Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 30 versus DEXAMPEX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 30 versus DEXAMPEX.
ADDERALL 30 vs DEXAMPEX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Adderall contains mixed amphetamine salts that increase synaptic levels of dopamine and norepinephrine by inhibiting their reuptake and promoting release from presynaptic terminals.
Dextroamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that increases extracellular dopamine and norepinephrine levels by blocking their reuptake and promoting release from presynaptic terminals.
Initial: 5 mg orally once or twice daily; increase by 5 mg increments weekly; usual maintenance: 20-30 mg daily in divided doses; maximum: 40 mg/day
5-10 mg orally once daily in the morning, maximum 20 mg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: d-amphetamine 10-13 hours, l-amphetamine 13-15 hours; in adults (children: 6-8 hours). The longer half-life allows for once-daily dosing.
Terminal elimination half-life 10–13 hours in adults (7–8 hours in children). Longer in alkaline urine (up to 20 hours) due to reduced renal tubular reabsorption.
Approximately 30-40% of a dose is excreted unchanged in urine; the remainder is metabolized primarily by oxidative deamination and aromatic hydroxylation. Biliary/fecal elimination accounts for less than 5%.
Renal: ~90% as unchanged drug and metabolites (primarily deaminated metabolites); fecal/biliary <2%.
Category C
Category C
CNS Stimulant
CNS Stimulant