Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 12 5 versus METHYLIN ER.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 12 5 versus METHYLIN ER.
ADDERALL 12.5 vs METHYLIN ER
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Adderall 12.5 is a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. It increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervous system by inhibiting their reuptake and promoting their release from presynaptic neurons.
Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant that blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine into presynaptic neurons, increasing their availability in the synaptic cleft.
5-60 mg orally once or twice daily; immediate-release: initial 5 mg once or twice daily, increase by 5 mg weekly; extended-release: initial 20 mg once daily in the morning, increase by 10 mg weekly.
20-60 mg orally once daily in the morning
None Documented
None Documented
The terminal elimination half-life of d-amphetamine is approximately 10–13 hours in adults (range 9–14 h) and 6–8 hours in children. Clinical context: Typically allows twice-daily dosing; extended-release formulations provide 8–12 hours of effect.
Mean 3-6 hours in adults; longer in children (4-8 hours). Clinical context: steady-state reached within 2 days; dosing every 8-12 hours.
Approximately 30% of the dose is excreted unchanged in urine; the remainder is metabolized primarily via deamination and oxidation. Renal elimination of unchanged amphetamine is pH-dependent: acidic urine increases elimination, alkaline urine decreases it. Fecal excretion accounts for <5%.
Renal (90% as metabolites, <1% unchanged). Biliary/fecal: <2%.
Category C
Category C
CNS Stimulant
CNS Stimulant