List of ADHD Medications

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 That 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.

If your child’s medication isn’t working or they are having side effects, understanding these differences in the medications might help you and your pediatric provider know what change to make.

List of ADHD Medications

Here are the common ADHD medications (meds in bold are not available in generic versions) used today:

• 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
• Adhansia XR – methylphenidate – extended release – discontinued July 2022
• Adzenys ER – amphetamine – extended release liquid – was discontinued
• Adzenys XR-ODT – amphetamine – extended release orally disintegrated tablets; 3.1 to 18.8mg orally disintegrating tablets
• Aptensio XR – methylphenidate extended release with a 40/60 time release schedule; 10, 15, 20 to 60mg capsules
• Azstarys – serdexmethylphenidate / dexmethylphenidate extended release
• Concerta – methylphenidate – extended release with a 22/78 time release schedule (OROS); 18, 27, 36, or 54 mg tablets
• 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; 5 and 10mg
• Evekeo ODT – amphetamine – immediate release; 2.5, 5 and 10mg.
• Focalin – dexmethylphenidate – immediate release; 2.5, 5, 10mg tablets
• Focalin XR – dexmethylphenidate – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule (SODAS); 5 to 40mg capsules
• Jornay PM – methylphenidate – extended release; 20 to 100mg capsules
• Metadate CD – methylphenidate – extended release with a 30/70 time release schedule; 10 to 60mg capsules
• Metadate ER – methylphenidate – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule; 20mg only
• 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 – 20 to 40mg chewable tablets
• Quillivant XR – methylphenidate – extended release oral suspension with a 20/80 time release schedule – 4ml (20mg) to 12ml (60mg)
• Relexxii – methyphenidate – extended release – 18mg, 27mg, 36mg, 45mg, 54mg, 63mg, and 72mg tablets
• Ritalin – methylphenidate – immediate release
• Ritalin LA – methylphenidate – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule (SODAS)
• Ritalin SR – methylphenidate SR – extended release ; 10 and 20mg
• Vyvanse – lisdexamfetamine – extended release with a 50/50 time release schedule – 10 to 70mg capsules and 10 to 60mg chewable tablets
• Xelstrym – dextroamphetamine extended release patches
• Zenzedi – dextroamphetamine – immediate release

Do we really have over 25 30 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

• Vaccines and ADHD
• Other Treatments for ADHD
• NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scales
• ADHD Parents Medication Guide – American Psychiatric Association
• The ADHD Medication Guide
• 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 – Prescription Stimulant Medications
• FDA – Treating and Dealing with 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
• ADHD Medications at GoodRx

Last Updated on April 21, 2024 by Vincent Iannelli, MD