Adderall and Headaches: What Users Say

• Kim...
• April 9, 2021

For ADHD "If anyone else is having a terrible time with the new Lannett generic Adderall, you can report this to the FDA. I have been having crippling headaches, stomach aches, and the medication doesn’t even feel like it works!!! I get tired after I take it and then can’t sleep all night because of it. HORRIBLE. Google FDA MedWatch online reporting to fill in the form."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 3, 2023

For ADHD "Been getting Teva generic from different Walgreens locations for years. I’ve been complaining about the dose not lasting longer than a couple of hours, but this last refill doesn’t even work at all. I doubled my dose, and all I got was a headache and brain fog. I’m extremely hungry all day too. The pills don’t even have that nasty taste to them either. Teva was caught back in 2012 giving out ineffective antidepressants, so it seems they’re back to their old tricks. Going to report this to the FDA, and I hope others do too."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2023

For ADHD "Since being switched to the generic version of Adderall, Dextroamp-Amphetamine manufactured by Alvogen, I have been experiencing negative side effects for the past three days. I have become irritable, emotional, and easily agitated by noises, including music that I previously enjoyed. I have also been experiencing fatigue, lack of motivation, and difficulty reading. My speech has become slurred and confused, and I have developed tension headaches. I want my sparkle back, and I couldn't care less about anything. I’m surprised I’m writing this review as I am currently feeling scattered and embarrassed."

• Spa...
• January 29, 2020

For ADHD "I have found the generic brand for Adderall is not as effective as the brand name. The Epic brand caused me to have severe depression, blurred vision, headaches, feeling very tired, and no focus at all. I’m trying to find a brand that is more similar to the name brand. Looking for suggestions if anyone can share, please. Thanks."

• bea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 2, 2020

For ADHD "I recently was given this new form of Adderall from the pharmacy, which was circular with just an 'A' on one side. I did not like this new form of Adderall at all! I assumed it would have the same effect as the typical oval shaped one, but it was completely different, which is a little scary. It was very bitter and gross tasting, unlike the football-shaped one that has a sweet note. It also disintegrated, turning to powder immediately, as I attempted to break it in half (waste of product). I did not get any focus from it, nor did I feel any different at all. It did nothing! Then the next day, I got a horrible headache! I was talking with a friend who also mentioned getting the same thing recently. He mentioned having an extremely bad headache too the following day, so we now know it's from this form of Adderall. I DO NOT LIKE IT. It should be pulled from the market, honestly. I don't know what the heck this rubbish is, but it is not Adderall."

• ADH...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 10, 2023

For ADHD "I've been on Adderall for 9 years, and this shortage has made life miserable. For people who need it to get through daily life, we're the people suffering the most. Teva was always the best generic, but I haven't been able to find Teva for a year or more. The Rhodes kind and the Lannett kind are both terrible! The efficacy of both of those brands is extremely low, like they are just sugar pills. Plus, they've increased my anxiety and increased my number of regular headaches. The powers that be need to get this situation under control, or lots of us who struggle with ADHD and other comorbidities aren't going to make it out alive. Literally. The depression I've struggled with for most of my life has been more severe for the last year, even though I'm still treated for it by my psychiatrist! We are real people with prescriptions from real doctors who deserve consideration! And our meds!"

• D-A...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 10, 2024

For ADHD "I had a great experience with the blue Teva manufactured Adderall generic, but Walgreens switched to Mallinckrodt, and it is much less effective and caused headaches. My psychiatrist confirmed that he had several complaints from patients, so please be aware and report to the FDA if you are having the same issues."

• Anonymous
• December 24, 2019

For ADHD "I’ve been taking the generic version of Adderall for about 2 years now. I was tired all the time and couldn’t focus. I felt like a slug, and when I had energy, I still had brain fog and had a hard time studying. In class, I would fidget in my chair, doodle, and listen to lectures, but nothing would stick in my head, no matter how long I studied. I was prescribed the 7.5 mg tablet once a day, and just the small dose did wonders for my energy levels and let me focus and actually get things done. It helped me talk in social situations and gave me a mood boost. That being said, the generics changed a couple of times. And I’m not sure, but I think I can tell a difference between them. After the pill wears off, my head aches, my legs throb, my body aches, and I’m nauseous and feel sick. I have flu-like symptoms, which are miserable. It’s sad because it’s a really small dose and helps me so much, but some of the side effects suck. You just gotta see what’s worth it to you."

• Lau...
• November 18, 2022

For ADHD "Lannett XR made me feel the same way all of you did. My pulse was racing. I couldn't find the motivation within me to do anything. I felt flat and emotionless. I was overall just highly sedated. It also caused horrible stomach aches and headaches. The dizziness was unbearable, as was staying up for hours at a time with no clear task in sight."

• Epi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 24, 2022

For ADHD "The Teva that I normally take is on back order. Tried Epic brand. Immediately started feeling dizzy and a headache started. Pulse is racing, resting pulse is 67, and my current resting is 94. Feel like I am having an out-of-body experience, also paranoid. When talking, I felt like I was talking really fast, but my daughter said I was actually talking slowly. Everyone keeps looking at me really weird. My eyes are blinking uncontrollably. I keep crying for no reason. I hope this medication wears off very, very soon. Dry mouth, which is normal, but this was almost immediate and severe. My arm occasionally twitches, and I seem to now be shivering. If I took this brand normally, I would never want to take amphetamine/dextroamphetamine again."

• Jwr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

For Narcolepsy "Adderall works exceptionally well for me with one caveat. Don't believe for one bit that all generics are the same. Before filling your script, call around and find out which brands the pharmacies carry. If it's Mallinckrodt, find another pharmacy to fill at. I can take any brand of Adderall and it works for me without many side effects EXCEPT Mallinckrodt. I don't know what they do to their pills, but they make me sick. They give me a severe headache, extreme nausea, and abdominal pain. If you look online, you will see that other people report the same. So shop around for something other than Mallinckrodt. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 25, 2022

For ADHD "This month I received an RX that was half Lannett, half Teva, due to the shortage. I tried not to mix the brands when dosing. Let me say the difference between these two manufacturers is shocking. Lannett, not only entirely ineffective, is actually just downright harmful. My chest hurts on it, crazy headaches, pounding heart, nausea, I am tired, and VERY little focus, which is only in the immediate beginning. Teva, however, works like it’s supposed to, and I don’t feel like I’m literally dying."

• ElR...
• March 14, 2012

For ADHD "I would like to say that Adderall really works. It helps me concentrate and get things done. My mind doesn't race, and I am able to focus. I do experience dry mouth and loss of appetite. I was experiencing a lot of headaches when I first started taking it, and they would be migraines starting from my temple to the pressure in my eye. I did a self-experiment before I completely stopped taking the medicine and began to drink two glasses of water: one before my pill, then wait 10 minutes and drink another glass of water with the pill. Throughout the day, I kept drinking water, and I have no more headaches. Drink water all day!"

• Pla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

For ADHD "So apparently Adderall (generic) has a new Mfg. Mallinckrodt, and this med gives me the worst headaches, and they don’t work. Lannette Mfg. was cool, but this new small beige/octagonal tab is the worst! There is definitely a difference when they switch Mfgs."

• I...
• September 14, 2015

For ADHD "I was a failing student, failing math two times. In my junior year of high school, I took Adderall for the first time, on the first day of the school year. The first day of taking it was astonishing. I was very concentrated in math class, and that's not it, I had a desire to learn once I got into class. My grades improved to the high 90 percentiles, which I never thought I'd accomplish. But there are side effects to taking Adderall. For me, it's dizziness for about an hour in, headaches on occasion, and being very sleepy around the afternoon. I urge parents who have kids with ADD/ADHD to let your kids try it out for a month. It might save their futures. You can skip doses as much as you like, so I don't take it on summer break or weekends."

• Log...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2019

For Narcolepsy "I read a lot about this drug, and it is hard to find anything about the side effects I have gotten. So, I have taken Adderall XR 10 mg (once in the morning) just for a few days now. The first time was amazing, and I actually had a road trip to take that day, and I drove a whole 12 hours with no problems! That is really good considering I need a nap just an hour after waking up usually. There were still the positive effects, but the side effects are just so bad. Food just doesn’t seem appealing anymore, and I have constant headaches and stomach issues. That's not even the bad part, I have had terrible hallucinations, and it makes me very paranoid and scared to do anything in my day. At some points of the day, I feel fine, but others I feel those side effects and episodes of tense muscles that tremble when I hallucinate and increased heart rate and heavy breathing. I keep reading all these amazing things about this drug, and I want that for me too. If anyone has experienced, I would love the feedback :)"

• Rx2...
• October 27, 2009

For ADHD "I've only had the brand name for a few days in a hospital, and it worked well with relatively no side effects. My doctor prescribed it after I got out, not knowing there was a generic. I was given the generic, and it wasn't even close to the brand. I rarely get headaches, and I had a blinding one in my temples for 2.5 days. Brand name good/generic evil."

• DPR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2013

For ADHD "I too have gone through my whole life with undiagnosed ADHD, and I have to say that I have lost so many years of my life both academically and personally. I've been recently diagnosed with ADHD and started Ritalin. I could not tolerate Ritalin. It made me feel like a zombie along with bad headaches. My MD switched me to Adderall, and it has changed my life. I wish I would have sought help years ago, but I was too embarrassed to seek mental health help. I've been on 30 mg per day of Adderall for 1.5 months now, and it's worked great except that I think this dose is too low, as I have to split the 30 mg into two doses per day. 20 mg works great for me, but the other 10 mg I have to take doesn't do much for me."

• Cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2025

For ADHD "I'm a complicated case. I am on the Autism Spectrum, have ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Migraines, plus Epilepsy. I was on Concerta, but it lost its efficacy after 20 years. My psychiatrist and I agreed it was time to try a stimulant, and Adderall would be the best choice. It was literally a downer at 30 mg and 20 mg, as all I did was sleep and want more sleep. But what made things complicated was that with a couple of my meds, it increased its serum levels. So, hey! I'm getting flooded with neurotransmitters I don't need! I went to 10 mg, and it was wonderful. Only minor side effects that disappeared in a day. Except... I was left with constant headaches that I could not tolerate with the migraines. So the next step is Vyvanse and adding a little 'bump' with 5 mg of Dexedrine so I won't have to wait so long for it to become active. I think I will be stable psychiatrically, as I currently am with my medication. If anything were to happen, they could just be adjusted. Looking forward to this!"

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2019

For Narcolepsy "I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy in early 2019. I was started on Adderall, but it took about 6 months to get the regimen that worked for me. I was quite sick at the stomach for about 3 months with nausea and headaches. I take 30 mg at 9 a.m. and 10 mg at 1 p.m. Finally, it's working well to a certain degree. I still need at least two naps during the day and have most of my energy in the morning and early afternoon. Come 7-8 p.m., I'm literally exhausted. I realized how well the medication worked after I missed a dose. I wondered why I was yawning all day and barely able to stay awake. It was because I had forgotten to take my Adderall. Despite how well it works, I still seem to yawn almost constantly. I would not be able to get through the day without it. It's not a 100 percent fix, but I can function for most of the day using it. So, that's a plus for me."

• tlc...
• November 17, 2011

For ADHD "I had been taking Adderall (generic) for approximately five years but recently switched to dextroamphetamine because it was getting so hard to get Adderall due to (as the pharmacy said) 'a manufacturer backorder.' But talk about serendipity; the dextroamphetamine makes me clench my jaw a lot less than the amphetamine salts, and as I begin to lose focus at the end of the day, I don't get a headache to boot. So overall, I have to say the dextroamphetamine is significantly better than Adderall on several levels."

• ots...
• March 15, 2012

For ADHD "I suffer from ADD. I take 30 mg twice a day. It works very well for me, however, sometimes I get wicked headaches in my frontal/temple areas, which I am sure is a side effect of the Adderall. I am going to see my doctor in a week and talk this over with him. I also notice that sometimes I feel really sleepy after I take a dose."

• Tee...
• November 9, 2016

For ADHD "I take 5 milligrams as needed for school. I take it right before school, maybe around 6 AM, school starts around 7 AM. I've noticed extreme dizziness, I get hot so easily, even more anxious, so much more depressed, so tired, terrible headaches, and excessive talking. I wake up in the morning to bump into every possible wall, my vision is completely blacked out. I can't walk for more than a mile without feeling faint. I eat well and drink lots of water (due to a horrible experience with Vyvanse, in which I lost 20 lbs). Not only that, but falling asleep is killer. I've never taken such a small dose and have such poor results."

• Sal...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 24, 2020

For ADHD "Generics make me feel ill, sometimes headache, sometimes itching or hives. Google where generics are made."

• ESD...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 18, 2025

For ADHD "Extreme side effects including melancholy, headache, pounding heart rate, and dissociation."