ADHD Medication List

Remember when we only had Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine to treat kids with ADHD?

Know how many medications there are now?

Are All of the ADHD Medications Very Different?

Although there are a lot of different ADHD medications to choose from now, including some non-stimulants, it is important to realize that most of the stimulants are basically just different formulations or derivatives of Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine.

In fact, in many cases, it isn’t the ingredient that is different, but rather the delivery system.

Are your kids taking a short acting stimulant, that only lasts four or five hours? Or are they taking an extended release ADHD medication, that might last 8 to 16 hours? And if taking an extended release stimulant, are they simply taking one that mimics taking a short acting drug twice a day, releasing half of the medication immediately and another half 5 to 6 hours later? Or is it some other percentage on a longer, extended time release throughout the day, like the OROS time release system of brand name Concerta.

• Adderall – mixed amphetamine salts – immediate release – lasts 4-6 hours – 5 to 30mg tablets
• Adderall XR – mixed amphetamine salts – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule – lasts 8-12 hours – 5 to 30mg capsules
• ADHDnsia XR – methylphenidate – extended release
• Adzenys ER – amphetamine – extended release liquid
• Adzenys XR-ODT – amphetamine – extended release orally disintegrated tablets
• Aptensio XR – extended release with a 40/60 time release schedule
• Concerta – methylphenidate – extended release with a 22/78 time release schedule (OROS)
• Cotempla XR-ODT – methylphenidate – extended release with a 30/70 time release schedule
• Daytrana – methylphenidate patch – extended release
• Dexedrine – dextroamphetamine – immediate release
• Dyanavel XR – amphetamine – extended release
• Evekeo – amphetamine – immediate release
• Focalin – dexmethylphenidate – immediate release
• Focalin XR – dexmethylphenidate – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule (SODAS)
• Jornay PM – methylphenidate – extended release
• Metadate CD – methylphenidate – extended release with a 30/70 time release schedule
• Metadate ER – methylphenidate – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule
• Methylin – methylphenidate – immediate release
• Methylin ER – methylphenidate – extended release
• Methylphenidate ER – methylphenidate – extended release
• Mydayis – amphetamine salt combo – extended release
• Quillichew ER – methylphenidate – extended release with a 30/70 time release schedule
• Quillivant XR – methylphenidate – extended release with a 20/80 time release schedule
• Vyvanse – lisdexamfetamine – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule
• Ritalin – methylphenidate – immediate release
• Ritalin LA – methylphenidate – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule (SODAS)
• Ritalin SR – methylphenidate – extended release
• Zenzedi – dextroamphetamine – immediate release

Do we really have over 25 different ADHD stimulants to choose from now?

Distinctions Without a Difference

Well, kind of.

For one thing, our choices of ADHD drugs to prescribe become much more limited once you realize how expensive these new medications can be, even if you try and use a drug coupon.

And again, our choices aren’t as big once you realize that most are really just different formulations or derivatives of Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine.

Can’t afford a newer ADHD medication for your child? Understand that many of these newer medications don’t actually offer all of that much benefit over older, less expensive medications.

Do you really need a liquid, chewable or ODT medication when most ADHD extended release capsules can be opened and sprinkled on food?

More on ADHD Medication List

• NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scales
• ADHD Parents Medication Guide – American Psychiatric Association
• Medications Used in the Treatment of ADHD
• AAP – ADHD: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents
• Behavior Therapy for Children with ADHD
• Treatment & Target Outcomes for Children with ADHD
• Managing ADHD Medications
• AAP – Common ADHD Medications & Treatments for Children
• CDC – My Child Has Been Diagnosed with ADHD – Now What?
• FDA – Information about Medications Used to Treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• FDA – Safety Review Update of Medications used to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and young adults
• When is it okay to stop taking ADHD medication?
• AAP – ADHD Medications Do Not Stunt Child’s Growth, Study Finds
• Poison Control and ADHD Medications
• Caffeine for ADHD
• New Psychiatric DNA Testing Is Unproven Ground
• Study – A review of OROS methylphenidate (Concerta(®)) in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
• ADHD Medications at GoodRx

Last Updated on September 11, 2019 by Vincent Iannelli, MD