only to make money.
I have just run into this issue…….My son is on Adderall XR 30mg. When the generic came out, the pharmacy automatically filled it with it. No issues and my son hasn’t complained about anything. Since, his insurance has changed, twice. When he was under his father’s, the co-pay went to the generic price and they approved the generic. When it changed under my insurance HBCBS, same thing, co-pay was $20 for the generic (it was $10 for generic under his father’s) Now I have CIGNA high deductible plan, deductible is $5,000, my company pays the first $2,500, then I am responsible for the next $2,500, then the insurance pays everything. Well, it cost me $189 (I don’t care if the company pays the first 1/2 of the deductible, with high costs, that 1/2 of the deductible will get met pretty quickly, then I will be responsible out of pocket). CIGNA said that the “generic” is not FDA approved so they will not support it, so I had to get the brand name. The previous 2 insurances approved it. Something is fishy, and I don’t like it. It’s such a shame that you have to worry about who is playing with your lives. I honestly can’t see how all these pharmacies could be dispensing something against any kind of regulations. Universal healthcare is looking better and better, but who knows, somehow some way, people still get screwed, so who even knows anymore. This is ridiculous and I have phone calls in, to the FDA and to our CIGNA rep. The cost when I went to get 2 of my son’s scripts was $313, that is for a 30 day supply of each. I could get that mail in 90 day supply of the Singulair, which would be over $300 and in the end only save me not even $20. Dumb. So in about 6 months or so, I can look forward to paying at least $300 per month on 2 scripts for my son. And what do you know, by the end of the year, the next 1/2 of the deductible will not be met, and then it starts all over, and the insurance didn’t have to pay for shit, but I also pay $140/month for the insurance. I am outraged and vow to get to the bottom of all this.
My two sons (14 and 17) have been on Adderall XR for what seems like forever. I moved the prescriptions to a new pharmacy and was offered the generic for the first time, but then the pharmacist went a few screens deeper into the software and told me BCBS would not pay for the generic, so I was back to my $60 copay for the brand.
I called our benefits administrator, who called BCBS and was told they didn’t cover the generic because it was not approved by the FDA.
My question is this, how can pharmacies sell the generic if it’s not approved by the FDA? Isn’t that what the FDA is for?
I had to take the prescription to another pharmacy to get it filled because they no longer stocked the brand name drug since demand for it had fallen off so much. Other health plans cover the generic. My question remains the same: How can they sell the generic if it is not approved by the FDA? The pharmacist said it sounded to him like BCBS just wanted more money.
Kudos to han2222
Here’s my story for the record. I took 5mg Adderall XR for years. Worked great. Stopped for a year. Decided to return to medication, tried Concerta, Vyvanse but dosage was too strong, not quite as good of an effect. Took some of my old pills for comparison, worked great again. Filled a 90 day prescription and agreed to take the newly available generic 5mg instead of brand at the suggestion of my pharmacist, who failed to mention any issues with generic, despite what is posted here.
Took the first one this morning and immediately knew there was a problem. Lack of focus, mid-day crash/bad feeling, tired/anxious. It’s not the same, as I took what I know was an old pill two days ago with the same effect’s I’d known fo years. Looked online and found this thread. Called the pharmacist who wasn’t very helpful but at least tried. I’ll try the brand next of course, but what worries me is the reformulation posts. Dr. Kenny, can you provide any insight into this?
It sure sounds like generic and brand are now one and the same. Based on this series of posts from start to finish, I suspect that our reaction to the generic could be a reaction to the reformulation as it is slowly introduced into the supply chain. They just started with the generic. All of the “my pharmacist showed me the bottles with the same pills” posts were recent. Was there a reformulation of the brand drug sometime in the last two years?
If so, a minority of users would experience problems, just like the posts here reflect. It would also explain my problem. If they are now indistinguishable/interchangeable at the pharmacy/FDA level, as the pill markings in common would suggest, I’m sure we’d all like to know.
In my opinion, this seems like a well executed management strategy: reformulate to reduce costs/prepare for generic competition and/or new competing drug, but introduce reformulation as generic. Early release of generic gives them control over the process. Measure reaction to reformulation as generic. Blame “generic” if not well received/not providing adequate clinical effect. If effects are manageable/within acceptable range, roll out reformulation of brand. Makes marketing easy – “generic is EXACTLY the same” & FDA loves it as well. Great job all around. Unless you are one of the minority with adverse effects from the reformulation, as I’m pretty sure I am after today. I would simply like to know if the old pills and the current brand pills are not the same formulation. I guess the best way to do that is to try the new brand pills and compare to my old “baseline” pills, but I’m not optimistic. Any professional comments or confirmations would be appreciated and perhaps help provide some clarity to everyone posting their reactions to the generic here.
One poster mentioned Adderall as being a Methamphetamine. It is not. It’s a “dextroamphetamine”. Methamphetamine is the parent drug to amphetamine.
I’ve recently started taking TEVA’s Adderall XR for Multiple Sclerosis fatigue. Having never experienced the original name-brand version of this drug, I have nothing to compare it with. But it’s definitely made a huge difference for me. I was just about to apply for disability (couldn’t drive or work … way too tired.)
Since being on TEVA’s Adderall XR 20mg/day, I’m back to working full time and can finally function pretty normally throughout the day. It’s been like a miracle drug for me. (Just have to take it no later than 8:00 a.m. or it’ll give me insomnia.) After reading all of these posts, I’m wondering if I need to talk to my doctor about not using a generic form of this drug and trying the name brand…
I don’t know if I should cry or jump up and down over all this information. I have been taking brand adderall for 5 years now and it has been the best compliment to my depression, but something happened this year that I could not explain. I have been unfoucused, sleepy, uninterested, and sad all year. I was thinking my depression had just gotten worse and have been searching for answers(diet,exercise,brain imagery,etc.) to feel better again. Last week as I was filling out info for a Dr. I found in Dallas that does a SPECT scan on the brain, I realized I was not taking brand adderall but a generic formula. I was shocked because I had no idea I had been swithched to a generic(I did not even know a generic came out). I did a little research and found out that I was switched last year. I do not know yet if this is the problem, but I have an appointment with my Dr. so we can write a script that says I have to have brand. This has been a tough year for me and my family and I will be thrilled(and a little angry) if I found out a medicine was causing all the problems. To those of you who are sceptic of people having problems from drugs consider yourself fortunate, I would love to not have to take medicine for my depression and have tried.
Good luck, Julie
I, for one, will be interested in how it turns out for you. The main thing is that you feel better. Anything you can tell us about the composition/reaction of generic vs. brand would be appreciated. Thanks for the post. Good luck.
Julie,
I’m curious. I’ve been taking 30mg of Adderall for close to a year. Like you I was given the prescription in addition to my antidepressant. I cannot remember for sure but I believe I started with brand name and when the generic came out, I was switched. After reading yours and many of the other comments I may discuss this with my doctor. I really use to notice a difference as it got into my system. Not anymore. I already take the highest dose they make so it’s worth checking. By the way I’ve been on antidepressants for about 22 years…many different ones and they all basically seemed the same. Right now I’m on 100 mg. Pristiq.
Karen
Just find this online:
The FDA has not given the generic form of Adderall XR an AB rating. It has not been shown to be bioequivalent in vitro or in vivo.
Although I had a pretty good idea what that meant I looked that up too:
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has defined bioequivalence as, “the absence of a significant difference in the rate and extent to which the active ingredient or active moiety in pharmaceutical equivalents or pharmaceutical alternatives becomes available at the site of drug action when administered at the same molar dose under similar conditions in an appropriately designed study.”
Doesn’t sound good for the generic. I don’t understand. Why would they sell a product that is not considered equivalent?
Does any of the drug companies making adderall ER XR IR offer financial assistance?
I have been taking Adderall XR for about seven years. When the generic brand came out I found this site and reviewed many of the posts and was greatly discouraged from switching. Recently, my insurance company (BCBS) took Adderall off the preferred drug list increasing the price from $55 to $75. So I finally decided to just try it. I was expecting all sorts of weird side effects that folks here have been describing.
After a week on M. Amphet Salts, I’m very pleased to say I can’t tell a difference. I’m sure everyone reacts to the generic differently but I want to encourage folks to try it before you decide. I wish I would have switched a long time ago. It would have saved me so much money.
For those who haven’t tried it yet and (like myself) read these posts to help them decided what to do, please keep in mind those who do have a positive reaction often don’t feel the need to share with others. We most go to blogs to complain, I’m guilty of this as well.
I suggest asking your doctor for a one month prescription and just try it out. As you can tell from the posts above, its not for everyone. But for the sake of saving some cash, try it out. I’ll be saving $65 a month.
Good luck and keep an open mind.
If it wasn’t for the fact that my husband’s insurance changed and we became responsible for the first $2500 before the insurance company would pay, I would not have found out all the information in this thread.
My son got switched to the generic and we felt that the effectiveness didn’t last very long. His doctor said several other patients complained about the generic, so she began writing “no substitution” on his scripts. But when the pharmacy filled his prescription with the name brand, we didn’t notice any difference from the generic. We were baffled, because for 2 years he did great on the name brand.
Now I know that we have not lost our minds, and there is something very wrong going on with this medicine (both generic and name brand). I want to ask his doctor to prescribe something else, but school starts in a week and I am worried that a new medication would have unknown effects.
I wish I was even in a position to complain about having to purchase “generic” Adderall XR!! Being that “generic” Adderall XR still costs an arm and a leg, and that I’m a student with no medical insurance, I’m still taking instant release Barr tabs. I’d much rather be taking XR, but it’s simply not a possibility.
There seems to be a bias and a stigma against prescribing instant release formulations. As such, my doctor will not prescribe me over 60 mg/ day of amphet. salts, which is woefully inadequate for me, even though many adult patients routinely take 60 mg of XR (which equates to more than 60 mg of instant release). A 60 mg/ day dose is completely inadequate for me, but I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place right now because I have no access to extended release formulations.
As far as I can tell, there’s no clinical evidence that taking more than 60 mg/ day for an adult is “bad,” but I digress.
My doctor seems to have a love affair with Vyvanse. I don’t understand it. I could care less that it’s a “prodrug.” I’m not an abuser in the first place. Furthermore, when I did try Vyvanse on a free trial, it just didn’t agree with me. So, is there any clinical significance for using Vyvanse over Adderall XR, other than abuse prevention? Oh, I’m sorry….it’s more like snorting prevention. You can still swallow more Vyvanse pills, correct? It’s mind boggling. What percentage of people with amphetamine prescriptions actually insufflate/ snort the drug in the first place?
I’m sorry, but attaching the d-amphetamine molecule to an amino acid and then patenting it is sort of fraudulent, in my book – especially while you’re simultaneously manipulating the market for the predecessor drug (Adderall XR), for which you have lost your patent. I mean, is this not obvious? Is everybody on the take here?
Did you know that D-amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887? That’s right. But yet, Shire is able to keep riding that gravy train. Un-friekin-believable.
The whole sequence of events regarding Shire’s aggressive attempts to transition people to Vyvanse seems very, very shady, and truly alarming….and pharmaceutical companies wonder why people don’t trust them?!?! Isn’t there some kind of price fixing (or otherwise antitrust activity) going on here? This makes me want to rip my hair out.
They have succeeded in keeping the price of the “generic” high in order to get people on their new patent (same thing Wyeth is doing with Effexor/ Pristiq). It seems to me that this should be an issue for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in addition to the FDA.
I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to be United States-centric with my post regarding the FDA and FTC, and our horrible healthcare system here…Sorry for assuming that this was a U.S. based site.
I have been taking adderall xr ( 60mg daily) for years. About 6 months ago I switched to the generic and did not even notice a difference at first. But recently have noticed not one but all side affects or complaints listed on this page. My heart racing out of control, feeling like it is about to burst, has done it for me. I really don’t care if my insurance will pay for the name brand anymore or not, No amount of saving is worth this. I’m in need of HELP with a problem i’m facing which may be related as well. I was recently FIRED from my job of ten years due to a methamphatamien and amphatimien positive Drug test. I have NEVER taken, handled, or even seen meth(other than on tv) my entire life!!!!!!!! Yet my test results were positive. How is this even possiable? I have taken probably close to 100 of these random urine tests the last 10yrs and the results were always the same positive for amphetiamines ,yes, due to the adderall xr but never positive for meth. I consider myself to be a family man and good christian. I have 3 wonderful children and would never jeopardize my job (my familys only source of income) for something so stupid!!! I knew and know due to the nature of my work drug tests at random are going to take place. I can’t help but wonder if the generic is playing a part in this as well. I AM TRYING TO FIGHT THESE RESULTS because they are not accurate. so please if anyone has any information or suggestions about what to do next it would be immensely appreciated. THANKS AT A LOSS !!!
Wayne – that is awful. I would push the company which made the generic you took to see if there is any evidence for the medication causing a positive urine drug screen. If you can receive documentation from the company which makes the medicine, then that may help you to prove your point to your employer.
I’ve had add/ADHD for as long as I can remember and until recently couldn’t do anything about it. I was in the military where you can’t be treated for it and then immediately become pregnant with my first child only to be followed by another pregnancy months after his birth. I can FINALLY treat this and I’m very optimistic about my results. My husband just left for Afghanistan and with two little ones and school I cannot afford to be scatterbrained and unfocused. I started taking the generic formula of adderall xr today and saw no negative side effects. After reading the previous posts though, I’m now very concerned. How long should it be before I notice a change IF I’m going to? Any tips on the best way to take it (before or after a meal, with a snack or full glass of water etc?) I live in a small town and our pharmacy doesn’t provide literature – even for new scripts. Honestly today I felt better than I have in a LONG time, it was like someone turned a light on. I hope this lasts. Thanks in advance!
My son takes Adderall XP 25mg and has for years. We were on BCBS of AL and they covered the generic. When we had to switch to private insurance instead of a company provided plan we went with BCBS of FL. We were told by the agent and by BCBS of FL that this ned would be covered under our plan which ONLY plays for generics. Today when I went to get it filled I was rejected for coverage and the med was $156. I cannot afford to pay this. BCBS of Fl even charged us an additional $70/month for coverage of his medicine due to it not being an approved generic. Why did BCBS of AL cover it and they don’t? Our Ped say’s it’s generic, the pharmacy say’s it’s generic and now we are stuck with no insurance coverage for this. Shire controls the generic and the brand name of the drug.. all to control their profits… BCBS of FL is no help after 4 hours on the phone, the agent agrees he told us it was covered and we have no recourse. Thew whole insurance and pharma world is corrupt by bait and switch tactics and no corporate community responsibility for their actions. Has anyone been able to get an “override” on this to get it paid for? I have spoken with the FDA, the state insurance commissions and filed a formal complaint. From what I have been able to find out Shire has systematically done this and there is no “AB” for the drug since it is their own drug they are selling as generic so they never applied for it.. why would they.
does anyone know if there are any calculations or equations involved with the gc/ms drug test? I got a copy of my test results and they are nearly 10X what my last test was. so i am wondering if somebody forgot a decimal and thats what cost me my job! the results stated an amphetamine level of 26000 ng/ml and a meth level of 1111 ng/ml. not real sure but i think id be dead. i checked my last test and amphetamine levels were 2100 ng/ml and meth was below the 500 ng/ml or negative. so diveding by 10 would be similiar right? is this a possibility…? please help.. asap
also found out that there are about 8 different manufacturers of the generic xr… global shire teva etc and none of these are A-B certified ! I go to the same pharmacy every month and just looking back at my bottles over the past few months i have recieved a different one every month. they all say dextroamphet but yet if you go to there websites and look up the list of isomyers there all different….funny huh. Also due to my situation, i have found out that there are about 1600 drug testing labs in the us and only about 80 meet federal regulations. however there are no laws or government agencies in charge of monitoring these labs for the private sector, only government employees. so if you are required to take a drug test and there is any doubt about the facility i suggest that you immediately go to your own doctor and have a blood or hair folicale test done as well. that way you will have something to stand on. in my case the only creditials i could find on the lab my company hired is a county rating. they got this rating when applying for a county contract to test police officers and out of 14 labs bidding on the contract they were rated 13 for quality..
still looking for an answer. do creatinine levels affect drug concentrations ? basicly what i want to know is if anyone knows of any kind of study done on drug testing people with prescribed medication and the effect of having concentrated urine / or early morning urine / or being dehydrated ? my thinking is this if, like me, you take a drug test early in the morning and your urine is ultra concentrated wouldn’t that effect the amount of drugs detected per ml ? so if thats true then why are the cut-off limits not adjusted accordingly for drug tests? this whole situtation stinks and i can not find anyone willing to say anything to help. people seem to automaticly assume your guilty and no one wants to help a drug user………….but i’m NOT A DRUG USER !!!!!!! i only take the medication i’m prescribed because i have a very dangerous job and i don’t need to be wondering if peanut butter and ketchup would taste good on a watermelon.
I’ve been on Adderall for about 2 years now. As a student, I must say that it helps with making good grades and staying focused from task to task. My doctor has tapered my dosage until we have reached my current XR 20 mg strength, 1 po qam. Oh yeah, I am a part-time Pharmacy Technician and a pre-phamacy student. I see the C-II scripts being brought in, and I fill Vyvanse, Ritalin, Adderall, and their generic counterparts. Looks very similar. However, recently, my insurance will no longer pay for brand name Adderall XR, so I am taking dextro-amphetmanine salt combo capsules. They are horrible. I find myself struggling to stay awake in class. Today my head dropped down so fast that I spilled water all over my desk, which was extremely embarrassing. I feel the urge to fall asleep while driving too, which is very, very scary. Have appointment with physician and will bring it up for sure. Talked it over with the pharmacists and they suggested to just buy the brand, stop taking it, have some coffee with it, or to jokingly take two. The generic has been approved by the FDA, but a few RX insurance companies refuse to recognize it, Cigna, Texas Blue Cross, Aetna etc.. Either way, having to pay for brand name Adderall seems like my only option. Did I mention that I am a broke college student?
Nick,
My insurance policy also pushes generic medication. Some policies will pay for name brand medication if the attending MD states the pt. is not able to tolerate the generic medication. Call your insurance company. Sometimes I call 2-3 times just to talk with someone who will help me. Good luck…. AC
I took adderall in college without a prescription, bad I know. I’ve always known I had ADHD so I wasn’t too worried about it. Which of course I should have consulted a doctor and got a prescription since messing with the wrong doses is dangerous. Anyways, most people at my college had name brand (private school) and they worked just fine. I used them for studying, not recreation. In second semester, my friend who usually gave them to me before exams switched to generic. It never really struck me that it would make a difference. I remember them not working as well, not helping me focus, and making me have mania. It was scary. i just assumed the dose was too high and that I was too stressed. Now, a couple years later, I finally got a prescription after tons of testing. My doc prescribed Adderall XR, but it was too expensive so I requested IR. I told him I would like name brand since I suspected that the generic version may have been responsible for the mania. He said ok, wrote Adderall IR, but the pharmacist still gave me generic since doc didn’t check the name brand only box, and I no longer have insurance (husband just got out of military, bye bye Tricare
). I had no clue that they were not name brand. I just read the instructions and took one. It didn’t take me long to realize something was wrong. I started shaking and feeling really upset and emotional. just like before. I felt scattered, less focused, and wanted to cry. I then checked the bottle and looked up the name. It was the generic. I got my money back and got name brand (165$ for 45 pills 
) They worked perfect. I never feel jittery, heart never races, I feel just like my normal, happy go lucky, chill self, just a more focused version. When I do a task, I complete it. If I want to read. I don’t have to go back and re read things because my mind wandered off while I kept reading. When I listen to a lecture or sermon, I can actually listen to the whole thing without zoning out every 2 minutes! So, I have a hard time believing that the generics now are the EXACT same, considering I took the generic thinking it was the original. Anyhow, hope this helps!
Hi
I was ADHD as a child but quit taking meds after I got a little older. From the age of 15 to 30, I didn’t take my meds. I basically destroyed my life…..Job to Job, Man to Man, Jail etc. Well, at 31 I finally went back to a doctor. He put me on Adderall XR 30mg but i can’t afford it. So, he gave me a rx of Adderall 30mg 2x a day. My BCBS insurance seems to be covering half of the generic name. The first week was wonderful! I could focus, think before reacting and my boss gave me another chance (dental ceramist). Second week came along….MAJOR migranes, tired, bitchy, panic attacks and jittery. What’s up with this?? I wish i could afford brand Adderall but can not at this time. The generic I’m getting is the Pink pills. What I’ve been reading from previous posts….the Orange pills seem to do better. I don’t know what to do. I have to stay on my meds. I take care of my disabled mother and need to stay focused and on track to keep my job. I know Walgreens in my area only have the Pink ones. Ughhhhhhhh I’m thinking of just borrowing the money to see if the Brand Adderall works better. Migranes are killing me!! I need some advice….Orange generic pills?? What to do?? Thanks Everyone!
I’ve been prescribed Adderall for over 5 years. I now realize that I was lucky to have been given the “regular” release med. Even with the tablets I did have a problem early when my pharmacy dispensed a round white pill for Adderall 30mg. They were completely uneffective. I make sure now to get the oval orange tablet made by Teva. As far as all the people with problems related to XR’s (price, composition, effectiveness), I can only recommend being switched to a tablet form. Given all the strengths available, you should be able to get a strength and schedule that will work. End of problems! Based on my experience, I would tell people to NEVER use the XR’s. Shire is very unethical and if you haven’t yet, you will be hearing about Vyvanse, their next (and worst) money-making scheme.
This is my first post. My son was recently put on adderall for adhd. Now I am wondering if I have it – probably got it from me. I never really knew what adhd was, but I seem to have the same symptoms my son has. Here is my question: can you be too old for adderall? I am in my 40s? I am very uncomfortable with even where to start with this or who to talk to. Thanks for your input.
Hi, just wanted to share my 10 yrs of trial/error success with you all, AND answer “stranger”.
TYPE/SYMPTOMS: I have ADD inattentive type, NOT hyperactive AT ALL, so if you are hyperactive, this may not be good advice for you. My symptoms without meds are: complete lack of motivation/worry; could sleep for 20 hours a day and still be tired; NOT sad, just annoyed at my own lack of motivation; extreme hunger. My condition is most likely caused by a low level of two neurotransmitters in the brain: dopamine and norepinephrine.
TIME/MEDS DOSAGE: Been on Adderrall XR for 9 years, Vyvanse alone for 6 months, and a combo of both for a year. I have tried TONS of different dosages/timing of meds/different psychiatrists.
Here are my personal best success with dosage and timing: 80mg combined – 50mg Vyvanse, plus 10mg Adderrall XR 3x day. I take Vyanse (50 mg) in the morning – it is a 12 hour release drug, it lasts me 7-8 hours and then starts to drop slowly, but noticeably. To counter the extreme irritation I get from Vyvanse, I take Adderrall XR (10 mg) at LEAST one HOUR later, if not a couple hours later. (Do NOT take these at the same time. All it did for me was cause anxiety so bad that I couldn’t function.)
I take 3 doses of Adderrall XR (10mg) a day because it only lasts me about 3-4 hours per dose. (Note that 40 mg of Vyvanse is amazing too, but I find that it seems to wear off faster than 50mg for me. Remember, I’ve been on amphetamines for a LONG time, your perfect dose may be much less.)
WARNING: ‘more’ is NOT always better. You have to find the dose that helps you ‘speak, think, plan, and do’ the best. If I take anything over 50mg of Vyvanse, I have trouble speaking, get dizzy, and get so angry it is a little scary. If I take anything over 20 mg of Adderrall XR per dose, I can’t function, just feel dizzy, brain dead, can’t comprehend speech/written words well, my eyes feel like they are full of pressure, and I have low retention of information. Pretty much just stare off, have a million worthless thoughts, and feel worried.
HISTORY: Adderrall stopped working as well for me after about 8 years (ages 18-25), so I stopped for a year and a half.. but started to fail at tasks and my job so had to do something. Restarted at age 27 on just Vyvanse, but 70mg, way too much. Also noticed that Adderrall and Vyvanse had opposite side effects for me, Adderrall XR made me happy and full of motivation, but I couldn’t plan or process well; while Vyvanse helped me speak like a genius, plan and do tons of stuff one at a time – like a horse with blinders on – BUT made me so angry it scared ME. So I tried both and they seem to counteract the side effects of each other. Yay! But not taken at same time. Same day ok, but not same hour.
TIDBITS: Anything with lots of Vit. C or Acidic properties will lower the effectiveness of both Adderrall and Vyvanse. Like: orange juice, apple juice, tomato sauce, etc. So eat these at night or in the evening if you can’t sleep after eating.
Anything with oils in it seems to block the meds: oils, olive oil, omega 3s, canola oil, even when used in cooking. Although this.effect from oils seems to be less than the acidic effect on the meds.
MOST EFFECTIVE ABSORBTION: Taken on an empty stomach and waiting 30 mins to an hour to eat.
TYPOS/GRAMMAR: Please.forgive any typos or strange grammar errors. Wrote this on my touch screen phone, and the text box keeps jumping to the top so I can’t see what is being typed. Even if I scroll down, the moment I hit a key it jumps up to a random part of the box.
BEST PSYCHIATRIST IN GEORGIA: Dr. Melieste, in Snellville, GA. He is intelligent, and listened to me and explained stuff I had been wondering my whole life.
BAD EXPERIENCE WITH PSYCHOLOGIST:
Dr. Greg Haley in Atlanta, GA- Didn’t explain a thing, prescibed me a med to take with Adderrall XR and Vyvanse that would lower my blood pressure (Intuitiv 1mg), and NEVER even told me WHAT it would do even when I asked, NOR tested my blood pressure (it is really low naturally), NOR responded when I left a message with the front desk guy (David) asking if I should continue the med cause my hands and legs went painfully numb the first day – had to pump my hands and feet for a full hour. When I called to check a week later, David blew me off and told me that it must not be a big deal cause Dr. Haley never responded.
So my heart not pumping enough blood is not a big deal? I went running, couldn’t get enough oxygen, and wasn’t sweating enough to cool down, and that is not worth calling me back to tell me not to take the med? I decided to stop taking it after the 2nd day, and waited to hear back. They never called. And I knew nothing until I called a week later. Ok. Won’t be back.
They charged me $220 for 10 minutes.
Hope that helps.
LINKS that might help:
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20031204/brain-scans-reveal-adhd-differences
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6156719/ADHD-sufferers-have-lower-brain-chemicals.html
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2009/September/Study-ADHD-Stems-from-Brain-Chemicals/
http://borntoexplore.org/neurochem.htm
@Stranger, I don’t believe 40 is too old. But if you have been fine without it, you may want to avoid beginning, because most ADHD drugs have unknown long term effects. The worst things I have read about adderrall include heart attacks, strokes, and a POTENTIAL that long term use causes worse brain function than before the drug was administered. That said, I don’t believe that is totally true about the brain function. I have experienced a small amount of heart pain, but it’s a balance of being able to function as a human being or not for me. So it is worth it. I would rather experience life while in it, than watch it go by not having enough ‘juice’ to enjoy it anyway. How humbling to say! And all because of low levels of two stupid brain chemicals.
But I am grateful for the med solutions we do have.
Good luck to you Stranger, and all the rest of you too. Do your research! Googling/Binging “neurotransmittors” (spell?) is a good one. Peace.
Elle
PS.
@Stranger – ADHD/ADD has genetic probability for transfer. So yes, you might have it too. But don’t blame yourself, the genetic proponent is only one of several possible causes: enviromental factors, head injury (potential to damage the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland in the brain, which produces and regulates neurotransmittors, hormones, etc., exposure to metals/toxins/mercury/etc., food additives, lack of physical exertion/exercise, and probably more.
This list is not confirmed as fact, just stuff I’ve read/come across.
Just trying to help:
- pharmacies do not get ‘kick backs’ for dispensing generics. Kickbacks in healthcare is illegal. Your doctor is misinformed. It’s ok, happens to all of us.
- it is legal in politics though, where drug companies have bought off politicians allowing them to do certain “questionable” things
- the company who makes Brand Adderall XR also makes the generic & has had some ‘issues’ supplying the generic lately. Hmm…
- How patents work in pharmaceuticals:
The original Brand drug is patented for 15-20 years from its IND stage. (investigational new drug) Therefore it’s patent is running while being investigated and is hard to know when it will expire based on when it is brought to market.
The 1st company to challenge the patent in court and win is granted an additional 6 month exclusive patent on the generic. (for court costs, I guess)
- This is how the same company is making both. They knew their patent was expiring, challenged it, and won exclusive marketing of the generic. (the word ‘criminal’ comes to mind, esp since they’re not make enough of the generic to supply everyone taking it)
- Generics and brands have to be AB rated, meaning they have to pass extensive tests to prove the same drug release, drug concentration, and drug duration as the brand, within limits. Somthing like 95%-ish (don’t quote that)
- However generics can have different inactive ingredients. Which actually makes up the most of what you’re taking.
- You’re not necessarily too old to start adderall. I would argue children shouldn’t be started willy-nilly on it since it’s really not their choice & most dr’s rely on parents/teachers to provide their “diagnosis” (people with no medical background-kinda scary)
- that being said some do need it and all I’m saying is it’s not a decision to take lightly.
- too much amphetamine can cause many side effects. some mentioned here might be from that (too much being released too soon or a build up of drug in the body) and might even be the cause of some of this back and forth attitude, something to think about.
Source: 4yrs pharmacy school, 10 yrs practice
Clarification: the only reason I quoted diagnosis is if parent or teacher feedback is all that’s used; then is the physician really the one diagnosing? or is it the parent?
No disrespect to the physicians out there and their diagnosis skills
Also, if a Dr doesn’t write DAW, brand medically necessary, ect; you can ALWAYS still get the brand name. The problem comes into play when the insurance won’t allow it without those words
THE PATIENT CAN ALWAYS REQUEST THE BRAND NAME & RECIEVE IT, but it might be easier on your wallet if the Dr does it.
sorry for all the back-to-back posts, I keep thinking of other points I could help clarify.
[I'll be done now]
Harvey – thank you for taking the time to share your expertise.
Just wanted to share one thing – in Ontario (a province in Canada), the generic companies were paying ‘professional fees’ to pharmacies for using their generics – i.e. it was a kickback. This went on for years… The government just stopped allowing this in 2010. This really hurt the small independent pharmacies – because the average professional fees were in the range of 300K per year!
Dr. Handelman,
That’s news to me…very interesting. I didn’t know Canada allowed that. I guess I should have mentioned all my info was in regards to the U.S.
If you check fda.gov (drugs@fda) you will see that there is no therapuetic equivelent yet for Adderall XR, There is “authorized copies” being made by 2 different drug companies, but these are merely repackaged brands being sold under the generic name. Adderall XR has not gone generic despite what this Dr is telling you. Some insurance companies will cover it as a generic, others wont until ANDA (new drug applications) are approved by the FDA.
Joseph.
Joseph is completely right. My insurance company explained there is NO generic for Adderall XR, there are only alternatives. Currently,my insurance company does not cover alternatives at all. Until the FDA approves the alternative for generic, there is nothing we can do. In the meantime, I would suggest calling your local Congressional reps. If the drug companies can lobby them, why shouldn’t we?
Calling reps does not translate to lobbying. Calls do not equal MONEY which is what politicians are interested in. People that believe a politician actually cares about them are either hopelessly naive or terrified of facing reality to the point of cowardly denial.
Joseph & Jennifer are right about the Therapeutic equivalent issue. There are no substituable generic therapeutic equivalents to ADDERALL XR…yet.
These generic alternatives are still generics, in that they haven’t done nearly as much R&D to get a new brand drug to the market; but they haven’t done sufficient studies to verify the AB rating I mentioned earlier. [I guess I didn't expect someone to bring it up]
This fact that they’re not AB rated could be a very good reason why some poeple are reporting different effects from the generic.
So…what does this mean as far as prescribing & dispensing?
As long as the Dr writes the generic drug name on the Rx: in parenthesis, as the drug, ect; the pharmacy CAN dispense the generic alternative. BUT if the physician ONLY writes for ADDERALL XR, technically the pharmacy can not substitute for the generic, since it’s not therapeutically equavalent (AB rated). Do pharmacies still substitute it if the patient wants? <> Doing so wouldn’t technically be legal.
1 last comment – I’m not sure why an insurance Co would ever reject the generic. Regardless of the equivalency, 999 out of 1000 it’s cheaper for everyone involved. That being said if you notice a change in efficacy switch back.