Focalin vs Adderall: What’s the Difference & Which Works Better For ADHD?

Does your kid keep fidgeting constantly? Is hyperactive and always lost in their own little world? These could be some clear symptoms that your kid might have ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). In such cases, medications along with behavioral theapy is commonly considered part of the treatment plan. While there are many medicines available in the market to treat ADHD, in this article, we will specifically talk about two of the most commonly prescribed ones, Focalin and Adderall. And try to answer questions like, Which one of them is a better choice? Can they lead to addiction? All these questions will be considered easily after the Focalin vs Adderall comparison. But before we get any further, let’s talk about what Focalin and Adderall are and how they work

Focalin vs Adderall: Dosage, Duration, and Safety Compared

Key Information About Focalin

Focalin is a CNS (Central Nervous System) stimulant used to treat ADHD in children who are 6 years or older. It functions by altering brain chemicals to enhance focus and reduce impulsivity. Facolin is available in both immediate-release and extended-release forms.

How Does Focalin Work In Your Body?

Due to ADHD, brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine don’t stay active for long enough. Focalin causes blocking in the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. And in doing so, Focalin prevents these chemicals from being cleared out too quickly. The longer these chemicals are around, the longer the brain stays in focus. Which eventually results in less distraction. Much like any other drug, Focalin also comes with some side effects. Focalin is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it is very easy to become addicted to it.

Common side effects of Focalin abuse:

• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Nausea
• Anorexia
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Vission problem
• Circulation issue

Key Information About Adderall

Adderall is also a CNS stimulant used to treat ADHD and Narcolepsy. Its key components are amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. which work on the central nervous system in your brain to improve focus and impulse control. Adderall is also available for immediate-release and extended-release. It increases alertness, concentration, and energy, all while reducing impulsivity and hyperactivity.

How Does Adderall Work In Your Body?

Mechanism of Adderall and Focalin are more equivalent. It releases and increases brain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. In result, helping in increasing focus, self-control, and attention. It is also a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it can get your body hooked on it. And just like Focalin before, Adderall also has some side effects.
Common side effects of Adderall abuse:

• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Appetite loss
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Anxiety
• Palpitations & Blood pressure

Some people aksed “Is Focalin and adderall the same thing?” Well, they are not; there are some differences in their working mechanism, compositions, and a few other things. Here are some key differences between Focalin and Adderall.

How Are Focalin And Adderall Different?

While both of them are used as a treatment for the same brain condition, Adderall helps in releasing and increasing brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine. Focalin, on the other hand, can not increase or release them; it works by slowing the time of their absorption by blocking their reuptake. After this, you can think, “What’s the difference between Focalin and Adderall?” Wait Here are some other ways they are different from one another.

• Active Ingredients: Focalin contains only the active d-enantiomer of methylphenidate, which is dexmethylphenidate. On the other hand, Adderall contains two most common substances in a 3:1 ratio, such as d-amphetamine and l-amphetamine salts.
• Duration: Focalin has a short-lived duration of about 4-6 hours, but Adderall is used for long-term and can be impactful for a whole day.
• Effect: Adderall is often considered a first-choice medication for adults. Focalin is often found to be better tolerated by individuals who have a higher sensitivity to CNS stimulants.
• Side effect intensity: Adderall can cause increased heart rate, Jitteriness and anxiety; whereas, Focalin is sometimes considered less intense for individuals who are sensitive to amphetamines.

Let’s understand focalin vs adderall comparison due to this comparison tablet

Factors	Focalin & Focalin XR	Adderall & Adderall XR
Focalin vs Adderall Half-life	2.2-3 hrs & 5-7 hrs	10 – 14 hrs
Drug class	Methylphenidate-based CNS stimulant	Amphetamine-based CNS Stimulant
Mainly used for	ADHD	ADHD and Narcolepsy
Onset action	Within 30 – 1 hour	Within 30 – 1 hour
Age restriction	6 years and older	3 years and older

Which One Is Better For ADHD, Focalin or Adderall?

Well, no medicine can be good for all. The decision often falls onto age, symptom severity, side effect tolerance, medical history, and the doctor’s evaluation. While both Focalin and Adderall are highly effective, FDA-approved medications for treating ADHD, neither of them can be considered ‘better’ for everyone. Adderall is often considered a first choice of treatment for adults, while Focalin is considered a better choice for children.

Frequently Asked Question

Can you take Focalin and Adderall together?

It is possible to take Focalin and Adderall together, but under strict medical supervision. They are acts on the central nervous system and increase dopamine and norepinephrine. So mixing Focalin and Adderall raises several side effects. Always taking Focalin and Adderall together ensures safety and follow precaution to monitor the adverse effects.

Is Focalin or Adderall stronger?

If we consider them on an individual basis, then both drugs are similarly effective medications, but in the case of ADHD treatment, Adderall is more effective than Focalin because most health experts prescribe Adderall for adults and Focalin for children.

Can you switch from Adderall to Focalin?

Yes, several patients are switching from Adderall to Focalin since Adderall causes side effects. The switching process involves both similar drugs that are used for the same purpose, such as ADHD. You can switch adderall to Focalin with medical supervision to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Conslusion

Focalin and Aderall are both very effective treatments for ADHD. Commenting on which one of them is the better option for you should be left to your doctor, as there are a lot of factors that come into play, such as the patient’s age, the severity of symptoms, the patient’s medical history, side effect tolerance, and previous response to medications. Both medicines have shown similar results and side effects. Before choosing either of them, you should have a clear prescription from a medical professional. Medication should always be accompanied by Behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes in order to get rid of ADHD once and for all.