What are the top 5 ADHD medications?

The most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD include:
  • Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)
  • Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)
  • Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)
  • Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine)
  • Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on campushealth.unc.edu


What is the number 1 ADHD medication?

ADHD specialists recommend methylphenidates as the first-choice medication for treating children and adolescents, and amphetamines as the first-choice medication for adults.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodrx.com


What are the 2 major drugs used in ADHD?

Stimulants are the best and most common type of medication used to treat ADHD. There are only two stimulant medications, methylphenidate (the active ingredient in Ritalin, Concerta and other formulations) and amphetamine (the active ingredient in Adderall, Vyvanse and other formulations).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on childmind.org


What is the strongest type of ADHD medication?

It's called Adhansia XR and its active ingredient is methylphenidate, which has been used to treat ADHD for more than 50 years.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


Which ADHD medication is best for anxiety?

Qelbree is a selective selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that is used in the treatment of both depression and anxiety and that has also been shown to be effective in treating ADHD.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on klarityadhd.com


ADHD: We Finally Know Which Drugs to Use | Morning Report



Is Concerta stronger than Adderall?

Manufacturers designed Concerta so that its effects last 12 hours, whereas those of Adderall peak at around 3 hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 70–80 percent of children see an improvement in their ADHD symptoms when taking these drugs.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


What's better Adderall or Ritalin?

Ritalin works sooner and reaches peak performance more quickly than Adderall does. However, Adderall stays active in your body longer than Ritalin does. Adderall works for four to six hours. Ritalin is only active for two to three hours.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


What drug gives you energy and motivation?

Ritalin enhances your ability to do tasks by making you more...
  • Ritalin in the brain. Ritalin works by increasing the amount of dopamine released in the striatum, a key region in the brain related to motivation, action and cognition. ...
  • From observation to test. ...
  • Cost versus benefit. ...
  • Background: dopamine and decisions.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on radboudumc.nl


What is the newest ADHD medication?

The US Food and Drug Administration approved two new medications for ADHD in the spring of 2021: Azstarys, a stimulant medication, and Qelbree, a nonstimulant. Both can be prescribed for children age six and older.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on chadd.org


What is better Concerta or Vyvanse?

At the end of the study, patients who took Vyvanse had a slightly larger reduction in the score (25.4 point reduction) compared to patients who took Concerta (22.1 point reduction) or placebo (17 point reduction). In this study, Vyvanse was found to be “statistically superior” to Concerta.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on singlecare.com


What is Vyvanse vs Adderall?

Adderall comes in an immediate-release form and an extended-release form; Vyvanse comes in a capsule form that is an extended-release version. The duration of action for the immediate-release version of Adderall is about 4–6 hours, whereas the extended-release version lasts about 12 hours.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on americanaddictioncenters.org


What is a good substitute for Vyvanse?

While Vyvanse doesn't have a generic, there are other medications to speak with your healthcare provider about. Other similar stimulants, like Concerta and Adderall, have cheap generic alternatives. Keep in mind that switching stimulants may not be simple.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodrx.com


What is the most effective treatment for ADHD in adults?

Standard treatments for ADHD in adults typically involve medication, education, skills training and psychological counseling. A combination of these is often the most effective treatment. These treatments can help manage many symptoms of ADHD , but they don't cure it.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


Is Wellbutrin good for ADHD?

Wellbrutin is an antidepressant that is commonly prescribed as an off-label treatment for ADHD. While stimulant medications are the first line of treatment, scientific research has shown that using Wellbutrin may help to improve ADHD symptoms, including impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on additudemag.com


Does Strattera work as well as Adderall?

Recap. Both Strattera and Adderall are available in different dosing ranges as well as in brand name and generic forms. Adderall tends to work quickly to relieve symptoms, while Strattera can take several weeks to reach its full efficacy.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellmind.com


Is there such thing as a happy pill?

The original “happy pill” was fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac. This medication, approved for use in 1987, was the first drug of its kind to be prescribed and marketed on a large scale. The use of this medication is very common, especially for the treatment of depression, but it is not without its risks.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on lagunashoresrecovery.com


What can a doctor prescribe for energy?

Prescription stimulants include medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®) and amphetamines (Dexedrine® and Adderall®). These medications, which are in the same class of drugs as cocaine and methamphetamine (“meth”), increase alertness, energy, and attention.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on headsup.scholastic.com


Is Vyvanse stronger than Ritalin?

Earlier studies that compared other stimulant drugs with the active ingredient in Vyvanse found that it's about equally effective. A 2013 analysis of children and teens found the active ingredient in Vyvanse to be much more effective at relieving ADHD symptoms than the active ingredient in Ritalin.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


How much Ritalin is equal to Adderall?

The instant release version of Adderall is effective for most people for around 3 to 4 hours. The instant release version of Ritalin is shorter-acting in most people, and its effectiveness ranges from 3 to 4 hours. Also, a 5 mg dose of Adderall is equivalent to around 10 mg of Ritalin.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on therecoveryvillage.com


Is dextroamphetamine stronger than Adderall?

Dexedrine is more potent than many other ADHD medications, including Ritalin and Adderall, when taken in equivalent doses. In part, this is because Dexedrine only contains dextroamphetamine, and there are few inactive ingredients in this older medication to slow the release of the stimulant into the body.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on riveroakstreatment.com


Which is better Concerta or focalin?

Focalin XR 20 mg and 30 mg2 also demonstrated better symptom control versus Concerta 36 mg and 54 mg respectively, from 30 minutes to 6 hours. Symptom control was demonstrated as early as 30 minutes post-dose with Focalin XR 20 mg and 30 mg versus placebo.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on fiercebiotech.com


Is Concerta better than Ritalin?

Concerta has a long, steady release pattern, while the short-acting Ritalin releases more quickly and the level drops between doses. This creates more hills and valleys in your blood level. Some people do better with the long release of Concerta while others may need the quicker action of Ritalin.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


Does Concerta make you feel happy?

Concerta may cause dopamine levels to rise quickly when taken in very high doses, which can result in a euphoric feeling, or a high.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com
Previous question
Is vitamin B-12 good for GREY hair?