Are Concerta and Adderall the Same?
Concerta and Adderall are different drugs with similar effects. Both drugs are central nervous system stimulants used to treat ADHD.
Concerta is specifically FDA-approved for ADHD treatment and one of the brand names for methylphenidate. Concerta is one of the long-acting dosage forms for methylphenidate, compared to shorter-acting dosage forms like Ritalin. Therefore, it is taken only once daily in the morning.
Adderall is also specifically FDA-approved for ADHD. The drug is a mixture of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine salts. It comes in two dosage forms, a long-acting form sold as Adderall XR and a short-acting form sold simply as Adderall. The Adderall dosage form is also FDA-approved to treat the sleeping disorder narcolepsy. Because it is short-acting, Adderall can be given multiple times daily at four to six-hour intervals. In contrast, Adderall XR, which is long-acting, is only given once daily.