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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by evenintherain on January 6, 2012, at 21:51:04
I take adderall IR along with a small dose of wellbutrin to control my depression. I haven't been able to find any adderall IR at any pharmacies where I live (nyc) lately (it is all back-ordered for at least a month they say), and am about to go on a trip out of the country for 5 weeks. I really don't want to have to try out a new drug while I'm gone, but stopping completely seems like an even worse idea. My doctor said if I couldn't get any adderall to let him know and he'd figure out something else to prescribe (though I'm under the impression there is a shortage of most stimulant drugs now that people have had to switch from Adderall).
My question is, does anyone have a suggestion for which drug is best to substitute?
I am very wary about requesting anything specific lest I give my pdoc the impression that I am drug-seeking (I'm not, I don't get high off these drugs. It took a long time of trial and error before settling on this combo) but if he suggests ritalin, concerta or vyvanse rather than dexadrine/dextrostat I am thinking of questioning this. I am not sure if I would be right to do so, which is why I am asking on here. My bias may be unfounded because there is only one ingredient in dexadrine and I know what it is (d-amphetamine) and that I can tolerate it because it currently makes up 75% of my adderall pills.
I am not against Vyvanse, but it is non-generic (can't afford it) and only comes in extended release. I take IR rather than extended release adderall because extended release even in the smallest dose made me too tired to function (I know, I react really strangely to most of these drugs).
So I take 5mg of adderall IR 3 to 4 times a day currently until my last bottle runs out, which is soon.
I don't know much about concerta, ritalin, strattera, but am under the impression they are a different class of drugs. Please correct me if I'm wrong or you think they might be more helpful.
<rant>Just as an aside I'm sort of ticked about this shortage. It is unclear to me whether it came from the DEA quota or (a rumor I heard about) Shire creating the shortage on purpose to get people to switch to Vyvanse while it's still on patent, but the fact is i really don't want to have to mess with a system that has been working for me for about a year. I don't react to drugs like the average patient and it has taken many years to find a combo that, while imperfect, has done the job well enough for now. It's kind of irritating that this shortage could go on for so long (I think I first heard about problems in May?) without anyone taking it seriously/doing anything about it. I guess the implication is it's not a legitimate drug, but for those that feel otherwise these restrictions are a real bummer.</rant>
Posted by Christ_empowered on January 7, 2012, at 0:23:48
In reply to Adderall shortage/what should be substituted?, posted by evenintherain on January 6, 2012, at 21:51:04
I'd take dexedrine. I read an article that said there are ritalin shortages in some spots because of the adderall shortage. Isn't the DEA awesome? Anyway, there's all kindsa ritalin, so maybe not all of it is in short supply. Who knows? Vyvanse is modified dexedrine. One dose takes forever to start working, then works all day (supposedly...they have to justify that high price somehow, I guess). Your doc should know how to do the dosage conversion.
I wouldn't take straterra in your situation. Ritalin is basically pharmaceutical coke--"kiddy cocaine." Its a schedule II drug like adderall, but...different. Much, much different. Might require a higher dose to get the effects you're getting from Adderall. The two aren't the same, but they are both helpful for depression, ADD/ADHD, and narcolepsy, so a ritalin Rx wouldn't be a total loss (if you can get it filled, that is).
Dexedrine comes in tablets and spansules. If your doc goes for that, I'd hope for the spansules--they last a little longer, less of a crash from what I've heard. One reason adderall is so popular is that it lasts longer---even in tablet form--than dexedrine, so you don't have ups and downs throughout the day. Science marches on...
Anyway, sorry about your situation. I hope things work out for you.
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2012, at 10:23:33
In reply to Re: Adderall shortage/what should be substituted?, posted by Christ_empowered on January 7, 2012, at 0:23:48
I didn't know there was a shortage what about all the children that take it? I have a friend who takes vyvanase and loves it. It's that expensive? I don' know. Also if the Dea is involved the same is happening with pain meds. Docs now need a special dea number to prescribe the meds so I'm told. Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on January 13, 2012, at 8:05:20
In reply to Adderall shortage/what should be substituted?, posted by evenintherain on January 6, 2012, at 21:51:04
i too hav e been running into shortages on this. it seems everytime i go to refill they are out and i have to check wioth 5 other pharmacies...all out. every once and a while i'll get lucky but normally ill have to wait at lest a week to get refkill.
:(
This is the end of the thread.
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