Amphetamine Adderall

Dopamine activity can be enhanced in one of four main ways. Medications can stimulate dopaminergic nerve cells to release dopamine into the synapse. This is the way that stimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexe-drine), and dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall) work. In addition, certain drugs of abuse, notably cocaine and methamphetamine, act in part in this way. Providing more of the raw material that nerve cells use to manufacture dopamine can also increase dopamine activity. This is the approach that neurologists use when they prescribe L-DOPA (Sinemet) to patients with Parkinson s disease. Nerve cells convert L-DOPA into dopamine. L-DOPA otherwise has little place in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Dopamine activity can also be increased by medications that directly stimulate dopamine receptors. Bromocriptine, another medication used to... 

APPROVED TREATMENTS FOR ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AMPHETAMINE (ADDERALL ), METHYLPHENIDATE (RITALIN ), AND ATOMOXETINE (STRATERRA )... 

Many psychomotor stimulants possess activities similar to those of amphetamine and have been discussed previously (see Chapter 10). Of primary importance to our discussion of the psychomotor stimulants are amphetamine Adderall, Benzedrine, Dexedrine), methampheta-mine (Desoxyn), and methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, Metadate, Methylin). 

Amphetamine/ Adderall dextroamphetamine Adderall XR 5-, 7.5-, 10-, 12.5-, 15-, 20-, 30-mg tablets 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-mg extended-release capsules (can be opened and sprinkled over applesauce before immediate consumption)... 

Oral sustained-release 5, 10, 15 mg capsules Oral mixtures with amphetamine see Amphetamine (Adderall)... 

Stimulants (amphetamines [Adderall, Dexedrine] and methylphenidate [Concerta, Ritalin]) increase alertness, attention, and energy. They also increase blood pressure and heart rate, constrict blood vessels, increase blood glucose, and open up the pathways of the respiratory system. Historically, stimulants were prescribed to treat asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments. As their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent, the prescribing of stimulants by physicians began to wane. Now, stimulants are prescribed for treating only a few health conditions, most notably ADHD, narcolepsy, and, in some instances, depression that has not responded to other treatments. 

OFFICIAL NAMES Amphetamine (Adderall), laevoampheta-mine (Benzedrine), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), metham-phetamine (Methedrine)... 

Oral mixtures with amphetamine see Amphetamine (Adderall)... 

Ritalin (methylphenidate), amphetamines (Adderall), and other stimulants are widely used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

First-line pharmacotherapy treatments include methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, the mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall), and atomoxetine (see Table 8.3). When an early evening dose is indicated (e.g., completion of homework) it is typically at 25-50% of the doses prescribed earlier in the day. 

Tablets 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, and 30 mg mixed salts of a single entity amphetamine product (c-ii) Adderall (Shire Richwood)...

Amphetamine mixture - Peak plasma concentrations occur in about 3 hours (Adderall) and 7 hours (Adderall XR). Elimination half-life is 10 to 13 hours in adults and 9 to 11 hours in children. Extended-release amphetamine mixture capsules demonstrate linear pharmacokinetics. There is no unexpected accumulation at steady state. Food does not affect the extent of absorption of extended-release amphetamine mixture capsules, but prolongs T ax by 2.5 hours. 

Methylphenidate and D-amphetamine are both short-acting compounds, with an onset of action within 30 to 60 minutes and a peak clinical effect seen usually between 1 and 2 hours after administration, lasting 2 to 5 hours. Therefore, multiple daily administrations are required for a consistent daytime response. The amphetamine compound Adderall, the sustained-release preparations of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine, and pemoline are all intermediate-acting compounds with an onset of action within 60 minutes and a peak clinical effect seen usually between 1 and 3 hours after administration and maintained for up to 8 hours (8 hours with metadate C.D. and Ritalin LA 12 hours with Concerta), allowing for a single dose for the entire school day. Adderall XR is a 12 hour preparation. 

More research has been done on pharmacotherapy of ADHD in children and adolescents with MR than for other disorders. Reviews by Aman (1996), Arnold et al. (1998), and Handen (1993) summarize the psychostimulant research (methylphenidate, amphetamine, and magnesium pemoline). Of the 10 or more group studies of methylphenidate or dextroamphetamine in children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD and MR/ DD since 1980, all but one were positive and statistically significant. They showed substantial benefit for motor overflow, attention span, and impulsiveness. Improvements were also seen in cognitive performance, some measures of social behavior, and independent play. The sole negative study was of adolescents and adults without ADHD, most of them with profound MR (see Aman, 1996). No studies of mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) or magnesium pemoline (Cylert) were found for this population (Arnold et al., 1998). 

Amphetamine/ dextroamphetamine Adderall XR Capsule with a 50 50 mixture of immediate-release beads and delayed-release beads, designed to provide treatment for 12 hours... 

Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) is also more potent than methylphenidate, and it has a longer half-life. It is a mixture... 

McGough JJ, Biederman J, Wigal SB, et al Long-term tolerahility and effectiveness of once-daily mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall XR) in children with ADHD. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44 530-538, 2005a... 

Some of these drugs, such as Dexedrine, are derivatives of the illegal stimulant amphetamine. Some drugs, such as Adderall , are also used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD and actually contain a mixture of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. 

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