Adderall and Adderall XR are different forms of the same drug - mixed amphetamine salts. Adderall is an immediate-release form - the time that it exerts its therapeutic effects is short- over about 3 hours. Consequently you have to take several doses (usually 2 or 3) over the course of the day. Adderall XR is an extended-release form.
It contains equal portions of the four active ingredients:
These different salts are metabolized at different rates; therefore the extended-release form of the medication has a milder action as compared to single-salt amphetamine preparations.
About 1/3 of the Adderall XR dose is released immediately, so benefits are experienced within 1 hour from taking the drug. But the remainder of the dose is released slowly over about 6-7 hours, so the drug acts over the course of the day. This makes it more convenient to use, because a patient needs to take only one dose, usually in the morning. This may be particularly important for kids, since it eliminates the old need with Adderall (immediate release) to keep some doses at school and visit the nurse at midday to take a dose.
It bears noting that most stimulants used to treat ADHD have an old, immediate-release form (like Ritalin), and a newer, once-daily extended-release form (like Ritalin LA). Compared to immediate-release forms, extended-release forms may not only be more convenient, but also may result in "smoother" symptom control, with fewer ups and downs in ADHD symptoms over the course of the day. And for adults with ADHD, where being organized and sticking to a schedule may be difficult (and they don't have a parent controlling dosing), taking a dose once in the morning could make it easier to adhere to the regimen.
Copyright © 2026 eLLeNow.com All Rights Reserved.
