In certain circumstances, stimulants such as dextroamphetamine and Adderall can help a person experience improved quality of life. In other cases, using these drugs can have a devastating impact on an individual’s health and well-being. But what are the differences and similarities between dextroamphetamine vs Adderall? Learn more below.
Dextroamphetamine vs. Adderall
Before you use dextroamphetamine or Adderall, it is important to understand their benefits and potential drawbacks. If you have any questions about how these drugs can affect you, don’t hesitate to voice your concerns to your doctor.
What is Dextroamphetamine?
Dextroamphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. As its name implies, it is similar to amphetamine and methamphetamine (meth). The results of dextroamphetamine use can include increased energy, elevated confidence, and improved mood.
Dextroamphetamine use causes a buildup of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine, in the CNS. These chemical messengers are associated with feelings and functions such as arousal, attention, pleasure, and motivation.
When neurons (nerve cells) send messages with dopamine and norepinephrine, they release the neurotransmitters into the synapses, or small gaps, that separate one neuron from the next. Once the messages are delivered, the sending neuron absorbs the neurotransmitters so that they can be reused.
Dextroamphetamine prevents nerve cells from reabsorbing dopamine and norepinephrine. This causes excess levels in the synapses, which has the effect of amplifying the messages they are carrying.
What is Adderall?
Adderall is the brand name of a prescription medication that is commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Physicians also prescribe Adderall to people who have narcolepsy, a neurological condition that can cause a number of sleep-related problems.
Adderall contains equal amounts of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. When someone with ADHD takes this medication as directed by their physician, they can experience increased focus and reduced impulsivity.
Unfortunately, these effects have also led many people to misuse Adderall:
- Some students and professionals use Adderall that wasn’t prescribed to them when they need a mental boost, such as when studying for an exam or working late on a project.
- Some people also abuse Adderall for recreational purposes, often either to intensify or counteract the effects of other illicit substances.
According to a report that IQVIA Government Solutions prepared for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), pharmacies in the United States filled more than 44.6 million prescriptions for Adderall or its generic equivalent in 2022.
Similarities
Similarities between Adderall and dextroamphetamine include:
- Adderall and dextroamphetamine are both prescription stimulants.
- Many people abuse Adderall and dextroamphetamine, either for self-medication or to achieve a recreational high.
- The DEA has classified both Adderall and dextroamphetamine as Schedule II controlled substances. This classification indicates that, in the opinion of the U.S. government, these drugs have “a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.”
Differences
Key differences between these two drugs include:
- Adderall is a brand name. Dextroamphetamine is a generic term.
- Adderall contains multiple ingredients, including dextroamphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is also an ingredient in other brand-name medications, such as Dexedrine, ProCentra, and Zenzidi.
- Dextroamphetamine was first synthesized in the 1920s. The name Adderall was first used in the mid-1990s, when the company that owned the weight loss drug Obetrol reformulated it, renamed it, and repurposed it as an ADHD med.
Addiction of Dextroamphetamine vs. Adderall
As indicated by their Schedule II classification, both dextroamphetamine and Adderall pose a risk of addiction. Someone who develops stimulant use disorder, which is the clinical term for addiction to these and similar substances, may exhibit symptoms such as:
- Spending considerable amounts of time thinking about, seeking, using, and recovering from the effects of dextroamphetamine or Adderall
- Becoming agitated or irritated when they can’t acquire and use the drugs
- Trying to buy, borrow, or steal dextroamphetamine or Adderall that wasn’t prescribed to them
- Visiting multiple doctors and lying about symptoms in an attempt to get additional prescriptions for the drugs
- Using the drugs in ways that are especially hazardous, such as by combining them with alcohol or other substances (a dangerous practice known as polysubstance abuse)
- Continuing to use Adderall or dextroamphetamine even after incurring physical, psychological, or social harm due to prior use of the drugs
- Needing to use more of the drugs to feel the effects that they used to be able to achieve via smaller doses
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when they abruptly stop using the drugs
- Wanting to stop using dextroamphetamine or Adderall, but being unable to do so.
Someone who exhibits these symptoms should be evaluated by an addiction expert or another qualified professional.
Untreated addiction to either Adderall or dextroamphetamine can have a devastating impact on just about every part of a person’s life. But when they get the help they need, people who have become dependent on these drugs can stop using them and start living healthier lives in recovery.
Treating Dextroamphetamine vs. Adderall Addiction
Treatment for addictions to dextroamphetamine and Adderall can involve several different programs and an array of therapies and support services.
Personalization can be a vital element of effective care, so what’s perfect for one person may vary considerably from what’s best for someone else. This highlights the importance of finding a provider that will thoroughly review your history, needs, and goals, then develop a customized plan just for you.
Depending on a host of individual factors, you may be best served in one or more of the following environments:
- Detoxification
- Residential care
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient treatment
Within these various levels of care, your treatment plan may include elements such as:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy sessions
- Family therapy and education
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Relapse prevention education
- Trauma-focused therapies
Aftercare support is also important. Before you transition out of treatment, your provider should develop a discharge plan to ensure that you are connected to the resources that can support your continued recovery.
Contact LA Detox to Learn How We Treat Addiction
If your life has been disrupted by an addiction to Adderall, dextroamphetamine, or another stimulant, LA Detox is here for you.
Our team will take the time to review your history, discuss your needs, and identify your short- and long-term goals. Then, we’ll create a comprehensive, individualized plan that includes the programs and services that are right for you.
Every step of the way, we’ll encourage you to play an active role in all treatment-related decisions, so that you can become empowered to take ownership of your recovery.
To learn more about how LA Detox can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.
