Posted by med_empowered on August 13, 2005, at 1:41:17
In reply to Any real differences between Dexedrine and Adderal, posted by Paulbwell on August 12, 2005, at 23:00:39
Adderall has the "other" amphetamine in it...levoamphetamine, maybe? Anyway, "Adderall" was originally introduced to the market as "Obetrol," a diet drug, in the early 1960s (the 50s and 60s were the heyday of the RX amphetamines...thats when Dexamyl and other stuff really hit it big...its also when disastrous diet drugs like Preludin hit the scene). Anyway, I think the levoamphetamine is primarily effective at reducing appetite, providing energy, etc...its really the dexedrine part that makes adderall effective for ADD/ADHD. Its kind of similar to Biphetamine, the infamous "black beauty" pill of the 60s, which was also a double-amphetamine combo. Anyway, Obetrol was kind of popular..Andy Warhol loved it, apparently...after the market for amphetmine-based diet drugs hit the skids in the 70s, it lost a lot of popularity...the Adderall people apparently saw potential in it (at the time, Dexedrine was 2nd line ADD therapy and still used for depression), so the company bought the formula, developed the XR and *bam*! A recycled drug hit it big with psychiatrists everywhere. The biggest difference, from my experience, is that Dexedrine (and desoxyn) do reduce appetite and fatigue, etc...but not as much as Adderall. Plus, Adderall's cardiovascular effects somehow make me feel more "awake" than Dexedrine does, although I think dexedrine is a little bit cleaner (I mean, as clean as amphetamines can get). I think if you want fewer cardiovascular effects and don't want to "feel" the stimulant as much, Dexedrine would probably be a better call, but the difference is more pronounced with some people than with others. The problem is that, with all the mad marketing done for Adderall XR, few shrinks seem to want to RX Dexedrine anymore...alot of times, they're reluctant to even RX the Adderall tablets, which are available in generic.
poster:med_empowered
thread:540925
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050811/msgs/540957.html