Adderall how long does it take to kick in

Click here for scheduling options. Do you know someone who swears by Adderall? We reached out to Dr. Ashley Chatigny, a double board-certified psychiatrist and medical director of behavioral health with Lee Physician Group , for some answers.

Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, two central nervous stimulants that improve focus and reduce impulsivity by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Adderall is not available without a prescription. But we invite you to talk to a doctor about any medication changes or questions about lifestyle, ADHD, or other concerns.

Adderall is also approved for narcolepsy, but Concerta is not. Concerta is used off-label to treat narcolepsy.

Adderall comes in two forms: an immediate-release Adderall tablet and an extended-release capsule Adderall XR. One difference between the drugs is how fast they work and how long they last.

Adderall may work slightly faster, but Concerta lasts longer:. Adderall and Concerta are very similar medications. Both medications can cause psychological and physical dependence, and can be misused or abused. Both Adderall and Concerta are brand-name drugs.

The generic name of Concerta is methylphenidate extended-release. Adderall and modafinil, a generic drug, are both stimulant medications, but they affect the brain in slightly different ways.

Modafinil increases wakefulness and alertness. Adderall can also stimulate wakefulness and, in people with ADHD , can produce feelings of calm and focus. Modafinil is approved to treat narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and sleep apnea. Modafinil is used off-label to treat ADHD. Both Adderall and modafinil are effective treatment options for daytime sleepiness in people who have narcolepsy. Adderall is considered a first-choice medication for treating symptoms of ADHD.

Adderall and modafinil are both stimulants and have some similar side effects. However, Adderall is more likely to cause side effects than modafinil. Both Adderall and modafinil can cause physical and psychological dependence leading to misuse or abuse.

However, dependence appears to be more common with Adderall than modafinil. Due to these differences in side effect risk, modafinil is often preferred over Adderall for treating narcolepsy. Adderall and modafinil are both available in brand-name and generic versions. The brand name of modafinil is Provigil. The generic versions of medications typically cost less.

But in some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as the brand-name drug. The generic version and the brand-name version Provigil of modafinil usually cost more than the brand-name and generic versions of Adderall. Adderall is a stimulant medication that increases norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and produces calm and focus in people with ADHD.

It works as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and increases the amount of norepinephrine in parts of the brain. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter , a chemical that sends messages between cells. Adderall, a stimulant, is considered a first-choice treatment for ADHD.

Stimulants are the best studied and most effective treatments for ADHD. Adderall and Strattera are both available in brand-name and generic versions. The generic name of Strattera is atomoxetine.

The brand and generic versions of Strattera usually cost more than the brand and generic versions of Adderall. Adderall and methylphenidate are both commonly used to treat ADHD.

Both are also used off-label for treating similar conditions, such as depression and anxiety , in combination with other medications. The chewable and solution forms of methylphenidate may be good options for those who have trouble swallowing pills. Methylphenidate tablets may work slightly faster than Adderall. However, Adderall works for a slightly longer time than methylphenidate:. Adderall and methylphenidate are very similar medications.

Adderall is a brand-name medication. Methylphenidate is a generic medication. Brand-name Adderall costs more than generic methylphenidate. However, generic versions of Adderall cost about the same as generic methylphenidate. The exact cost will depend on your insurance. Deciding which medication to use may come down to which is covered by your insurance, the drug form that you prefer, and how your body responds to the medication.

Picking the best medication is often a matter of trial and error. Your doctor will guide you through the process of finding the right medication for you. Consuming alcohol with Adderall can be a dangerous combination for some, especially for those who drink too much.

Drinking alcohol while taking Adderall can make you feel less drunk than you really are. This can lead you to drink too much. In addition to other effects, drinking too much may worsen symptoms of ADHD. Consuming alcohol with Adderall can also increase your risk of heart-related side effects such as:. Adderall can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as some foods.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Adderall.

Before taking Adderall, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Medications that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach can increase the amount of Adderall your body absorbs. This can raise your risk of side effects. Examples of acid-reducing drugs include:. Taking Adderall with MAOIs can increase the risk of dangerous side effects, such as very high blood pressure , chest pain , severe headache , and increased body temperature.

Taking Adderall with medications that increase serotonin in your body can raise your risk of developing serotonin syndrome , a drug reaction that can be dangerous.

If you take any of these medications, you may need to start with a lower dosage of Adderall. Taking Adderall with a tricyclic antidepressant can increase the effects of Adderall in your body and increase your risk of heart-related effects and other side effects.

Examples of tricyclic antidepressants include:. Taking Adderall with certain medications that block how the body breaks down Adderall can result in an increased risk of serious side effects, including serotonin syndrome. If you take these medications, you may need to start with a lower dosage of Adderall.

Examples of these medications include:. Adderall and Xanax alprazolam are sometimes prescribed together, especially for those who have both ADHD and anxiety. Adderall helps improve concentration and focus, while Xanax is calming and can help relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Adderall and Prozac fluoxetine are sometimes prescribed together, especially for people who have both ADHD and other conditions. These conditions include depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Adderall helps improve concentration and focus in people with ADHD. Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI antidepressant that can improve symptoms of depression. These medications should only be taken together if your doctor prescribes them. Combining Adderall and Prozac can increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome , a drug reaction that can be dangerous. Adderall and Zoloft sertraline are sometimes prescribed together, especially for people who have both ADHD and other conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI antidepressant that can improve symptoms of depression. Combining Adderall and Zoloft can increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome , a drug reaction that can be dangerous. Adderall can interact with certain vitamins, supplements, or herbs you may be taking. Taking vitamin C supplements can make your stomach more acidic and can decrease the amount of Adderall your body absorbs.

This can make Adderall less effective. Fruit juices high in vitamin C, soda drinks, and food with high levels of preservatives should be avoided an hour before and after taking Adderall. High doses of vitamin C mg. If your current dose is no longer effective as it once was, work with your doctor to discover why. For children under 16, it may be that a higher dose is needed.

You may also need to take the medication more than once a day. Discuss these options with your physician. The U. Food and Drug Administration classifies drugs for use in pregnancy into several categories. Category C medications should only be used if the benefits to the mother are greater than any potential risk to the unborn child.

Your doctor can help you determine if this is the right choice for you. You should consult with your physician right away before taking any medication — existing or new — during pregnancy. Adderall is passed through breast milk. Your physician can help you decide how to best manage your situation. For more information, see the National Institute of Health Guide. When managed properly, certain medications can be taken alongside Adderall.

You should keep a list of all supplements, prescription, and over-the-counter-products you take, and discuss your treatment plan with your physician and pharmacist to prevent any dangerous drug interactions. Drug interactions can either change the effectiveness of the medication, or put you at risk for dangerous side effects.

You should not take MAO inhibitors while taking Adderall, or two weeks before treatment with Adderall, due to a serious and sometimes fatal interaction. Amphetamine in Adderall originally came on the market as an over-the-counter decongestant. Certain cough medicines or diet pills contain ingredients that may increase heart rate or blood pressure when taken in combination with Adderall.

Additionally, large amounts of caffeine can cause a higher incidence of side effects whether consumed via a beverage, chocolate, or from other over-the-counter medications. If you are having medical tests, be sure that all physicians and staff are aware of your medication history.

The published literature on side effects of Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall does not suggest a relationship between Adderall and the menstrual cycle. However, many women find that their ADHD medication is not as effective in the four to five days before their menstrual flow. Raising the dose of Adderall does not increase its level of benefits. Talk with your doctor about how to measure this loss of effectiveness. Suppression of appetite is a side effect of Adderall, and people taking it often lose weight.

This side effect is not necessarily dose-related. Loss of appetite is much more common in children who were already thin or picky eaters before taking Adderall. For more strategies, see When Meds Suppress Appetite. Typically, people will see effects from immediate-release stimulants in just one hour. The medication is effective as soon as it crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Since citric and ascorbic acid vitamin C , in either supplements, juices, or foods can prevent absorption of ADHD stimulant medication, try taking the medication on an empty stomach, and avoid vitamin C an hour before and after taking medication.

Only about 70 percent of people get a clear benefit from amphetamine. You may need to increase the dosage. When both amphetamine and methylphenidate are tried, the response rate rises to 88 percent. That means that one in every 12 people will not get the dramatic benefits that are usually seen with first-line ADHD medications. Drug therapy of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Current trends.

Mens Sana Monogr. New formulations of stimulants: an update for clinicians. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. Cleveland Clinic. Reviewed February 23, Noven Therapeutics, LLC. Neurol Res Int. Integr Pharm Res Pract. J Cent Nerv Syst Dis.

Revised February 15, Food and Drug Administration. Kapvay prescribing information. Profile of guanfacine extended-release and its potential in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. Childress AC. A critical appraisal of atomoxetine in the management of ADHD. Ther Clin Risk Manag.

Qelbree medication guide. Issued April Pharmacological treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: Clinical strategies. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.