Mallinckrodt Adderall vs. Teva/Barr Adderall (30 mg)?
Question posted by thetooshay on 12 Nov 2018
Last updated on 18 February 2025 (9 weeks ago) by Gemmy123
Does anyone else feel that adderall by Mallinckrodt is like taking a sugar pill? I don't feel anything but except tired unfocussed and cloudy. I do not think that this brand contains the same ingredients as my usual brand. Is anyone else experiencing this and know what I can do or if my doctor will write me a new script?
I've been taking 30mg instant release adderall for years by the manufacturer Teva. They're orange and oval shaped. On 11/9/2018, I took my prescription to three different pharmacies and all had NONE in stock. I finally found one with adderall in stock but was informed that it is a different manufacturer. She told me it possesses the same ingredients and has the same effects but IT IS NOT. I received adderall from the manufacturer MALLINCKRODT and it is white and shaped like an octagon. I do not feel anything.
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53 Answers
GE
Gemmy123
19 Feb 2025
So glad, I looked this up! I just received my prescription. I agree, I have been extremely tired (especially after taking it) I feel like I need to nap! CLOUDY perfect way to describe it! Plus, memory - Someone will tell me what their name is, and I forget it. I will call my pharmacy and see what can be done! So glad and sad I am not the only one who feels the same!
Votes: +0
FE
FeelingDeceived
28 Oct 2024
Years ago, I was taking 30mg of the orange pill by Teva and stopped because my concentration and ADHD had gotten better. I started again last year, but was prescribed Adderall XR 15mg (blue and white capsule). It worked just fine. But in the last few weeks I was switched over to the NDC: 0406-8953-01 Mallinckrodt, and after a week I started experiencing irregular, quickened heartbeats, spasm-like twitches in my chest muscle, left earaches, and a sensitivity just below the ankle of my left foot, making it difficult to walk on. I thought the earache and ankle issue was something I was doing, so I never really mentioned that to the doctor until...
I found difficult to sleep because of the heart palpitations, because I couldn't figure out what was going on, especially since I was usually pretty calm in the evening - except for the fast heartbeat. I'd wake up in the morning, and the palpitations started soon afterwards, even before taking the meds. Finally, I decided to not take it one morning, and three hours later the palpitations were lessening dramatically. By the 6pm, the left earache was noticeable, but nowhere near as painful, and the next day I could walk on my left foot with NO PAIN WHATSOEVER. The earache is gone, the fast heartbeats are gone, and the spasm-like twitches in my chest muscle is completely gone. I realize we're the guinea pig of big pharma, but at 68 years of age, this is an egregious form of deception that leads people to recognize that we're no doubt being expected to embrace medications that the pharmaceutical company would never give to their families, much less take it themselves, knowing the consequences. I'm going to ask my doctor to either find the Adderall I had before, or find the Teva brand which I had years ago. If these two options are no longer available, I'll have to stop Adderall altogether and find other ways to function. I know not everyone can do this, but can you imagine the change in pharma if people could simply say, " I won't take this?" But Pharma knows better, which is why they keep putting it out there.
Votes: +0
TW
TWD123
21 May 2024
I have been taking adderall since the late 1990s and have been through several alleged shortages but got the teva generic.
This current shortage teva has been unavailable and have taken two different generics from CVS and the Walgreens generic mallinckrodt.
At 1st I experienced what I thought was the drug mallinckrodt and CVS brands not working so I researched why this is happening to little luck.
Then I decided to research the bioavailability of adderall which indicates that it is best absorbed on an empty stomach, with a more alkaline stomach acid ph and dissolved under the tongue instead of swallowed. Swallowing produces 40-50% bioavailability but dissolved under the tongue completely produces 85-90% bioavailability. So I have been experimenting with taking it different ways. Acidic stomach, alkaline stomach... with good, without food... under the tongue, ect...
I found that when taken with no food, drinking alkaline water and dissolving it under the tongue gave me the best relief for adhd.
A few months ago I got a month supply of tea and noticed that the other generics performed as well as that prescription of Teva when taken as I described.
My assumption is that teva has fillers that are more compatible with an acidic stomach than the others which allows for better absorption.
Mallinckrodt and the others are not fake as I can make them work better, they just don't handle an acidic stomach as well.
I told my doctor what I was doing and she was all for trying as she has other patients complaining the other generics don't work.
I also ussually take the weekend off from adderall.
I hope this helps everyone. My background is Research and Development and understand how to proper experiments and find data.
Votes: +0
LU
lukeskyy
15 May 2024
I would note that all manufacturers are different. I have also confirmed this with a Family Doctor. They all have to have a certain amount of the base ingredient; then they are allowed to add their additional proprietary ingredients. I have noticed that by using local pharmacies in my area of having a better outcome, as to the quality of the medicine.
Votes: +0
JE
Jesusiscoming
17 April 2024
This Mallinckrodt is in their 2nd bankruptcy. I see these complaints are listed here going back years & years so FDA which is a joke has done absolutely nothing about this fake generic adderall. I too recently received this brand after switching to Walgreens, big mistake! It did nothing but make me sweat and get tired. I tried for a week. 20mg reg release did nothing! Notified my Dr... Scripts for these so called controlled substances are more strict and here in IL have to be sent to pharmacy electronically. My Dr refused to approve an early replacement to osco where I got decent peach color ovals. Don't know mfg. Dr could have but didn't. She could have done something! 20mg is not really that much. She could increase dosage slightly or prescribe low dose Ritalin as new script just to help me get by. So I'm suffering can't get out of bed and now hate my Dr and will not go back to her because she failed her duty to get decent med to her suffering patient.
Not a caring Dr. I will have to find someone else and that takes time. Meanwhile I did complain to Mallinckrodt, the pharmacy & tomorrow FDA. Good luck everyone. This horrible company is plain evil hurting sick people with their fake crap
Votes: +0
MI
MissPositive
2 Dec 2023
I don’t know why pharmacists say they are all the same! They clearly do not all work the same for every body. Teva is the only generic Adderall IR that works for me. A hot pink generic gives me migraines, Lannett did absolutely nothing and I’ve tried a couple others with NO luck. I’m trying to study for a test and am having great difficulty. I might ask my doc to D.A.W. my prescription to see if that works. I’ve only tried genetics.
Votes: +0
OJ
Ojet
19 Nov 2023
I usually get the blue 10mg adderall. Same thing , couldn’t get it refilled. Got my script and they were 10s and white square. Looked it up and supposedly it is adderall but I feel absolutely nothing. No change it heart rate. Absolutely no focus whatsoever. I’m not sure how to go about this because now I have a month of fake adderall pills instead of medication I need
Votes: +0
CL
Cloudyshrimp
26 Sep 2023
With a diagnosis of ADHD, I have been taking 60mg and more recently 40mg. I have been taking the peach, oval generic known as Teva. Since I have switched prescription insurance, I have been given the off-white generic known as Mallinckrodt. I noticed the first day my stomach was sour, with headaches. More importantly, I couldn't focus and stick to just one project. Often, I would check to see if I had taken this medication. I have found over the years, that the Teva is a credible and pharmaceutical generic that has helped me tremendously. As so many comments made, I also feel that this octagon, off-white pill is a placebo. It seems like in the production process, they omitted the necessary ingredients. I'm hoping more people, having this same reaction, will express their concerns.
Votes: +0
SK
SkyGuy92
7 Sep 2023
I’ve been on Sdderall 30mg IR for over seven years and tried basically almost every generic. Teva works best with me. When I do happen to get them filled sometimes potently varies but it’s normally 100% better than Malincroft/Elite/Aurobindo/Core Pharma (Malincroft being the best of the worst for me although). Alvogen is decent for me if I can’t find Teva. Sandoz is also decent. I’d rate 1)Teva/Barr (Orange football that has sweet taste), 2)Alvogen than 3) Sandoz. Hope this helps someone.
Votes: +1
GB
GBanks3
4 Sep 2023
This happened to me a few days ago, I figured it'd be the same as Teva. I've been experiencing non-stop brain fog and stomach nausea/acid reflux. Never again.
Votes: +0
TE
TerryWMerritt
3 Sep 2023
TEVA Is THE BEST. !!! TEVA vs Mallincrodt= adderall. Hands down! There is absolutely a tremendous difference in “quality” between these two companies. I have used over 15 various companies over my 25 years of taking adderall and without doubt TEVA ranks #1 in quality, effect. I’ve taken, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 mg of every pharmaceutical company in my life and through trial and error nothing compares to TEVA. All others makes me nauseated, except TEVA. The other brands are useless for me. TEVA or nothing at all is what I tell my pharmacist.
Votes: +0
MR
mrsballen
20 Aug 2023
Yes! I was just about to post the same question. I don’t feel anything on it. I am more sleepy and have actually gained weight. For me, Mallinckrodt seems to be least helpful. I’m getting a little worried since I’m starting my new job this week and want to start off on the right foot: being on-time, organization, finishing projects.
1. Alvogen 2. Teva 3. Mallinckrodt
Unfortunately, with the on-going Adderall shortage, I don’t think I can be too picky with the pharmacies.
Votes: +0
JU
Jupiter-Optimus
9 Aug 2023
When it comes to ADHD medication, especially generic IR tablets, no two 'brands' are exactly the same. TEVA 30mg IR tablets are among the best on the market. Mallinckrodt is no sugar pill. It's actually decent, but TEVA is better.
Believe me, there are generic Adderall IR tablets on the market that are consistently ineffective for most people with ADHD. One such example is Aurobindo. IMHO, anyone who thinks otherwise has probably been prescribed a dosage too high for their needs.
These are my personal opinions based on experience and are not medical advice.
...
Votes: +1
SD
Sdodds0401
1 Aug 2023
I have to agree with everyone else on here with the Teva vs. Mallincrodt. The pill does nothing for my symptoms of my add and it makes me unable to sleep for hours. Has anyone else experienced rashes on their face or chelitis “inflammation of the lips”? I have a sulfa drug allergy and both times I’ve had this manufacturer it’s caused skin irritation.
Votes: +0
JA
Januaryfirst
26 June 2023
I was given the mallinckrodt generic this month for the first time. I've been on generic adderall since 2018 and have never had side effects like this- nausea, headaches, brain-fog, and no effect on my adhd. I believe 100% that this manufacturer is passing off some junk. There is no recourse for the ppl that are suffering the consequences of this. I guess now, in addition to finding a pharmacy with adderall in stock, I will be checking what manufacturer they are carrying. I have not had this problem w any of the other generic brands.
