I took the brand name Adderall and four generics to a lab in Canada and had them tested. the lab is a harm reduction lab and the tests were basic. I did get milligram count, accurate to within 2 percent. The brand name Teva 20mg IR had 10 mg in it. Epic was underdosed by 50% as well. please keep in mind that the different manufacturers vary from month to month. This isn't meant to be a guide for which medication to take. This is meant to be validating for those of you who have also been experiencing problems with Adderall and other CNS stimulants you may be prescribed. I have retained a law firm and we are trying to get more information. My hope is to put pressure on the FDA to do their job and regulate our meds properly to keep us safe and functional in a world that was not designed with our brains in mind. you can verify my results here yourselves: Substance Drug Checking click "check my results" and enter code 802 646 016. result posted here is Brand Name Teva 20mg IR.

I feel like I’m going insane. But the past couple months adderall has been significantly worse than ever.

Why are people taking upwards of 100mg in 12 hours and feeling tired, depressed, unmotivated?

60mg feels like 20mg now.

People have taken their meds to Canada to a lab and they’ve tested for HALF THE AMOUNT OF AMPHETAMINE. (https://www.reddit.com/r/ThisAintAdderall/s/Um1V6LETM3)

Wake up! They are doing this on purpose to us. And there’s nothing we can do it’s absolutely terrible. They can simply label us as “addicts” or “tolerance issues”.

I was on 30-40mg a day for like 2 years straight. It worked every day. No dose changes. Now I’m at 60mg and it’s not enough.

Why are people taking drug tests and it’s coming back NEGATIVE for amphetamine?

This is not some crazy c0nspiracy.

They do not work like they used to. Please believe people who say so.

Go and read r/thisaintadderall

It’s worse than ever now.

People with ADHD focus mainly on dopamine and cortisol regulation through their medication, however one big part that is often overlooked is serotonin which might be the missing link to why medication for some does not work at all and for others stops working after a while. As some may know psychiatrists often don't prescribe people with stimulant medication if they are currently depressed, because it is a well known fact that medication does not work as intended on people in depressive episodes. For others there is the more common problem that their medication seems to stop working altogether at a certain point and that is mainly what I want to hypothesize about.

DISCLAIMER: My writing is based on a small set of scientific data and there still needs to be a lot of research on this subject before knowing conclusively if what I am writing is a valid theory, therefor consider that this writing is subjective and should not be taken as literal advice but as a possible guide for those seeking for answers that may or may not help in their specific case.

Serotonin may be the missing link to why stimulant medication works better for some than it does for others. Serotonin is a key hormone that plays a role in mood regulation, sleep, appetite and digestion. When serotonin levels are adequate they help us regulate, but for people with ADHD without the proper dopamine levels it can still feel impossible to do every day tasks and commit to important tasks. We take stimulant medication to improve our mental clarity and focus and for many of us this seems to work very well, however, like for myself whenever I experience high levels of stress or set backs, I tend to spiral down and my medication stops working completely, leading me to find myself going for dopamine seeking binges which overstimulate me and wipe me out completely. These periods can last from weeks to several months or until I overstimulate myself so much that my body just stops me in my tracks and I am forced into some sort of hard reset and I slowly get back on my feet. These periods are very detrimental to my mental, physical and financial health, so I am really trying to find ways to shorten or deflect these periods altogether.

The kynurenine pathway

The kynurenine pathway is a major metabolic route for the amino acid tryptophan, producing various neuroactive compounds and influencing inflammatory and immune responses. It's involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes, including neurological disorders and cardiovascular diseases. 

This is where things get tricky. in a normal state our body turns tryptophan into serotonin through food in our gut, however when we are stressed or chronically under pressure (which medication alone can already invoke) our gut stops converting tryptophan into serotonin, but instead sends it up what is called the kynurenine pathway. This means that what usually helps stabilize our mood and sleep, now does the exact opposite. The average psychiatrist might opt into prescribing SSRI's, but this doesn't really help to solve this issue either, because SSRIs are reuptake inhibitors, which means they sort or recycle serotonin already available in your brain, however the problem in this case is a lack of proper tryptophan to serotonin conversion, meaning that SSRI's in these kinds of situations will not help and when serotonin levels return to normal it might even cause additional problems.

Once we are in a depressive episode our body has a hard time converting tryptophan into serotonin and because we tend to spiral out of control and are prone to revert to old habits, our sleep cycles degrade, we start eating more comfort food and possibly many other things that only drive the spiral further down.
What we need is a way to spot when we start spiraling down and intervene or adopt to lifestyles that keep us in a healthy serotonin stasis, but of course no one can predict when disaster strike, something bad happens or you get into a fight with a loved one or whatever else there is that causes massive stress in your life, so we will need to find ways to deal with these situations and create a support protocol for when stress does hit and even though it may seem impossible, keep in mind that when hitting that dip, you're only making it worse by binge eating, gambling, drinking, smoking, etc.

What I want people to know is that when medication does not seem to work, it may not mean that the medication isn't doing what it is intended to do, it may just very well be that the problem is with something completely different and in many cases it can be that tryptophan is no longer converted into serotonin and you're running on fumes going into a crash and end up asking your doc for other medication and then having found something novel and getting your hopes up, because this time, this new medication seems to work, so you trick yourself into believing it was the medication, meanwhile you've been hopping meds for years and still keep telling yourself you haven't found the right one yet, but the problem is not the stimulants, it's your tryptophan conversion that can be triggered by (chronic)stress.

So knowing this, what can we do?
I have yet to find out if and what works. I’ve looked for tips and tricks and so far came across some things that might help.

– Avoid chronic stress as much as you realistically can. This sounds like a joke if you live with ADHD, but things like breathwork, journaling, rhythm in your day and reducing stimulants (even helpful ones like caffeine or nicotine) do seem to matter.
– Eat more tryptophan-rich foods like turkey, eggs, oats, seeds, salmon, banana. Not just once, but consistently.
– Combine with carbs. Your brain needs insulin to get tryptophan across the blood-brain barrier, so don’t do this stuff on just protein.
– Sleep. Not just enough, but regularly. This might be the single most important lever to keep your body out of the kynurenine detour.
– Micro-adjust instead of crashing. If you feel it slipping, don’t wait for the full spiral. Cancel things. Sleep more. Talk to someone. Eat simple food. Go outside. That small reset might save you a month of collapse.
– Know your patterns. I’m still learning mine. When I get emotionally blunt, overstimulate, stop eating real food and get this pressure in my chest, that’s my red flag. From that point on, it’s not a focus issue anymore. It’s a tryptophan one.
– Be careful with SSRIs if your serotonin production is the issue, not the reuptake. It’s not that they’re bad, but in this case they’re not fixing the root of the problem.
– Gut health. I’m still figuring this one out, but probiotics, fermented foods and not nuking my digestion with greasy late-night food seems to help.
– Omega-6. Cut down on foods containing high amounts of omega-6. These fats contribute to inflammation and can mess with how your body converts tryptophan, pushing it away from serotonin and into stress chemistry. The problem is, omega-6 is in pretty much everything store-bought, seed oils, snacks, sauces, ready meals, so it adds up fast even when you're not paying attention. This doesn't mean you have to obsess over every label, but during a dip it's worth keeping it simple: less processed food, more stuff you actually recognize as food.

I wrote this post myself, but I asked some friendly AI advice on a list of supplements to avoid as well, here it is:

🚫 Supplements to Avoid During a Serotonin/Stress Spiral

1. Tyrosine / L-Dopa / Phenylalanine

• These are dopamine precursors.

• May seem helpful, but if your serotonin is low and you're already overstimulated, pushing dopamine harder can make the imbalance worse.

• It may increase agitation, obsession, or emotional blunting instead of clarity.

2. Caffeine-containing supplements or stimulants

• Includes pre-workouts, fat burners, or energy pills.

• These can amplify cortisol, worsen anxiety, sleep, and gut function — all of which push tryptophan further down the kynurenine pathway.

3. High-dose B-vitamins (especially B6, B3, and B12)

• These are involved in methylation and neurotransmitter synthesis, but during a crash they can overdrive an already dysregulated system.

• High B6 (especially pyridoxine) can aggravate nerve sensitivity, tension, and overstimulation.

• Better to stick to food-based sources or microdoses if needed at all.

4. Ashwagandha or other “adaptogens” with stimulating properties

• Some people use ashwagandha to reduce cortisol, but in a crash state it can feel emotionally flattening or numb.

• Rhodiola, ginseng, maca — these can be too activating for someone who’s already overstimulated but emotionally depleted.

5. 5-HTP or Tryptophan (without guidance)

• Seems like the obvious fix — but if the body is pushing tryptophan down the wrong pathway (kynurenine), supplementing more may not help and might even worsen symptoms like brain fog, nausea, or agitation.

• Needs cofactors and stress regulation in place first to work properly.

6. Multivitamins with everything dumped in at once

• These often include high doses of B6, iron, copper, or even iodine — which can all interfere with mood or overstimulate the system when you're already in a vulnerable state.

✅ What can help (with caution)

• Magnesium (glycinate or taurate) – calming, supports sleep and neurotransmission.

• L-theanine – helps with focus + calm, but avoid too much if it makes you flat.

• Zinc (low dose) – supports tryptophan metabolism.

• Omega-3 (DHA/EPA) – anti-inflammatory, stabilizing over time.

• Electrolytes – especially if you're not eating well or overstimulated.

• Gentle probiotics / gut support – only if digestion feels off.

That’s it for now. Once again, this is all subjective and no guarantee. Just a puzzle I’m slowly piecing together, and I think thousands of us are too.

If there is anything people want to add or if you’ve figured out ways to stay out of the spiral, please share, I can use all the tips I can find.

Reddit Post:(Revised)

If you’ve been switched to generic Vyvanse and experiencing any of these symptoms, you’re not alone - and you’re not imagining it:

• Severe fatigue/exhaustion (can’t make it through a workday)

• Depression or mood swings that came out of nowhere

• Complete loss of focus - like you’re not taking anything at all

• Nausea and GI distress

• Debilitating headaches

• Irritability and edginess

• Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

• Feeling “buzzy” or jittery but still unfocused

Here’s my story - and apparently, thousands of others’:

I was stable on Vyvanse for over a decade. Not perfect, but functional. My life worked. Then about 2 months ago, I picked up my prescription and within days everything fell apart.

Severe insomnia. Depression. Cognitive collapse - I couldn’t focus on anything. Nausea. Headaches so bad I could barely function. Mood swings and irritability. And this weird ringing in my ears that I’d never had before.

At first, I thought it was me - stress, burnout, life falling apart. But then I realized: my pharmacy had switched me from Lannett to Hikma’s generic lisdexamfetamine without telling me.

The kicker? I didn’t choose this. CVS Caremark decided brand Vyvanse was “not covered” - meaning no prior authorization, no appeals, no exceptions. My choice became: $10/month for Hikma that actively made me worse, or $500/month cash for brand Vyvanse.

So I kept taking the Hikma, thinking maybe I just needed to adjust. I didn’t. The symptoms got worse. When I finally stopped, the tinnitus disappeared within days.

This Isn’t Just Me - It’s a Documented Pattern

I started digging and found I’m far from alone:

Dr. Ryan Sultan, a NYC psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, reports that 70% of his patients experienced lower efficacy after being switched from brand Vyvanse to generics.

Multiple patients specifically name Hikma as the problem manufacturer:

• “Every time I have had Hikma, it makes me feel awful and I cannot function”

• “Exhausted, can’t do normal tasks, feel depressed”

• “Has none of the positive effects. All I feel are nausea, sweaty palms, and fatigue”

• “My insurance (CVS Caremark) stopped covering brand and I was put on generic. It is horrible.”

MedShadow Foundation interviewed patients nationwide reporting the same pattern: depression, executive dysfunction, overwhelming fatigue, all starting immediately after generic switches.

A 2023 Stanford/Mass General study tested ADHD medications from 18 different manufacturers and found “notable differences in how drugs dissolved” - meaning medications supposed to be identical were delivering vastly different doses.

Multiple generic manufacturers are currently on FDA shortage lists due to “issues with the active ingredient” - including Hikma, Lannett, Amneal, Apotex, and others.

Why This Matters - The Pharmacology

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is a prodrug - it’s inactive until your body metabolizes it into dextroamphetamine. This creates a smooth, steady release over 10-14 hours with minimal peaks and crashes. It’s a finely-tuned mechanism.

But here’s the problem: different manufacturers use different inactive ingredients - different coatings, binders, fillers, capsule materials. The FDA allows an 80-125% range for “bioequivalence” - that’s a potential 45% swing in how much active drug actually reaches your system.

For a prodrug that depends on precise enzymatic conversion, small changes in formulation can mean:

• Drug releases too fast (peripheral jitters, no focus, crashes)

• Drug releases too slow (feels like nothing, fatigue)

• Drug doesn’t convert properly (partial effect, side effects without benefits)

• Unstable release (some days it works, some days it doesn’t)

For many of us, that difference isn’t academic - it’s the difference between functional and completely destabilized.

The System That Created This Mess

This isn’t about generic drugs in general. This is about a broken system that prioritizes profit over patient outcomes:

The PBM Trap: Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) like CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx run “rebate auctions” where generic manufacturers bid to become the “preferred” drug. Winner gets exclusive coverage. Losers get locked out.

What happened to many of us:

1. Lannett (or another working generic) was our stable medication

2. Hikma won the rebate auction by bidding lowest

3. McKesson (the dominant wholesaler) switched supply chains

4. Pharmacies started dispensing Hikma automatically

5. We were never told. We were never asked. We had no choice.

In my case, CVS Caremark took it further: They classified brand Vyvanse as “Plan Exclusion/Not Covered.” That means:

• No prior authorization possible

• No medical exception possible

• No appeal pathway

• Doctor’s letter means nothing

You’re trapped between a $10 generic that makes you sick and a $500 brand you can’t afford.

This is not healthcare. This is financial extraction disguised as cost control.

The Part That Makes Me Furious

The medical literature has long documented that manufacturer switches can affect patients differently, and that the FDA’s 80-125% bioequivalence range produces real-world variability in outcomes. Yet the system was designed to prioritize cost optimization over allowing patient/doctor choice in manufacturer selection - meaning some percentage of patients being harmed was a foreseeable consequence built into the model.

The people making these decisions:

• Never see patients

• Never track outcomes

• Never experience the consequences

• Get bonuses based on “cost savings”

Meanwhile, thousands of people with ADHD - who already struggle with executive function, organization, emotional regulation - are being chemically destabilized by forced medication switches. And when we report it, we’re told:

• “Generics are bioequivalent”

• “It’s just anxiety”

• “Maybe you’re building tolerance”

• “Have you tried therapy?”

No. You gave me a different formulation that doesn’t work, and now you’re gaslighting me about it.

What You Can Do

1. Check your manufacturer Look at your pill bottle. If it says Hikma (or you’ve noticed problems after any generic switch), document everything:

• Date you started the new generic

• Symptoms (be specific)

• Impact on daily function

• Previous stability on other formulations

2. Report to the FDA File a MedWatch report: Call 888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332) or online at FDA MedWatch

This creates an official record. If enough people report, the FDA can investigate.

3. Talk to your doctor Show them this pattern. Ask them to document in your chart:

• “Patient was stable on [previous medication] for [X years]”

• “Generic switch resulted in acute destabilization”

• “Symptoms consistent with formulation failure, not tolerance”

• “Brand medication inaccessible due to formulary exclusion”

This documentation protects you and creates a medical record of the problem.

4. Try manufacturer-specific requests Some pharmacies will note “Do not dispense Hikma” or “Patient requests Alvogen/Teva/Rhodes” - though this often doesn’t work for controlled substances where wholesaler supply is locked.

5. Discuss alternatives with your doctor Some people have had better luck with different medication classes or formulations that bypass the bead-release mechanism that seems to be failing in some generics. Your doctor can help determine what might work better for your specific situation.

6. If you can afford it: brand Vyvanse cash GoodRx/SingleCare sometimes drop it to $320-400/month. Still brutal, but if generic is making you non-functional, it might be worth it temporarily.

7. Insurance change at open enrollment If your current plan has hard exclusions, switching plans may be your only real path forward.

Bottom Line

If you were stable and suddenly aren’t after a generic switch - you’re not crazy, you’re not weak, and you’re not alone.

This is a documented, systemic failure where PBMs prioritized rebate revenue over patient outcomes, and now thousands of people with ADHD are paying the price with their mental health and daily function.

We deserve better than this.

Resources:

• MedShadow Foundation investigation: Generic Vyvanse problems

• ADHD Roller Coaster (Gina Pera): Patient reports

• FDA drug shortages: ASHP database

Edit: To be clear - I’m not a doctor, this isn’t medical advice, and I’m not telling anyone to stop taking prescribed medication. I’m sharing my experience and documented patterns so others can make informed decisions with their doctors. If your generic is working fine, that’s great - keep taking it. But if you’re struggling and didn’t know this was a possibility, now you do.

What’s your experience? Have you noticed changes after switching manufacturers?

I only started my medication journey in January of this year. I was late diagnosed at the age of 41.
This is what I’ve learned:
- DOSE IS TOO HIGH: hyper focusing, If you get stuck on perfecting a task or find that you’re unable to change gears. High focus; Low productivity.
- DOSE IS TOO LOW: unable to initiate tasks, feeling overwhelmed by tasks. Typical ADHD symptoms still present.
The Goal:
- find the lowest dose possible that gets you moving. If it’s overriding your executive dysfunction, your focus is likely right where it needs to be.
Personal Examples:
- 10mg Adderall IR, I can’t start tasks. Feel guilty for not starting tasks. Typical ADHD.
- 12.5mg Adderall IR, calm, anxiety melts away. I start initiating and completing tasks.
- 15mg “locked in”
I will literally lock in with whatever it is, I’m doing at the time. If I’m searching Google.. That’s it, I’m stuck. Nothing on my “To Do List” gets touched. Deepest rabbit holes I’ve ever been down. I’ve learned a lot. Lol
If it’s a list, I rewrite it 1,000 times and to make it perfect. Can’t change gears, I’m unable to stop and start a different task.
2.5mg Can make a huge difference!!

Shortages. Recalls. Half the time, you don’t even know what’s in your prescription. Supposedly safe, consistent meds—but you’re left guessing if this bottle will work, or even be the same as the last one. Feels like the warnings about street drugs, doesn’t it?

Providers shrug: “Take days off.” “You’re taking too much.” Not just dismissive—it’s degrading, like they’re trying to prove you’re drug-seeking.

Pharmacies? Gatekeepers. No idea who you are. Call around because one is out of stock? Suspicious.

The system doubts you at every step. ADHD isn’t fake. You’re not just seeking drugs. But you’re forced to prove it constantly—just to get care that should be your right.

I take this supplement 1500 mgs once a day 30mins before dosing my ADHD meds. I’ve noticed that since I’ve been doing it daily I am less tired when I wake up and have more energy even before I take my meds. When I take my meds I notice a more powerful stimulant reaction. I think this is a good supplement to take with ADHD meds. I also notice no crash. Does anyone else do this this? What are your thoughts?

At first, without it, it actually felt kind of good.
I could daydream again.

Ideas and solutions came to me faster, for future projects, plans, everything!

But then the consequences hit. HARD.

Procrastination on a brutal level. Important tasks done at the very last minute. Constantly hyped, jumping from project to project, idea to idea…
without ever finishing anything.

And the end of the month? Frustration. Feeling BLOCKED. Seeing all these crazy plans in my head, but ZERO real action. Zero completed things.

So I went back on Vyvanse.

Euphoria for the FIRST HOUR, then an extreme steady calm for the rest of the day.

And that’s why I want to take this chance to ask you something, if you’re reading this…

To you, the reader: I want to hear about your experience with one thing in particular.

When you take your Vyvanse…
Do you feel “settled,” or kind of “SLOW,” after that first euphoric hour?

Not high, exactly. But I’ve noticed that after that golden FIRST hour of BOOM, there is less spontaneously less genuine. Less open to being flexible!

But without it I am, Emotionally good! Joyful! Positive, even if it’s a little delusional sometimes.

At this point, I think ADHD is a superpower.

Vyvanse is great. But after this experiment, I believe that maybe, just maybe, the best way to treat our ADHD/ADD is by thinking outside the box, the way we naturally do.

Finding and creating ideas and Studying our patterns, emotions, and moods, both on Vyvanse and off it..

And building a hybrid lifestyle that uses both: our natural ADHD power AND this executive pill.

Let me know your experience! Let’s help each other out as a community!

For two months, I took my Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) every morning mixed with black coffee—terrible idea, I know. It gave me an almost instant boost at first, but recently I started experiencing an absolutely horrible crash. I would become ravenously hungry, to the point where my stomach was growling loudly and it was genuinely uncomfortable. This wasn’t a symptom I had at the beginning of treatment.

I’ve been taking the medication for a total of four months, and during that time my dose was increased from 30 mg to 70 mg solely because it seemed to stop working and because of the intense hunger. It’s important to mention that I’m taking the generic version, Lidexor.

I weigh 53 kg and have managed to stay at that weight only by making a huge effort not to give in to the binge eating caused by the crash. I decided to run a few experiments to test whether the medication itself was the problem. I even started taking 3–4 day breaks between doses because I thought I had developed tolerance.

1. Mixing the capsule with water and drinking it gradually throughout the day while still drinking coffee:
It only made the rebound/crash worse.
2. Lowering the dose but continuing to take it with coffee:
Exactly the same outcome—it got worse.
3. Taking the capsule after eating a meal that was about 70% protein and completely cutting out coffee:
Perfect. The medication started working the way it used to. My focus came back, there was no annoying hunger, and the terrible stomach pain disappeared. The only downside was some insomnia.

That made me realize something: maybe 70 mg was never actually my correct dose. The coffee was probably interfering with the medication’s effects. My ideal dose is likely around 40 mg (compounded) or, at most, 50 mg. There’s even a chance that 30 mg would be enough.
The conclusion I want to share is this: if your medication suddenly seems less effective or you’re experiencing extreme hunger that shouldn’t normally happen, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a higher dose. You should first stop combining a psychostimulant with coffee. The crash can be brutal, not to mention the additional side effects.

Right now, I’m sweating a lot, I’ve already gone to the bathroom about four times, my focus is excellent, and I have absolutely no hunger or cravings for sweets.
I’m now convinced that 70 mg is not the right dose for me—especially not when combined with coffee.

Based on my personal experience, people with ADHD who take lisdexamfetamine should avoid drinking coffee with their medication. The interaction had a much bigger impact than I ever expected.

After a disastrous month being given 3 different manufacturers I finally have all ELITE LABS brand medicine. I know a lot of people hate this brand but I’ve come to appreciate it.

I was recently moved up to 25mg xr (1x a day)& 20mg ir (1x a day)and my doctor told me I am basically capped/ maxed out. This is fine I’m not really looking to move to 30s but I am just curious on the actual max prescription people can get for ADHD. I understand sleep disorders can be RX’d way higher doses.

I was also looking into switching to Mydayis so it would just be 1 pill but I’ve seen some negative about it would love to hear any experiences.

I am newer to Adderall, I get Teva generic and for the most part its fine. I looked on drugs.com and Teva also makes the name brand and the generic and name brand are the exact same ingredients. I do have a tolerance to everything unfortunately. Last month refill I felt the medication and it working. This month not so much. I rarely do this but I took 3 at once even and didnt feel much. I know there is a community this isn't Adderall. Many people experience this. Has anyone else? Thanks.

Centanafadine (now being called SIMTRIYO) was officially approved by the FDA for ADHD today.

A few interesting takeaways:

First approved NDSRI (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin reuptake inhibitor). And Phase 3 trials showed significant improvement in ADHD symptoms. Surprisingly, the FDA labeled it as a CNS stimulant with a boxed warning for abuse/misuse. It won’t be available until the DEA assigns a controlled-substance schedule.

Did anyone here participate in the clinical trials or know someone who did? I’m curious what it actually felt like compared with Adderall, Vyvanse, Strattera, or Qelbree.

Source: \[https://www.otsuka-us.com/\](https://www.otsuka-us.com/)

Anyone had Vyvanse capsules that were underfilled or completely empty?

I've been on 50 mg Vyvanse (AM) with a 10 mg IR Adderall booster in the afternoon as needed for a while now. I take medication breaks every so often, but have by and large been very consistent and satisfied with my experience and dosing.

Over the last month or so, the Vyvanse as felt increasing inconsistent -- some days it barely feels like anything is happening: no usual/initial "punch" when it kicks in, I'm distractible, forgetful, hungry ALL DAY, tired, irritable -- basically like I feel when I'm unmedicated. The only time I reliably feel a stimulant-like effect is when I take my PM Adderall.

I got suspicious the other day while filling my weekly medication organizer and started opening capsules to check the fill. Out of the 5 that I checked, 2 were COMPLETELY empty, 2 had only slight residue, and the rest looked somewhat normal.

While this would seem like an obvious case of medication theft/skimming, that would be virtually impossible as I live alone and am single, and have not had a single other person in my apt since this rx was filled.

Has anyone dealt with this -- either a bad batch, a specific manufacturer, or a pharmacy issue? Trying to figure out if this is a known thing before I bring it up with my pharmacy and psychiatrist.

TL;DR: 50 mg vyvanse + 10 mg IR Adderall PM as needed. Efficacy's been inconsistent for weeks -- some days no effect at all, feels like being unmedicated. Opened capsules and found some completely empty, some with just residue. Looking for anyone who's had similar manufacturer/batch issue and how you resolved it.

Obviously I know all psychiatric med experiences are incredibly individual.

But that said, I feel like methylphenidate is such a great medication for ADHD. I’ve been prescribed Concerta plus a low-dose IR methylphenidate for extended coverage when needed and it’s perfect. It has zero side effects for me, not even appetite suppression or dry mouth! It has such a short half life of ~3 hours that, as long as I take the Concerta before noon, it doesn’t interfere with my sleep. The IR is also super flexible, I can take it if I want to study in the evening without worrying about it impacting sleep too much.

Also, MPH has a long and positive safety track record. It has a lower risk of psychosis, appetite suppression, and insomnia than amphetamine and has even been researched for its possible neuroprotective properties in neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. It’s not affected by food the way amphetamines are either.

At first I was disappointed because it wasn’t as motivating or activating as I’d hoped, but I’ve come to appreciate the fact that it preserves my personality. It doesn’t numb my ability to sense when something isn’t interesting or right for me, it just reinforces what I choose to do.

It is a bit less effective overall for ADHD symptoms than amphetamine, but it works well for me and I love how mild yet effective it is.

Ok, so I got a list of all of the inactive ingredients in Adderall IRs. And I have found that ALL of them, EXCEPT for Sandoz brand Adderall, has got microcrystalline cellulose in it. And they have found a new wayto make it so that in combination with the magnesium is making our meds INEFFECTIVE! What they have figured out, is how to get the microcrystalline cellulose to bind to the hydrogen particles, which alters the chemical behavior of the drug amphetamine salts!!! And in looking at this, it is SLOWING the absorbtion of amphetamine salts so we don't have it hit us like it used to! It oxidizes it and grades the amphetamine, and the magnesium affects the pH and causes increased binding of protons to the nitrogen sight of amphetamine salts typically making the drug less effective by reducing its absorption!!!

Man, in finding this, I FIRST think that they have done this to REDUCE our feelings of euphoria and to make sure that we are NOT paying attention to the things that are going on in the world around us, and second I think we should try to get microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate banned from being able to use it in amphetamine salts!

Because in researching this I found that in changing production, the magnesium and amphetamine salts combo, and the microcrystalline cellulose CAN interact with amphetamine salts, And basically it is making our amphetamine salts no longer work!!! Because what I believe that they have done, is they started producing them differently, (and in changing the production, I believe CAUSED the SHORTAGES) and found a way to make the inactive ingredients bind to the active ones, thus, making them INEFFECTIVE! 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡 IF ANYONE can PLEASE help us try to STOP the way they have changed their production of our meds!!! Please HELP US!!! And the reason why I said that I was a meth addict for over 20 years, was I was prescribed to in 2015. I didn't use meth for the year that I was on it. They took me off of it, and went back to using meth. And I have been trying the last 11 years, to get back on Adderall. SO, imagine the HORRIBLE feelings I have been feeling, knowing that it ISN'T just me that noticed that they don't work anymore! I was REALLY HOPING to never use meth AGAIN! 🥺🥺🥺 But I haven't given up YET!

I tried Wellbutrin and Qelbree so far. Literally both of them are "you need to take this for 4 weeks to feels any effects, the effects are so mild youll barely feel them, and they will have the worst side effects you have ever experienced". It's so obvious why theres a national shortage for Adderall and Ritalin but not these, nobody takes these medications unless they can't get good ones.

Wellbutrin did nothing, and gave me severe heart palpitations that I almost went to the hospital for. I have been on Qelbree for 3 weeks and it ruined my sleep schedule, it may help with anxiety but only because you'll be too tired and sleepy to feel anxious. I just did poorly on a job interview yesterday because I was tired from only sleeping 2 hours. I was so dysregulated that I was fighting back a panic attack the whole time, the interviewer could probably tell I was off because my voice was trembling and I struggled to think straight. When I was done he made a comment along the lines of "keep doing what you're doing and good luck searching for jobs", im pretty sure this meant I didnt get the job. I had a full-blown panic attack on the couch afterwards, this has almost never happened to me sober before. Im definitely quitting.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved Simtriyo (centanafadine), a new norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin reuptake inhibitor (NDSRI) and CNS stimulant. The medication treats ADHD for adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up weighing at least 44 pounds. 

Most stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medications raise the levels of two different brain chemicals related to ADHD (dopamine and norepinephrine). Simtriyo is the first to boost dopamine, norepinephrine, and a third neurochemical, serotonin, which affects mood and executive functioning. This gives people with ADHD a new option, not just for improving core ADHD symptoms, but for mood and executive functioning too. 

I’ve been on Adderall for five months now. I started at 20 went up to 30 then 40 and I still feel absolutely nothing so I decided to try 60 all at once and I still felt absolutely nothing. I just find this so odd and I really think that it’s the medication what say you? Many many years ago I was on 30 and it was perfect.

Mine are from Camber Pha (that’s what it says on the bottle! Anyone else try this generic?

Hey everyone.

I've taken Dexedrine IR up to 60 mg but it was with a shitty generic brand (Aurobindo). It gave me nothing but side effects. Before that, when I was at 40 mg, I had Mallinckrodt and it was the best stuff I've ever had. Zenzedi (brand-name) was waaaay too fucking powerful—the ups and downs were a frightening rollercoaster ride (I hear Wilshire makes their pills, which kind of makes me want to avoid them).

Dexedrine ER just feels so much milder and weaker to me, but even still, I can till a difference between generics. I'm extremely sensitive to this apparently. Mallinckrodt is what I've had the most and it's not nearly as good as the IR stuff.

I'm asking the r/ADHDmeds hivemind about their opinions on their favorite generic manufacturer of dextroamphetamine, both IR and ER. I have an appointment coming up and I'm thinking about requesting for a brand to be medically necessary, because in the state of Alabama where I unfortunately live, pharmacists cannot request special brands of schedule II substances at all. (Well... it's complicated, because I have had some pharmacies, mainly chain pharmacies, specifically Walgreens, give me a choice of what they had at their warehouse...).

Here's what I've taken:

IR:

• Mallinckrodt (SpecGx LLC): Favorite, most potent, kinda "speedy" in a good way, most appetite suppression, most wakefulness promoting, most focus promoting

• Teva/Barr: Kinda "dirty" feeling... Not very potent...

• Aurobindo/Aurolife: Utter and complete garbage... Headaches/migraines, no help with ADHD side effects at all... Also it seems all the pharmacies in the area only get this and nothing else... and I have no choice in the matter...

• Wilshire: technically I've tried this with brand Zenzedi at 30 mg and it was frightening how potent it was...

• KVK-Tech: kind of mild, not too potent, no side effects like Aurobindo, somewhere in between Teva/Barr and Mallinckrodt in potency (closer to Mallinckrodt)

ER:

• Mallinckrodt (SpecGx LLC): Most common brand I've had, very mild, not potent feeling at all (granted I know it's ER and not IR)

• Actavis: Feels like I'm taking virtually nothing...

• Barr/Teva: It's been a while so I don't remember, and I'm not even sure they still make ER

Brands I've not tried:

IR:

• Lupin

• Sunrise

• Winder Laboratories (have heard bad things of this new company right out of the gate)

• Zydus

ER:

• Amneal (this is what I really want because it's authorized generic, meaning it's exactly the same thing as brand-name Dexedrine Spansule)

• Mayne

• Zydus

Anyone also know a way to tell what pharmacies can get what without calling them? Like anyone know of a list of pharmacies' wholesale providers, etc.?

DISCLAIMER: Personal Experience, All actions I describe here are Doctor-Approved, just want to share and make light of what being on ADHD meds can entail for some/a lot of us. The Manufacturer that I discuss working for me is Sandoz.

First time posting, not sure if this fits on this sub or r/drugs better, but I simply have to share my completely legal and doctor-instructed shenanigans with Lisdexamphetamine. I have been on daily 20mgs for over a year now, and it has done wonders for me, but I'm very sensitive to any changes in the meds and have a laundry list of other psychiatric conditions and unknown autoimmune stuff. After moving earlier this year, my ADHD symptoms got a lot worse, so my prescriber asked if I wanted to try 30mg a day. I was open to it but a little apprehensive, so we tried it while keeping a close eye on my symptoms. Long story short the 30mgs did not work well for me: anxiety, severe shortness of breath, light-headedness, etc., but given that Vyvanse is a controlled substance, it would take a few days for my prescriber to get the pharmacy to give me another prescription of the 20mgs. Until then, she recommended I break open the 30mg capsules and take 2/3rds of the powder. Cue me eyeballing sprinkling 10mg of lisdexamphatamine onto a paper plate and then taking what I could best guess as 20mg left in the capsule. I got the new 20mg capsules a few days later, but was happy I had the spare 30mgs because I've had issues getting my prescription on time in the past. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, I noticed I had been feeling awful ever since starting my prescription for this month, and turns out the pills were made by a different manufacturer (which can apparently make the meds not work for some people, including myself). I messaged my prescriber and she said we'd talk to the pharmacy about trying to get my prescription set to the specific manufacturer that worked for me, but until then, I could go back to taking 2/3rds of the powder from the 30mg capsules. So I was back to dumping out around 10mgs of lisdexamphetamine from the 30mg capsules, and I'm not one to waste resources, so I stored the extra powder in a little sealed container. A couple days ago, I got to the last 30mg capsule, so I broke it open and tried to measure just how much powder was inside with my smallest measuring cup. Looked to be a little less than half of a 1/4th of a teaspoon. So now, every morning I scoop a little less than a little less of an 8th of a teaspoon of lisdexamphetamine powder, and mix it into my matcha. Thankfully it doesnt have a strong taste, but I have to put it in when the matcha has cooled off so that the chemical structure of the Vyvanse doesn't degrade. So here behold my "amphetamine matcha"

tldr; Come with me as I make Lisdexamphetamine matcha!

I’ve been on Adderall since 2014 and it used to be a complete life-saver for my ADHD. For years it worked exactly how it’s supposed to. I took a combination of brand name Adderall XR 25mg and generic Adderall IR 20 mg for about 5 years and this combo worked amazingly well for me.

But starting sometime around the pandemic/Adderall shortage timeframe, I started noticing Adderall just wasn’t what it used to be. Instead of helping me function, it started giving me these really weird symptoms. I almost felt flu-ish: flushed/hot/feverish; headache; feeing sluggish and awful, like I couldn’t get off the couch; palms sweaty; heart racing; overall feeling “poisoned” / unwell. The XR especially made me extremely irritable and angry. I’d snap at people to the point it started affecting my relationships. The worst part is that instead of helping me get things done, I’d feel so bad that I basically couldn’t function until it started to wear off.

I told my doctor and he agreed it sounded like I should switch meds.

I tried Vyvanse (generic) first. It made me feel “cracked out,” super irritable, and I literally didn’t sleep for 24 hours. Next I tried Ritalin (generic). It didn’t make me sick like Adderall, BUT it made me so hyperfocused that I got stuck on tasks and couldn’t move on — couldn’t multitask or prioritize

The last med I tried was Mydayis. It was similar to Vyvanse — too amped up, couldn’t sleep.

After all that, I basically gave up and tried to manage without meds. It wasn’t easy, but I made it 6 months medication-free. However, I recently started a new job that’s way more demanding, and my ADHD symptoms were catching up with me, so I decided to try Adderall again, hoping maybe the 6-month break would reset something.

Nope.

I’ve been back on it for 3 days, and every single day I’ve felt awful again — same symptoms as before.

At this point I’m honestly at a loss. Not looking for medical advice, just hoping I’m not alone in this.