Can you take Adderall with Adderall XR?

Can you take Adderall with Adderall XR?

You can only take Adderall with Adderall XR if prescribed by your healthcare provider. Adderall XR is the extended-release dosage form of Adderall. 

The two medications contain the exact same active ingredients, they are just released at different times. Since Adderall XR is an extended-release med, it releases one dose of the drug right after you take it and the other part is released after some time. 

However, in some cases, Adderall XR fails to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome, especially if it wears off too soon or a total of 20 mg dose is not enough for a specific individual. In such cases, regular Adderall is prescribed along with Adderall XR. 

The extended-release medication is usually taken in the morning and the regular one is taken later in the day to maintain sufficient drug concentration in your body throughout the day. 

Potential side effects of Adderall overdose

Taking Adderall with Adderall XR without your doctor’s approval can result in an overdose in some cases. Potential side effects associated with Adderall overdose include (1):

  • Agitation
  • Restlessness
  • Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations
  • Tremors 
  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Over-excitation, followed by severe exhaustion
  • High blood pressure
  • Confusion 
  • Hallucinations
  • Convulsions

The occurrence and intensity of these side effects can vary, depending on patient-specific factors, like age, weight, exact doses of Adderall taken, any pre-existing health condition that can prolong the duration of action, and how sensitive you generally are to Adderall.

Advice from a pharmacist 

If you’re taking Adderall XR and you think it’s not working well enough to counteract your symptoms effectively, talk to your healthcare provider. Adderall is an Amphetamine and it is a controlled medication. 

You should never increase the dose or frequency without your doctor’s approval. If your doctor thinks you need to combine Adderall XR with Adderall for maximum benefits, he/she will guide you accordingly. Adderall XR can be opened and taken with food for ease of administration.

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References

1.-

MedlinePlus. Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine. MedlinePlus drug information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Feb 15; cited 2022 Dec 7]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601234.html