Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 30 versus METHAMPEX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ADDERALL 30 versus METHAMPEX.
ADDERALL 30 vs METHAMPEX
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.
Methamphetamine is a sympathomimetic amine that increases synaptic concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin by promoting their release from presynaptic terminals and inhibiting their reuptake. It also inhibits monoamine oxidase, reducing neurotransmitter catabolism.
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
150 mg orally twice daily for 12 weeks; alternative: 90 mg orally twice daily if tolerability issues.
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 is approximately 9-14 hours in adults with normal renal function (mean ~12 hours). In children, half-life is shorter (~8-10 hours). Context: Steady-state is achieved within 2-3 days. Half-life may be prolonged in patients with renal impairment (up to 20-30 hours) or alkaline urine (up to 30 hours).
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%.
Primarily renal excretion (≥90% as unchanged drug and metabolites); approximately 70-80% as unchanged amphetamine, 10-15% as deaminated metabolites (hippuric acid, benzoic acid). Biliary/fecal excretion is negligible (<5%). Renal clearance is pH-dependent; acidic urine increases elimination. In overdose or renal impairment, elimination half-life may prolong.
Category C
Category C
CNS Stimulant
CNS Stimulant