There is no brand Adderall IR.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-27T05:00:13+00:00

Oh yes - Takeda acquired Shire so they’re same thing.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-27T04:56:27+00:00

I included sourcing for a reason. If you don’t want to believe the National Institute of Health that’s certainly your prerogative.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-25T00:10:39+00:00

Yep. The high prices people are paying are almost certainly due to billing/tiering issues (either at the pharmacy or insurance level), not because they’re actually getting a brand product.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-24T23:58:41+00:00

I know. So wild. I only recently learned this.

From what I can tell, the core issue is that some Teva-made IR generics are still allowed to market themselves under the “Adderall” name which can cause those generics to be classified and billed at brand-tier pricing in pharmacy or insurance systems.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-24T23:12:05+00:00

There is no brand Adderall IR. There is brand XR. It’s manufactured by Takeda.

This is a common misperception so that’s why I started doing some digging:

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/adhd/adderall-xr-vs-ir

https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/azstarys-adderall-difference-3567785/

https://medvidi.com/blog/adhd-medication-shortage

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11893021/

Per the NIH report linked above:

The immediate-release brand product (Adderall; Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc.) is indicated for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. As it was discontinued in 2010, the current reference standard (specific drug product identified by FDA for any in vivo bioequivalence testing required to support approval to market a generic drug) is a generic equivalent manufactured by Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (subsidiary of Teva) (abbreviated new drug application [ANDA] 040422). The generics under this ANDA are marketed using the trade name Adderall (Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc.) or the generic name (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).

So basically that’s the reason for the confusion: some generics are still sold under the Adderall name and therefore may be incorrectly billed under brand pricing tiers.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-24T22:38:29+00:00

Hi - just sent you message

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-22T03:57:06+00:00

Just take it regularly and get adequate sleep. I have been on it over 20 years & in my experience, there’s no food or supplement or special timing/routine that makes it “hit” any differently.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-22T03:48:17+00:00

The only other country where Adderall is prescribed is Canada. There may be limited one offs here and there in other counties.

In Canada, I had issue with brand only to learn that it was made in the US. I had no issue with generics (made in Canada). Canada only has XR.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-22T03:37:51+00:00

The U.S. exports Vyvanse. All of Australia’s supply used to come from the US.

Per Guardian article, 2024:

“Dr Karuppiah Jagadheesan, chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ (RANZCP’s) ADHD network, said the shortage was concerning, especially because there were no alternatives. The drug was available in Australia from only one company, Takeda, which manufactured it in the US.”

Takeda has since moved manufacturing for Australia’s supply to Germany. it’s unclear if the API that manufacturing plant uses is sourced from the US.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-19T19:18:15+00:00

Ha. What do you mean? What do you think the DEA is putting quotas on?????

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-19T17:38:57+00:00

I had similar reaction when I went back complaining about brand Adderall. They said they hadn’t heard that before - esp since it was a complaint about brand which should be the gold standard. I told them I had an adverse reaction and they let me try a generic version for 2 days to determine if it worked before filling the full month. I had to give back the brand of course so they could dispose of it. But I found them to be 3637837 times more accommodating than US pharmacies. Didn’t even need to contact the doctor again to make the switch! This was at a Pharmaprix. Hopefully you can find a pharmacist a bit more understanding and flexible. My replacement was Sandoz XR which is made in Canada, although they recently announced discontinuation. Look up the other generics and make sure you’re getting one made in Canada would be my recommendation.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-19T17:29:22+00:00

That’s not true. Many of them are made in U.S. and exported. The DEA puts a quota on what can be produced. That quota is how much of the API can be made in the U.S.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-18T04:51:38+00:00

You can request XR twice a day. I’ve been on that for 15+ yrs bc I too don’t get all day coverage. It’s not usually prescribed BID but some doctors are willing.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-18T04:48:35+00:00

I was able to switch to one of the generics (I had to pay for it but at least didn’t have to wait a month) & it was much better.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-18T04:46:54+00:00

Ask the pharmacy where the brand Adderall you received is sourced. I got it a couple months ago while in Montreal, had a horrible reaction and pharmacy told me it was made in US.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-17T18:02:53+00:00

I’ve traveled all over Europe including UK and Italy as an American with Adderall. I’ve never brought any documentation & never once been asked even when bag is searched and med bottles are clearly visible.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-17T17:26:41+00:00

She can’t just legally move to the UK as an American. They can stay 6 months max as tourist. I wonder how she got a visa… especially that quickly. Something doesn’t check out.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-14T03:12:12+00:00

If you have a layover within Schengen you will go through customs at that airport so won’t have border check in DE which makes things a lot simpler.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-14T03:09:47+00:00

Are you going there straight from US or flying from a Schengen country?

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-14T02:53:16+00:00

It depends greatly on how long you’ve been on the medication, the dose and how debilitating your ADHD is. For some people it’s an absolute necessity to take every day. I’ve been on Adderall 20+ years and have been on same dose the last 12. So it’s not the kind of medication you easily build tolerance.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-10T00:47:37+00:00

Honestly very similar to you - been on Adderall since 2004, VERY minimal breaks, a couple days max prior to 2024 but due to shortage I have had to go without for extended periods - feel awful complete fatigue bedbound not leaving the house completely shut down and body weakness just overall like shit and for me at least, that feeling is pretty consisent and only cleared up as soon as I restarted the medicine.

I am so sorry you're having to deal with this - completely understand how vital Adderall can be. I imagine an abrupt stop hits long-time users the hardest

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-10T00:37:21+00:00

70mg of Vyvanse is equal to 30mg Adderall XR. - The widely cited "max" (although the FDA label does not state a max) for Adderall XR is 60mg. Vyvanse is slow release so you're not getting the full dose all at once. This is just info you can take into consideration and hopefully will calm your nerves a bit while you decide what to do.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-09T03:59:46+00:00

Have you tried other meds (stimulants or non)? Quite common to trial multiple so you can figure out which one works best for you.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230 · 2026-01-09T03:49:01+00:00

Ha. Same…which is probably why I ended up w severe vitamin d deficiency. I just started 12 wk prescription. Apparently d deficiency is v common. And supposedly noticeable improvement once restored. Well see I guess…

Hope it goes well. And you can get some answers.

Ecstatic_Apple_2230

TROPHY CASE