Which is better focalin or concerta

Would you like to share your experience with an ADHD medication? Please find the medication here and submit a review that other readers can easily find. This article seems a bit superficial for an ADD magazine. Why the Ritalin-Concerta comparison, for instance? They are literally the same thing, just different brand names. You must be logged in to post a comment. It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. In that survey, we learned that: The most common age of diagnosis is 7 nearly 8 years old Most of our survey respondents said their child was diagnosed years earlier Previous Article Next Article. Jump to Comments. Mothers Know Best. Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Email Address. Amphetamine Sulfate. Other meds. Extremely or Very Effective. Irritability or Moodiness.

Sleep Disturbances. This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication.

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions.

Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein. Search Close Menu. Sign In About Mental Illness. About Mental Illness Treatments. About Mental Illness Research. Your Journey Individuals with Mental Illness.

Your Journey Family Members and Caregivers. Your Journey Identity and Cultural Dimensions. Your Journey Frontline Professionals. Get Involved Become a Fundraiser. Get Involved Awareness Events. Get Involved Share Your Story. Get Involved Partner with Us. Advocacy Advocate for Change. Advocacy Policy Priorities. Advocacy Policy Platform. Advocacy Crisis Intervention.

Advocacy State Fact Sheets. Advocacy Public Policy Reports. Methylphenidate or Dexmethylphenidate Concerta, Ritalin and others. Since stimulants can increase blood pressure, the effects of blood pressure medications may be decreased. Adjustments in dosage may be needed if you are taking a stimulant and blood pressure medication. This could cause an increase or decrease in effects.

Focalin and Adderall are controlled substances that have a high potential for abuse. Taking these medications long-term can increase the risk of abuse and dependence, especially if they are taken outside of their prescribed dosage. These medications should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Focalin and Adderall are CNS stimulants that may be linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart attacks. Their use should be monitored in those with a history of heart disease and heart rhythm problems arrhythmias. Stimulants can also increase blood pressure and heart rate.

Monitor blood pressure while taking stimulants, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure. The use of stimulants may cause or worsen other mental health problems. Monitor for signs of hostility, anxiety, aggression, paranoia, and depression while taking stimulants.

Before taking Focalin or Adderall, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or bipolar disorder. Focalin is an ADHD prescription medication. It is available as a generic medication called dexmethylphenidate. Focalin is part of a class of drugs called CNS stimulants. Immediate-release Focalin tablets are usually taken twice daily with effects that last up to four hours between doses.

Focalin is also available in extended-release tablets. Adderall is a brand-name ADHD medication, also available as a generic drug, containing a combination of amphetamine salts. It works as a stimulant drug to improve focus and manage impulsivity in people with ADHD.

Adderall comes in immediate-release and extended-release forms. Both Focalin and Adderall work in similar ways by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. However, Focalin contains dexmethylphenidate and Adderall contains amphetamine salts.

They also have some differences in available strengths and side effects. Studies suggest that Focalin is better for treating children and adolescents while Adderall is better for treating adults with ADHD. Both drugs are available in immediate-release and extended-release versions. Consult your healthcare provider for the best treatment option for you. There may be a risk of birth defects with the use of Focalin or Adderall while pregnant.

We discuss each amphetamine stimulant in more detail below. Dextro-amphetamine is the main active ingredient in Adderall XR. Doctors can prescribe this medication to children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD. As a long-acting medication, it provides symptom control for 10—12 hours. Sometimes, doctors will need to prescribe a short-acting amphetamine drug to provide symptom control later in the afternoon. Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine, which is an inactive form of amphetamine.

When a person takes Vyvanse, their body transforms the inactive medicine into dextroamphetamine. Vyvanse has similar effects to Adderall XR. Adults who take Vyvanse can gain 14 hours of symptom control. Dexedrine Spansules will last about 6—8 hours. The Dexedrine tablet will only last 3—5 hours, so people tend to use it once the long-acting drug wears off later in the day. Nonstimulant medications act on a set of different pathways that offer another treatment option. Doctors may prescribe nonstimulant medications in combination with stimulants or alone.

Some people cannot tolerate the side effects of stimulant medications and can only take nonstimulants. When people use nonstimulant medications, they may only notice their symptoms start to improve after about 6—8 weeks.

As a result, this treatment is not appropriate for people who require urgent symptom control. There are two nonstimulant drugs for ADHD available, and their strengths are listed in the following table:. Strattera may be beneficial for people with ADHD who also have anxiety, as stimulants can make anxiety worse.

Doctors can prescribe Strattera to children, adolescents, and adults. People can take both stimulant medications and Strattera if necessary.

The most notable side effects of Strattera include nausea and stomach upset. People should not open Strattera capsules because the medication may irritate the eyes. They must swallow Strattera capsules whole, which can be challenging for some people. The major benefit of this medication is that its effect can last into the evening and early morning. Children with other challenges, such as anxiety, aggression, and tics, can use Intuniv XR.

When a person starts taking Intuniv XR, they may experience fatigue and a lowering of their blood pressure and pulse. These side effects may also occur when they increase the dosage. People taking Intuniv XR must let their doctor or pharmacist know if they are taking any medications for their heartbeat. People should exercise caution when taking such drugs to prevent the heart rate from getting too low. Doctors and pharmacists should remind caregivers not to abruptly stop administering Intuniv XR to their children because blood pressure and pulse may increase.

Caregivers should wean children off of Intuniv XR gradually. People taking Intuniv XR should let their doctors and pharmacists know which medications they are taking to be sure that there will be no problematic interactions. Some research has shown that combining medication and psychosocial interventions is an effective strategy for managing ADHD symptoms. Psychoeducation is effective for children over 8 years old.