Concerta vs. Adderall: ADHD Medication Comparison, Effectiveness, and Side Effects

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What you will learn

• Concerta is the brand name for methylphenidate, a stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Adderall is the brand name for a combination stimulant medication that contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
• Concerta and Adderall are different drugs, but they have similar effectiveness, side effects, and risks, including the risk of addiction.

Concerta and Adderall are two central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drugs often prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Though they’re both effective for treating ADHD, they are not the same kind of drug. They work differently and have different benefits.

Find out more about the effectiveness, side effects, and risks of Concerta and Adderall in this stimulant ADHD medication comparison.

What Is Concerta?

Concerta is a brand-name version of methylphenidate, a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD in adults and children. It’s available in extended-release tablets that can be effective for up to 8 hours.[1] Concerta also comes in versions that last up to 12 hours.

What Is Adderall?

Adderall is a combination prescription medication that contains two stimulant drugs: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. It’s used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Combined, these amphetamine salts work together to stimulate the CNS and influence the neurotransmitters that cause hyperactivity and impulse control problems.

Concerta vs. Adderall Dosage

Concerta and Adderall come in different formulations and are given at different dosages. However, as potentially addictive prescription drugs, both Concerta and Adderall are prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest period needed to treat symptoms.

Concerta Dosage

Concerta is prescribed at 18 mg once daily for adolescents and children as an initial dose, which is then increased until symptoms improve. The maximum daily dose of Concerta is 54 mg per day for children 6-12 years old and 72 mg per day for adolescents and adults.

Adults often start at 18 mg or 36 mg per day.[2] This dosage is increased by 18 mg weekly until the maximum daily dose is reached.

Concerta is not recommended for children under 6 or adults over 65.

Adderall Dosage

Adderall comes in several different formulations and dosages.

Immediate-release (IR) Adderall is prescribed at an initial dose of 5 mg orally once or twice daily for ADHD.[3] The daily dose is increased by 5 mg weekly until the desired effects are achieved. The maximum daily dose is 40 mg per day.

Adderall IR may be prescribed at an initial dose of 10 mg orally in divided doses and increased in 10 mg increments each week for narcolepsy.

Extended-release Adderall, Adderall XR is prescribed at an initial dose of 20 mg once a day for ADHD.[4] Adderall XR isn’t commonly used for narcolepsy.

For children aged 3-5 years, Adderall IR has an initial dose of 2.5 mg daily and is increased in 2.5 mg increments at weekly intervals.[5] In children aged 6-7, Adderall IR has an initial dose of 5 mg orally once or twice daily, then increased in 5 mg increments at weekly intervals.[6]

In children aged 6-12, Adderall XR has an initial dose of 5 to 10 mg daily and is increased in 5 or 10 mg increments at weekly intervals.[7] In children aged 13 to 17 years, Adderall XR has an initial dose of 10 mg orally once a day, then increased to 20 mg per day after one week.[8]

Side Effects and Risks of Concerta vs. Adderall

Both Concerta and Adderall have potential side effects. While some are mild and often go away once your body gets used to the drug, others can be serious. The common side effects of these drugs may include:[9,10]

• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Irritability
• Sweating

The serious side effects may include:

• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Violent thoughts or actions
• Auditory hallucinations
• Numbness in the fingers or toes
• Slowed growth in children

Both drugs can cause psychosis in rare cases, but the risk is higher with Adderall than Concerta. Men on Concerta may experience painful erections.

The serious risks of Concerta and Adderall are similar. They can cause changes in your heart and blood pressure that can cause sudden death in people with existing heart problems. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, there may be risks to taking Concerta or Adderall.

Concerta and Adderall Addiction

Despite the differences between Concerta and Adderall, they’re both stimulant medications that can be misused or abused. People may misuse stimulants to self-medicate for ADHD, lose weight, or improve academic performance.

Both Concerta and Adderall are addictive drugs. However, there are no studies directly comparing the two to determine which has a higher addiction potential. It’s important to take Concerta or Adderall exactly as prescribed. Don’t increase your dose, take more frequent doses, or use these drugs in other ways than intended – such as crushing a pill and snorting it.

Regular use of Concerta and Adderall can build tolerance, which is when you need higher and higher doses to achieve the same effects. Taking higher doses increases the risk of overdose and dangerous effects.

Physical dependence is also possible with Concerta and Adderall, even when taken as directed. With prolonged use, your body becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug and needs it to function. If you stop taking it suddenly, you can experience withdrawal symptoms like rebounded ADHD symptoms that are worse than before you took the drug, depression, fatigue, and sleep problems.

Never try to stop taking Concerta or Adderall on your own. Your dose may need to be tapered to wean you off the drug and reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms, but this should only be done under the guidance of your healthcare provider.

Treatment for Stimulant Addiction

It’s possible to become addicted to Concerta or Adderall. This is classified as a stimulant use disorder, regardless of which drug you take, and it’s treated the same way.

Because of the withdrawal syndrome, it may be best to enter medical detox to stop taking the drug safely. You’ll have medical supervision to taper your dose, monitor your health, and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Detox is an important part of addiction treatment, but it’s not enough to overcome addiction on its own. You need to start comprehensive addiction treatment to address the underlying factors of addiction. Inpatient or outpatient treatment includes a range of therapies tailored to your needs, including individual therapy, group counseling, support groups, and behavioral therapy, like dialectical behavior therapy.

Which Drug Is More Effective?

Concerta and Adderall have been directly compared in several studies, though new research is needed. In past drug trials that compared methylphenidate (Concerta) to amphetamines like Adderall, there was no statistically significant difference between the drugs’ effectiveness.[11]

While there’s no empirical evidence that one drug is more effective than the other, the drug trials showed that participants respond better to one of the two drugs. Typically, these participants had noticeable improvements with one drug and little to no effect with the other.

Concerta vs. Adderall: Which Is Better for You?

Two commonly used stimulant medications for ADHD are Concerta and Adderall. While these drugs have similar benefits, risks, and side effects, one may work better for treating your ADHD symptoms than the other.