A lot of children from all across the globe suffer from a neurodevelopmental disorder that is referred to as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are many reasons for it to happen. Among these reasons, one is genetic complication. ADHD can be treated with the help of several medicines. Two popular medicines to treat this disorder are Concerta and Adderall. In this blog, we will discover the Concerta vs Adderall comparison.
Concerta is a well-known medicine that is administered by healthcare experts for treating ADHD in children as well as adults. This drug belongs to the class of methylphenidate (a type of stimulant). The Food and Drug Administration has approved this drug. Hence, it is safe to use. Concerta must be used after medical consultation since it is a prescription-only medicine.
Another medicine that is administered by doctors for the treatment of ADHD in individuals is Adderall. It is a drug that is a combination of two generic drugs, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Adderall is approved by the FDA for medical use. This pharmaceutical medicine is also prescription-only.
Below, we will find out the differences between Adderall and Concerta based on some aspects.
Differences Between Concerta and Adderall
In this section, we will compare Adderall and Concerta regarding some important aspects.
Concerta Uses
Concerta is a multipurpose pharmaceutical tablet that can be used for children, and adults;
ADHD
ADHD in individuals can be treated by using Concerta pharmaceutical medicine. It alters or stimulates the brain chemicals responsible for impulsiveness in children and adults. A health examination may be necessary before the administration of this drug.
Attention Management
It can be administered to children for the management of attention in them. Those who suffer from excessive impulsiveness are often recommended to take this medication drug by doctors.
Adderall Uses
Adderall can be used for multiple uses like;
ADHD
Doctors can administer Adderall instead of Concerta for treating ADHD in patients. This medicine works by acting upon children’s Central Nervous System (CNS). This medicine increases dopamine levels.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder in which people experience excessive sleepiness. Quite often, Adderall can be administered by healthcare experts for the treatment of narcolepsy in people.
Athletic Performance
Adderall may be used by sportspersons to improve their performance because it is a medicine that works as a cognitive enhancer. In this case, a prescription from a healthcare expert could not be necessary.
Side Effects of Adderall and Concerta
In individuals, side effects may occur after taking Adderall and Concerta. These health complications may vary. Such health complications must be reported if getting severe.
Adderall Side Effects
The following are the most common side effects of Adderall, that may a user face after taking it;
- Sore throat
- Difficulty while sleeping
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Feeling of dizziness
- Rashes on skin
- Itches
- Diahorrea
- Overactive reflexes
- Confusion
- Temporary blindness
- Palpitations
- Difficulty in speaking
Other side effects that may occur apart from the aforementioned ones are pain in the jaws, backache, shivers, seizures, blurred vision, etc.
Concerta Side Effects
Find out the common, and severe side effects of Concerta below;
- Nervousness
- Loss of appetite
- Yellowish eyes
- Vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Headache
- Seizures
- Heart complications
- Difficulty in breathing
- Allergic reactions
- Blurred vision
- Experience of chills
- Tremor
- Yellow skin
- Weight loss
Apart from these, other health complications may occur in children and adults. Some of these are irritability, hives, mood swings, dark urine, thirst, etc.
Effectiveness of Concerta and Adderall
The effects of Concerta and Adderall are different, and both work according to their dose, and active ingredients;
Effectiveness of Concerta
It is crucial to learn about the effectiveness of Concerta. This drug may start working within an hour. Concerta may take around 4 hours to 6 hours to hit its peak levels. Tolerance and metabolism may impact the efficacy duration of this medicine. The complete efficacy of this pharmaceutical drug is typically observed after a week by medical professionals. Some medicines are known to decrease the concentrations of Concerta. Such drugs are not suggested to be taken.
Effectiveness of Adderall
Adderall is known to be quicker when it comes to acting upon the patient. It may take around 20 minutes to 30 minutes to start working. The half-life of this medicine is estimated to be around 1 hour to 2 hours. Nominal dosages of this medicine are given to children because an overdose could make health complications severe in them. One health complication that may be caused by its overdose is Psychosis (the inability to acknowledge reality).
Precautions
Someone who is taking Adderall must be cautious. People who are suffering from certain types of allergies, mental conditions, cardiac problems, substance use issues, overactive thyroid, liver disease, kidney disease, etc., are generally not suggested to take this medication drug. Alcohol must not be consumed by individuals during Adderall tablets. Also, anyone who has previously used marijuana must not take this medicine.
Individuals who are allergic to methylphenidate typically must not take Concerta pharmaceutical drugs. Glaucoma, intestinal problems, overactive thyroid, seizures, depression, anxiety etc., are certain health complications individuals may suffer from. Anyone experiencing these complications is not prescribed to take Adderall tablets. People must not consume alcohol while taking doses of Concerta.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have seen how Concerta and Adderall vary from each other in different aspects. We compared these two medicines in terms of uses, side effects, effectiveness, and precautions. Both these medication drugs must not be taken by individuals on their own because they are prescription-only medicines.
Many side effects of these tablets vary because of the way they work as well as their active components. People can buy Adderall and Concerta after getting a consultation from the concerned healthcare experts. Eventually, any side effects becoming severe during their usage must be reported.