Dextroamphetamine vs Adderall: Strength Comparison

Understanding Dextroamphetamine

“Dextroamphetamine vs Adderall is a common comparison in prescription medication. Dextroamphetamine is used to control the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can also be used to treat narcolepsy (excessive feeling of sleepiness during the day and falling asleep). It comes in different forms: liquid, tablet, and extended-release capsules to take by mouth. The tablet is taken 2 to 3 times a day. The extended-release tablet is taken only once a day. The liquid is taken once or twice a day. One rule of thumb is never to take it in the evening because it will make it hard to fall or stay asleep. When taking dextroamphetamine, there can be a plethora of side effects.

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Some side effects are nausea, cramps, lack of appetite, headache, trouble sleeping, and weight loss. The different strengths of dextroamphetamine you can get prescribed are 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg. It’s important to take the amount you’re instructed to take from the prescription. If you take more than you’re supposed to, you’re at risk of overdosing. For individuals seeking support for prescription medication management or recovery, exploring Drug Rehab Centers in Florida can provide valuable resources and assistance.

Understanding Adderall

Adderall is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It changes the amount of certain natural substances in the brain. This medication is taken orally, usually 1 to 3 times a day. Some of the side effects of using Adderall are weight loss, dry mouth, upset stomach, nausea, headache, and lack of appetite. Adderall effectiveness is shown when there’s more hyperfocus on one activity and less on eating, needing to focus on one thing at a time. Sometimes the side effects can be dangerous if you get uncontrollable shaking, seizures, hallucinating, and blurred vision. 

Comparing Dextroamphetamine and Adderall

There are similarities and differences between dextroamphetamine and Adderall. Dextroamphetamine is one of the chemicals that make up the foundation of Adderall. Adderall is made up of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, a brand name. Dexedrine is the brand name of dextroamphetamine. They have some of the same side effects but there are quite a few that only affect people who take Adderall, which are: 

• Nervousness
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Motor tics
• Fever
• Peeling skin
• Itching
• Swelling of the eyes, tongue, face, or throat
• Hoarseness
• Issues with breathing or swallowing

Most people will ask for Adderall to abuse recreationally and not to treat ADHD. Even though Adderall is more well-known than dextroamphetamine, it has way less adverse side effects than Adderall. Adderall is considered a stronger drug for people who have ADHD. 

 Is Dextroamphetamine Stronger than Adderall?

Dextroamphetamine is known to have a stronger side effect than Adderall, which also contains amphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is the strongest stimulant ingredient, so having amphetamine in the foundation of Adderall makes it weaker compared to dextroamphetamine. Dextroamphetamine can be prescribed in the following dosages: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg. They last up to 8 hours. The dosage can also go all the way up to 40 mg if the symptoms are hard to treat. The dosage for Adderall for immediate release comes in 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, and 30 mg tablets. The extended-release version of Adderall comes in 5 mg increments, ranging from 5 mg to 30 mg. 

Responsible Use of Prescription Stimulants

Dextroamphetamine and Adderall are both considered stimulants. Stimulants can sometimes be misused and make someone addicted to them. Usually, these stimulants are misused to get high or to become super focused on studying. If you don’t need the stimulant medication for ADHD, it can be harmful to the cognitive function and chemical imbalance it can cause to your brain. You should only use prescription stimulants if they were specifically prescribed to you, not if they were prescribed to someone else. Besides misuse of prescription stimulants possibly leading to overdose, it can also lead to psychosis, anger, paranoia, heart, nerve, and stomach problems. If you misuse Adderall, some physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms that can show up are:

• Talking a lot and having fast thoughts
• Feeling that you’re invincible
• Nausea and vomiting
• Crushing or snorting Adderall
• Desire to work
• Feeling more social
• Feeling impatient
• Getting deep insights into the meaning of life
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Weight loss

Dextroamphetamine can be misused too. Some of the side effects of misusing it are:

• Loss of appetite 
• Blurred vision
• Nervousness
• Tremors
• Insomnia
• Increased blood pressure
• anxiety

Support at WhiteSands Treatment Center

WhiteSands Treatment has various drug rehab inpatient treatment options to help people suffering from Adderall or dextroamphetamine addiction. The main treatment everyone needs to go through to get sober successfully is medical detox. It’s important to seek detox in a clinical and professional environment as withdrawal symptoms have to be managed and monitored. WhiteSands Treatment has medical professionals that can provide medications to manage withdrawal symptoms during and after detox. There’s also an option to be in a more intense treatment program that includes 24/7 care, which falls under residential rehab. This type of controlled environment makes it easier to monitor symptoms and help the patient by not being somewhere surrounded by triggers. There’s less of a chance of relapsing when enrolled in residential rehab. WhiteSands Treatment understands that addiction treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, which is why they provide holistic treatment options too. Some alternative treatments are biofeedback, yoga, nutritional therapy, and art therapy. Biofeedback helps with addiction treatment by having biological information measured from the body of the patient and then presented to them, so the patient can learn how to have better control over it. Yoga helps with coping with negative thoughts and emotions. Nutritional therapy is essential in balancing out the chemicals in your body that have been depleted due to the chemical dependency from stimulant addiction. Art therapy is a way for patients to express themselves without having to talk about it during therapy sessions. WhiteSands Treatment is here for patients and can help with addiction treatment, call today at 877-640-7820.

Frequently Asked Questions on Dextroamphetamine vs Adderall

What is the difference between dextroamphetamine and Adderall?

Dextroamphetamine is more potent and; therefore, stronger than Adderall. Adderall contains dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, which lessens the strength of the stimulant. 

Is dextroamphetamine more potent than Adderall?

Dextroamphetamine as mentioned before is more potent than Adderall. Since Adderall has dextroamphetamine and amphetamine it makes the stimulant less powerful. Dextroamphetamine is the most potent component of amphetamine and isn’t weakened by another form. 

Can dextroamphetamine and Adderall be used interchangeably?

The maximum amount of stimulant medicines you can take together is only one, so dextroamphetamine and Adderall can’t be taken in place of another. There’s a reason your doctor prescribed you one of the stimulants over the other and the dosage is tailored to you. If you take a higher dose than you’re prescribed, it can be detrimental to your health. 

What are the side effects of dextroamphetamine compared to Adderall?

Dextroamphetamine and Adderall of some of the same side effects, which are rapid heartbeat, headache, sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, dizziness, dry mouth, and weight loss. Some side effects that Adderall causes and not dextroamphetamine are vomiting, nervousness, stomach pain, motor tics, fever, blistering skin, itching, swelling of the eyes, hoarseness, and issues breathing. 

Who should avoid using dextroamphetamine or Adderall?

If you have a heart defect or a serious heart problem, you’re not a good candidate to take dextroamphetamine or Adderall. It can cause sudden death, heart attack, or stroke if you have those conditions and take stimulant medication. 

What are the risks of misusing dextroamphetamine or Adderall?

If you misuse Adderall, you will get side effects that are high blood pressure, sweating, increased respiration, stomachaches, loss of appetite, and psychosis. If you misuse dextroamphetamine, you get the side effects of headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, dry mouth, weight loss, and fever. 

How to recognize if someone is misusing dextroamphetamine or Adderall?

The signs of misuse of dextroamphetamine and Adderall are they continue to abuse the stimulant medication even though they are blacking out, cause relationship problems, neglect major responsibilities, withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, and use larger amounts than they should for long periods. If misuse is suspected, it’s important to get help for them as soon as possible. First, you need to let them know you notice they are misusing the medication and see if they will admit it. If they admit it, then you can easily help them get admitted into drug rehab ppo insurance coverage. 

What kind of help is available for those struggling with the misuse of prescription stimulants?

WhiteSands Treatment provides treatment options for the misuse of prescription stimulants. When first admitted to the facility, they will have you complete an assessment. It’s important to seek help immediately as anyone addicted to prescription stimulants is at risk of overdosing. 

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.