Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 30 versus FOCALIN XR.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 30 versus FOCALIN XR.
ADDERALL 30 vs FOCALIN XR
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.
Focalin XR (dexmethylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant. It blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine into presynaptic neurons, increasing their concentrations in the synaptic cleft. The d-threo enantiomer is pharmacologically active.
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
Initial 20 mg orally once daily; may increase in 10-20 mg increments at weekly intervals; maximum 60 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 half-life: 2-3 hours for immediate-release; 6-8 hours for extended-release (FOCALIN XR)
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 (approximately 90% as unchanged drug and metabolites)
Category C
Category C
CNS Stimulant
CNS Stimulant