Nowadays, most adults are facing ADHD symptoms, like school or college students, working people. The rising cases of ADHD due to various factors like increased awareness, environmental influences, and social expectations are concerning. There are various types of treatment and medication available for the patients, like behavioral therapy, but if you want instant effects, Adderall and Concerta are the best ADHD medications for improvement. Further in this blog, we explore the difference between Adderall vs Concerta dosage, side effects, and learn about is Adderall and concerta are the same thing, can you take Adderall and concerta together, and what is stronger, Adderall or concerta?
Understanding The Difference Between Adderall and Concerta: Working Mechanism, Dosage, And Better Option
What Is Concerta?
Concerta is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medication that affects chemicals in the brain and nerves, which helps with hyperactivity and impulse control. It is used for the treatment of ADHD in children aged 6 and older and adults up to the age of 65. Concerta is available for once-a-day oral administration containing 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, or 54 mg of methylphenidate hydrochloride and is designed to have a 12-hour duration of effect.
What Is Adderall?
Adderall is also a prescription medicine that is classified as a CNS stimulant. It comes in two forms: an extended-release capsule (Adderall XR) and an immediate-release tablet (Adderall IR). It contains a mix of amphetamine salts that block dopamine and norepinephrine uptake and also increase their release from nerve cells. This leads to a faster rise of neurotransmitters, creating more immediate effects.
How Do Concerta and Adderall Work?
Adderall and Concerta are both stimulants, meaning they are both designed to increase brain activity. Adderall gets its stimulant effect from a combination of two drugs, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. The stimulants of Adderall block dopamine and norepinephrine uptake and also increase their release from nerve cells. This leads to a faster rise of neurotransmitters, creating more immediate effects.
In Concerta, the stimulant is methylphenidate. Methylphenidate prevents the brain from absorbing neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine too quickly, to stay active for longer. It is designed in a way called an extended-release formulation, which gradually releases methylphenidate throughout the day. The outer layer of the tablet dissolves immediately after swallowing in the morning, giving the body an initial dose of methylphenidate hydrochloride. These tablets have a special shell preventing them from dissolving at once. They do not dissolve immediately, even after all the drug has been released, and are sometimes noticed in the stools.
What Is The Difference Between Concerta and Adderall?
There are very few differences between when you compare Adderall and concerta, considering very similar in the way they react, their symptoms, and the purpose of their use. Let’s look into some of the points that make Concerta and Adderall different from each other:
- Effects: The effects of Concerta start after 10 to 15 minutes and last up to 8 to 12 hours, while Adderall takes around 30 to 40 minutes to be effective and lasts only 3 to 4 hours.
- Active Ingredients: The ingredients of Concerta consist of methylphenidate, while Adderall consists of a mixture of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts.
- Available Forms of the Drugs: Concerta is available in the form of an extended-release oral tablet, while adderall is available in both extended-release and immediate-release forms.
- Intake of the drugs: Both of these tablets can be taken with or without food, but people generally prefer to take them after food to avoid stomach issues. If you cannot swallow Adderall, open it and mix the granules with food, but Concerta should never be crushed.
Dosage Information
Commonly, Dosages are different for individuals because they depend on age, weight, and health condition. Thus, only take the drug with medical supervision and never share the dose with anyone, even if both have the same issue.
Dosage of Concerta
- Children (6 to 12): its Initial dose is 18 mg, take it as a single dose daily, and the maximum dose is 56 mg.
- Adults (18 to 35): usually it lower dose is 18 mg per day or the maximum dose a 72 mg per day.
Dosage Of Adderall
- Children 6 and older: Start with 5 mg once or twice daily and raise it by 5 mg a week
- Adults: Start with 5 mg once or twice daily and then raise it by 5 mg a week.
Side Effects
Concerta and Adderall are generally considered to be safe options for patients if the person takes them as prescribed. But in some cases, looking, some common side effects include stomachache, Loss of appetite, Nervousness, Dry mouth, Nausea, and Dizziness. That occurs when starting the medication. Some side effects are not common to both and can happen while taking one of them. Adderall (both extended and immediate-release) can cause tics and serotonin syndrome, i.e., a serious drug reaction which is caused due to excess serotonin levels in the body. Other side effects of Concerta include priapism (prolonged, painful erection) and the potential for gastrointestinal obstruction.
Which Is A Better Option For ADHD, Adderall or Concerta?
Between Concerta and Adderall, the “better” option depends upon the patient’s requirements. The difference between these medications can be their longevity, i.e., how long they last, their symptoms, and which is better in case of adults and children. For patients with chronic ADHD symptoms, Concerta can be a better option because they are extended-release tablet and will maintain a consistent level of medication in the body. Some researches suggest that Concerta is a first-line treatment for children and adults, while Adderall is a more suitable option for adults.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Concerta and Adderall be taken together?
There is very little research on the topic of whether these medicines can be taken together or not. Doctors do not prescribe them together due to the chance of having adverse effects on health.
Are there any withdrawal symptoms of these drugs?
Yes, some withdrawal symptoms are seen, like headache, fatigue, anxiety, vomiting, and muscle ache, but these are all milder symptoms. It is better to consult a doctor before taking any steps to avoid complications.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that both Adderall and Concerta are essentially the same medication, except for a few key points that make them unique. If these medicines are taken regularly alongside some behavioural therapies, they produce excellent results.