Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 20 versus METADATE CD.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 20 versus METADATE CD.
ADDERALL 20 vs METADATE CD
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Adderall 20 is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are central nervous system stimulants. They increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in synaptic clefts by inhibiting their reuptake and promoting their release from presynaptic neurons.
Methylphenidate is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine into the presynaptic neuron, increasing their levels in the extraneuronal space. The precise mechanism for treating ADHD is not fully understood.
Initial: 5 mg orally once or twice daily; may increase by 5 mg increments at weekly intervals. Usual effective dose: 20-40 mg/day divided into 1-2 doses. Maximum: 40 mg/day (immediate-release); 60 mg/day (extended-release).
20-60 mg orally once daily in the morning
None Documented
None Documented
d-Amphetamine: 10-13h; l-Amphetamine: 13-16h. Clinical steady-state reached in 2-3 days.
Terminal elimination half-life: 6.8 hours (range 4.5-10.3 hours) for methylphenidate; clinical context: supports twice-daily dosing regimen
Renal: ~90% unchanged; ~10% as deaminated metabolites; fecal <5%.
Renal: 78-97% as metabolites (primarily ritalinic acid), unchanged drug <1%; fecal: <2%
Category C
Category C
CNS Stimulant
CNS Stimulant