Adderall XR

Amphetamine belongs to the family of medications known as stimulants. It is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It helps to increase attention and decrease hyperactivity and impulsiveness in children over 6 years of age, adolescents, and adults who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Other measures (e.g., psychological, educational, and social therapies) are used along with mixed salts amphetamine as part of an overall treatment program for ADHD. An improvement in ADHD symptoms can be seen within one week of starting the medication.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

The usual starting dose is 10 mg taken once daily in the morning. The dose is usually started low and increased gradually. The dose of this medication needs to be individualized according to the needs of the person taking the medication. Doses above 30 mg daily are not recommended.

This medication may be taken with or without food. Swallow this medication whole with water or other liquids. Do not crush or split the capsules. The capsule contains small pellets of medication specially designed to release their contents slowly inside the body. The capsule may be opened and the contents sprinkled over applesauce. The applesauce should be eaten immediately after sprinkling and not stored for later. Avoid chewing the applesauce – chewing could damage the pellets from the capsule. Eat all of the sprinkled applesauce to make sure you get the full dose.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.  Taking a dose in the afternoon may cause difficulty sleeping, and should therefore be avoided. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• Diarrhea
• dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• headache
• appetite changes (increased or decreased)
• mood changes
• nausea
• stomach ache
• trouble falling asleep
• vomiting
• weight loss

Although most of the side effects listed below don’t happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• anxiety or nervousness
• behavior changes (e.g., aggressiveness, agitation, anger, hostility)
• blurred vision or other vision changes
• fast heartbeat or heart palpitations
• hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not actually there)
• increased blood pressure
• mania (feeling unusually excited, over-active, or uninhibited)
• poor blood circulation (e.g., hands and feet becoming bluish, numb, unusually cold)
• psychotic symptoms (e.g., paranoid thoughts)
• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
• tics (uncontrolled and repeated body movements)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• chest pain
• convulsions (seizures)
• signs of a Heart Attack (e.g., chest pain or pressure, pain extending through shoulder and arm, nausea and vomiting, sweating)
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., difficulty breathing; Hives; swelling of the face, lips, eyes, mouth, or throat)
• signs of a severe skin reaction such as blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with Fever or discomfort
• signs of Stroke (e.g., sudden or severe headache; sudden loss of coordination; vision changes; sudden slurring of speech; or unexplained weakness, numbness, or pain in arm or leg)
• thoughts of suicide or harming yourself

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

5 mg
Each clear and blue extended-release capsule, imprinted “ADDERALL XR” on one end and “5 mg” on the other, contains 5 mg of mixed salts amphetamine. Nonmedicinal ingredients: FD&C Blue No. 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, starch, sugar spheres, talc, and triethyl citrate; gelatin capsule: edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide.

10 mg
Each blue extended-release capsule, imprinted “ADDERALL XR” on one end and “10 mg” on the other, contains 10 mg of mixed salts amphetamine. Nonmedicinal ingredients: FD&C Blue No. 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, starch, sugar spheres, talc, and triethyl citrate; gelatin capsule: edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide.

15 mg
Each blue and white extended-release capsule, imprinted “ADDERALL XR” on one end and “15 mg” on the other, contains 15 mg of mixed salts amphetamine. Nonmedicinal ingredients: FD&C Blue No. 2, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, starch, sugar spheres, talc, and triethyl citrate; gelatin capsule: edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide.

20 mg
Each orange extended-release capsule, imprinted “ADDERALL XR” on one end and “20 mg” on the other, contains 20 mg of mixed salts amphetamine. Nonmedicinal ingredients: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, red iron oxide, starch, sugar spheres, talc, triethyl citrate, and yellow iron oxide; gelatin capsule: edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide.

25 mg
Each orange and white extended-release capsule, imprinted “ADDERALL XR” on one end and “25 mg” on the other, contains 25 mg of mixed salts amphetamine. Nonmedicinal ingredients: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, red iron oxide, starch, sugar spheres, talc, triethyl citrate, and yellow iron oxide; gelatin capsule: edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide.

30 mg
Each clear and orange extended-release capsule, imprinted “ADDERALL XR” on one end and “30 mg” on the other, contains 30 mg of mixed salts amphetamine. Nonmedicinal ingredients: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, red iron oxide, starch, sugar spheres, talc, triethyl citrate, and yellow iron oxide; gelatin capsule: edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide.