The most common psychological disorder problem, which is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), millions and billions of people living in the USA are experiencing it. Hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention (lack of concentration or focus) are three basic symptoms of ADHD, which often occur in childhood stage.
ADHD is a chronic (persistent) condition that may occur in individuals and last for years of years and turned to be long-lasting, if left untreated. To minimize the risk of such symptoms, the dosages of both Strattera and Adderall drugs should be taken by ADHD patients as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Individuals should also take over-the counter medicines as well as follow talk therapy treatment program while treating or diagnosing with ADHD symptoms. This blog will provide relevant information to readers that how Starttera and Adderall drugs can be compared on the basis of a few aspects. So let’s start it.
Comparison Between Strattera and Adderall ADHD Treating Drugs
Here, readers will understand and get to know a detailed comparison between Strattera and Adderall ADHD treating Drugs on some factors such as overview, use, dose and dosages, drug interactions and side effects.
1 Overview
Strattera
Atomoxetine is a generic drug, which is commonly traded by its brand name as prescription drug. In the US market, both Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) and Adrenergic uptake inhibitors for ADHD and are the two drug classes that can be sold. It acts as a non-stimulant medication, which alerts only one neurotransmitter that is Norepinephrine in the brain. This brain chemical helps to stimulate or boost the neurotransmitter level, which in turn increases the concentration power and focus towards work.
Those individuals, who are suffering from anxiety-related disorders (pre-existing conditions) or depression-related disorders, this drug is more helpful in regulating their attentiveness as well as changing their behavior over the time. Anxiety patients may not be easily able to tolerate the Strattera drug as it is more effective than other prescription medicines.
Adderall
Adderall is a CNS stimulant as well as branded prescription drug, which is sold in the US market by its two generic names that are Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine. Apart from its brand name, Adderall XR and Mydayis are other two most popular branded names of Adderall.
This medication will work better in an ADHD patient by the formation of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine drugs. The mixture of these two medicines helps to boost the Central Nervous System (including brain and nerves), which may contribute to control the impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Individuals suffering from ADHD (neuro-developmental disorder), they begin to face difficulty in relationship and give rise for developing insecurities or complexities with others.
2. Use
Strattera
This branded drug is normally prescribed by a doctor to treat the main psychological problem, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Other than ADHD, Strattera drug help to lessen the cognitive disengagement syndrome in adults and children up to some extent, but not completely.
In order to increase the activity of brain, this branded prescription drug may not be used together with drugs. It may be used either separately or with CNS stimulant or psychostimulants drugs.
Adderall
Both Narcolepsy and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients are effectively treated by the Adderall drug. In order to ease the symptoms of ADHD, this branded drug can be prescribed by a healthcare provider to improve the sleepiness disorders in narcolepsy patients.
The Adderall medicine also help ADHD patients to stay calm and focus while performing an activity. It will be helpful to increase the ability of being attentive towards assigned tasks. It is effective and beneficial to improve the listening skills as well as to reduce the stress level.
3. Dose and Dosages
Strattera
The Strattera medicine comes in the form of capsules with oval shape in blue, white, yellow, golden and brown color. It is to be taken orally as prescribed by a doctor, when experiencing psychological disorder. The dosages of this branded drug are as follows:
• 10 mg
• 18mg
• 25mg
• 40mg
• 60mg
• 80mg
• 100 mg
For adults and children, whose weight is up to 70 kg, the starting dose that should be taken is 0.5 mg per kg. ADHD patients, who are taking the maintenance dose that is 1.2 mg per kg for longer duration they should take under the supervision of a medical doctor. To minimize the risk of ADHD side effects, the maximum dose is of 1.4 mg per kg that should be taken accordingly.
The individuals whose weight is above 70 kg, they should take the recommended usual adult dose is of 40 mg once in a day to ease the symptoms of ADHD. If a psychological disorder patient is taking the maintenance dose, which is of 80 mg then he or she should take once in a day to avoid the risk of side effects. The maximum dose is of 100 mg once in a day that should be taken by those who are experiencing the severity of neurological disorder .
Adderall
Adderall drug comes in oval shape with white color, which consists of two formation of dosages. These are as follows:
- Oral Capsules
- Oral Tablets
The Adderall medicine contains two amphetamine salts, which then mixed and forms with two dosage formations namely, immediate-release tablets and extended-release capsules. They offers appropriate solution to ADHD patients according to their doses schedules and dependent on their requirements.
The immediate-release tablets of Adderall medicine with their dosage strengths are listed-below:
- 2.5 mg
- 5 mg
- 7.5 mg
- 10 mg
- 12.5 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
The extended-release capsules of Adderall XR medicine according to the dosage strengths, which includes:
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 25 mg
- 30 mg
4. Drug Interactions
Strattera
The Strattera medicine depicts a list of total 335 medications, which are closely interact with it. These are as follows:
- 81 major drug interactions
- 242 moderate drug interactions
- 12 minor drug interactions
Adderall
Like Strattera, Adderall drug also interact with several medications, which includes a list of 202 drugs. These are as follows:
- 37 major drug interactions
- 157 moderate drug interactions
- 8 minor drug interactions
Both Strattera and Adderall are considered to be more beneficial and effective while treating ADHD symptoms in patients.
5. Side Effects
Strattera
The Strattera medicine should not be misused, overdose or addicted, if doing so then it may lead to either common or serious side effects in a person’s body, which includes:
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach upset
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Xerostomia (dry mouth)
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia or difficulty in sleeping
- Loss of sexual ability
Serious Side Effects
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Suicidal ideation or thoughts
- Hepatotoxicity
- Cough
- Priapism (prolonged erection of penis)
- Hypertension
- Irritability
- Itching
- Impotence (erectile dysfunction)
- Allergic reaction
- Difficulty in urinating
Adderall
The Adderall drug may lead to both common and serious side effects in individuals, if the ADHD condition is left untreated or not able to minimize its symptoms.
Common & Serious Side Effects
- Severe dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Nervousness
- Headache
- Allergic reaction
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Stomach ache
- Appetite loss
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Restlessness (unusual agitation)
- Trouble sleeping
- Fast heartbeat
- Hallucinations
- Poor coordination
- Twitching muscles
Safety Measures
Both Narclopesy and ADHD patients should remember and follow some safety measures as precautions in order to ease its symptoms as well as to avoid the risk of side effects.
- ADHD patients, who are regularly taking the Strattera medication should avoid the overdose to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms.
- Narcolepsy patients should not take the maximum dose of Adderall medicine as it may cause sleeping disorders.
- Adults and children, if experiencing ADHD symptoms, they should take the dosages of both Strattera and Adderall drugs according to body weight as prescribed by a doctor.
- Both ADHD and Narcolepsy patients should not take the doses of these medicines on their own, unless prescribed by a healthcare provider as it may lead to serious side effects.
- Individuals should not be abused, addicted or misuse the drugs, if consuming for a longer interval as there is a high risk of potential effects.