Evekeo vs Adderall - Which Is Best For ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorders in school-aged children.

This complex brain disorder impacts almost 5 percent of adults and about 11% of children in the US.

It happens more frequently in males than in females, and behaviors can be different for girls and boys. For instance, girls may tend to be quietly inattentive, and boys may be more hyperactive.

Causes

Many causes have been suggested as playing a role in the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including:

drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco, while pregnant. For example, children exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally have a 240 percent increased risk to have this condition as children who are not;
exposure to high levels of toxic lead at a young age;
brain damage either in the first few years of life or in the womb;
having a low birth weight;
emotional stress while the mother was pregnant;
being born prematurely.

Bellow are two medicines that are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:

Evekeo

It is the brand name of a drug called amphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant that affects neurotransmitters in the brain and nerves which contribute to impulse control and hyperactivity.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, amphetamine is a federally controlled substance (CII) due to the fact that it can lead to dependence or be abused.

Uses

It is typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Also, it is also used for a limited period of time for weight loss in obese individuals unable to lose weight.

Moreover, it is used to treat narcolepsy (a neurological condition that affects the control of wakefulness and sleep).

Dosage

For ADHD, the usual recommended dose in children 6 years of age or older is 5 mg once or twice per day. However, the daily dose may be raised to 5 mg at weekly intervals.

In children from 3 to 5 years of age, the starting recommended dose is 2.5 mg per day. Also, the daily dose may be raised to 2.5 mg at weekly intervals. The dose should not exceed 40 mg per day.

Side Effects And Precautions Of Amphetamine

Common side effects may include:

trouble sleeping;
headaches;
sexual dysfunction;
upset stomach;
constipation;
diarrhea;
decreased appetite;
dry mouth;
unpleasant taste in the mouth;
mood swings;
weight loss;
itching;
vomiting;
dizziness;
nervousness.

Rare side effects may include:

feeling restless;
anxiety;
fever;
hives;
urinary tract infection;
feeling anger toward something;
trouble breathing;
rash;
dry mouth;
hypersensitivity drug reaction;
low energy;
drowsiness;
fast heartbeat;
taste problems;
involuntary quivering;
excessive sweating;
heart throbbing;
infrequent bowel movements;
altered interest in having sexual intercourse;
feeling weak.

Alcohol

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Addiction

Using this medicine for an extended period of time may lead to drug addiction and dependence.

Therefore, it is recommended to use extra caution when taking this drug, especially if you have ever had a family history of addiction or personal substance addiction problems.

Symptoms of an overdose may include:

hallucinations;
hyperreflexia (a condition in which the autonomic nervous system overreacts to outside stimuli);
arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rhythm);
panic;
circulatory collapse;
change in blood pressure;
convulsions;
coma;
confusion;
rapid respiration;
rhabdomyolysis (a serious condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly).

To make sure this medication is safe for you, tell your healthcare provider if you ever had:

problems with alcohol abuse;
problems with drug abuse;
suicidal actions or thoughts;
kidney disease;
psychosis;
bipolar disorder (a mental disorder that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s energy, mood, and capacity to think clearly);
a thyroid disorder;
mental illness;
depression;
Tourette’s syndrome;
blood circulation problems;
coronary artery disease;
an abnormal brain wave test;
seizures or epilepsy.

Tell your healthcare professional if you are allergic to any medications similar to this one. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

a cough;
swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat;
wheezing;
shortness of breath;
itching;
hives.

Adderall

It is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. It is actually a combination of two stimulant drugs – dextroamphetamine and amphetamine.

This medication increases the release of essential neurotransmitters into your central nervous system (CNS). This results in an increased blood pressure and heart rate, enhanced concentration, higher energy levels, and attention.

It sits with methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Schedule II list of substances.

Uses

It is typically used to relieve symptoms of ADHD by increasing the level of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

Moreover, healthcare professionals occasionally prescribe it for narcolepsy, a sleep condition whose symptoms include excessive sleepiness and daytime sleep.

Dosage

It is an oral medication available in capsule form. The usual recommended dosage ranges from 5 – 30 mg per day.

Side Effects And Precautions

Common side effects may include:

dizziness;
nervousness;
anxiety;
restlessness;
agitation;
excitability;
weakness;
irritability;
blurred vision;
diarrhea;
headaches;
stomach pain;
fear;
vomiting;
tremor;
fever;
sleep problems (insomnia);
unexplained weight loss;
unpleasant taste in the mouth;
problems having an orgasm;
constipation;
increased blood pressure;
nausea;
heart palpitations;
increased heart rate;
impotence;
loss of interest in sex;
loss of appetite;
hair loss.

Rare side effects may include:

appetite suppression;
hypertension;
sudden cardiac death;
fast heartbeat;
abdominal pain;
stroke;
psychosis;
depression;
muscle weakness;
seizures;
kidney disease;
panic attacks.

Using this drug for non-medical reasons leads to abuse and dependence, and even withdrawals. Common overdose symptoms may include:

fainting;
restlessness;
coma;
tremor;
seizure (convulsions);
vomiting;
muscle twitches;
diarrhea;
a rapid breathing;
stomach pain;
tiredness;
confusion;
feeling light-headed;
hallucinations (the person hears, sees, smells, feels or tastes things which don’t exist outside their own mind);
uneven heartbeats;
nausea;
panic attacks (abrupt onset of intense discomfort or fear which reaches a peak within a few minutes);
dark colored urine;
muscle pain;
aggressiveness.

Drug Interactions

If you have taken an antidepressant in the last14 days, you should not take this medication. MAOIs include:

Tranylcypromine (Parnate);
Selegiline (a substituted phenethylamine that is used to help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease);
Phenelzine (Nardil);
Isocarboxazid (Marplan).