Adderall XR User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)
Adderall XR has an average rating of 8.0 out of 10 from a total of 241 reviews on Drugs.com. 74% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 10% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Adderall XR
- bra...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- January 29, 2015
For ADHD "Had the best results from Adderall XR. So smooth that I could concentrate and felt like the most normal person with absolutely no highs and lows. I could sit and concentrate for hours, go to sleep like normal people, and wake up like other adults. Insurance quit paying for it and had to switch to regular Adderall."
- Hol...
- September 15, 2016
For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in 3rd grade and went through just about every medication. I have anxiety, and some medications really made it worse. Now 18 and in college, I've been on Adderall 20 mg extended release for 3 years, and every once in a while, I take a 'tolerance break.' Taking a break from it really does help when you go back to using it. Take it early in the day, or else you will most likely be awake until late hours of the night."
Frequently asked questions
- How long does Adderall last in your system?
- Which tablets should never be crushed?
- How is Mydayis different from Adderall XR?
- Does Adderall have a laxative or constipating effect?
- Kno...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 15, 2021
For ADHD "I have suffered with ADHD since I was a young kid. I got diagnosed at the youngest age possible, and I never got any help for it from my old doctor. With my new doctor, he gave me Adderall XR to start out with 10 and then upped it to 20 within a week if not effective. I am on 20 mg now, and it has changed my life. I failed school and life because I couldn't pay attention, and now not only can I pay attention, but this has also helped as my ADHD had caused depression, anxiety, and also OCD."
- Bob...
- November 18, 2023
"SSRIs did nothing for me. I had a bad cold and was taking 12-hour pseudoephedrine. It was easing my depression. (FYI, my marine son died at age 27). My doc said that staying on the pseudoephedrine was not good for me. She prescribed 20mg Adderall XR. It has been 10 years. I have never needed a higher dose and it actually lowers my blood pressure because it calms my anxiety. Truly a wonder drug. I use ONLY the brand name. Generics are supposed to be the same, but they are not."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- Clb...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- February 21, 2025
For ADHD "I've been taking Adderall 30 mg XR capsules for about 14 years. It made such a difference in my life, I felt 'normal' finally. I've used the generic from Teva, and it's been fairly good. The generic from Elite Laboratories, Inc. is definitely below standard, it's like taking a sugar pill or placebo. I've asked my doctor to prescribe it 'DAW-dispense as written' so my insurance will still cover it but at a bigger copay, which I'm willing to pay in order to have a productive, normal life."
- Eli...
- Taken for 5 to 10 years
- January 5, 2017
For ADHD "My son is 13 years old and has been on Adderall for about 6 years now and was recently switched from Adderall XR 15 mg to Adderall XR 20 mg. Today is his first day on the 20 mg. So far he noticed a large difference in the effects. He said when he was on 15 mg XR for 2 years, he didn't even notice his attention span had dropped and his grades had also been affected. He said he felt no effect whatsoever from 15 mg. The 20 mg has a noticeably large increase in effectiveness. For the first time in months, he feels back to normal and refreshed. He said he never knew my body could grow a tolerance to a medication so quickly. I am curious if every dosage will get weak like the 15 mg. I don't want to keep elevating the strength for him as I'm worried it is bad for his health."
More FAQ
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- Ano...
- February 6, 2020
For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD combined type and have tried Ritalin and Focalin. Both weren't that great for me, so my doctor prescribed me 10 mg of Adderall XR. Adderall has made me have better multitasking skills and helped me pay attention. It hasn't really helped with being hyper or being impulsive and has given me bad twitching eyes. It also has made my sleep schedule weird, so watch out for that."
- Nic...
- January 7, 2016
For ADHD "Ughh, I'm so depressed reading the positive reviews (I'm a bit envious, I guess), but I take the Adderall XR for ADHD, and it would work for me for only an hour, and that's it. After that, I would be a zombie. So tired, no motivation. Bedridden, to be honest. I'm devastated it works for so many people. I had such high hopes. Back to the scratch board again. I didn't want to believe it was the medicine because of all the positivity, but it definitely is. Quite depressed."
- Lou...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- August 2, 2019
For ADHD "I'm 19. I've tried a lot of ADHD medication (I'm from Canada, so I have fewer options than the US). Concerta, Biphentin, Vyvanse. With all these medications, I've experienced side effects, or, in the case of Vyvanse, I was not focused enough. And now I'm on Adderall XR, and I can tell you that it is the best ADHD medication I've tried. I feel like I can multi-task like Vyvanse but with more focus, and this focus makes all the difference. I don't feel a lot of side effects, and they are nothing if I compare with Concerta or Biphentin. And Adderall XR is one of the only ADHD medications with generic availability in Canada!"
- Anonymous
- July 5, 2008
For ADHD "I am an adult, 54 years old, who was diagnosed with Adult ADD two years ago. Adderall XR has made a huge difference in my quality of life. I now have the ability to organize my day and focus on what I need to get done. I feel very calm and can filter out all unnecessary distractions. I don't procrastinate like I used to, which has eliminated the unnecessary anxiety in my life. I work closely with my doctor to make sure that I am on the right dosage. I wish I had known about this 45 years ago!"
- Anonymous
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 26, 2013
For ADHD "I started on 20 mg Adderall XR 1 month ago. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 13. I was first medicated on Ritalin, and I went off of it because it made me very uneasy on the insides. I managed to get through school with all applied courses because a goldfish had a higher attention span than me. If I could turn back time, I would have chosen the Adderall path. Just a few side effects that really weren't too bad, I lost a lot of weight because it suppressed my appetite. It was all weight that I could afford to lose, and I feel better about myself. I do, however, have to make a list of tasks before I begin my day, or I just get super hyper-focused on one thing for too long. I grind my teeth, and I have to take sleep aids, but it's worth it."
- 3rd...
- February 10, 2011
For ADHD "I am a 57-year-old male who struggled through five years of college and finally gave up without getting a degree. At home, I would start projects and never finish them. In my early forties, I finally earned a BS degree out of sheer determination. My wife, who is a psychologist, gave me an IQ test and found that my IQ is rather high. I started asking myself, 'Why have I been an underachiever for most of my life?' My wife suggested that I might have ADD. I started taking Adderall XR 20 mg about 6 years ago, which changed my life for the better. I am now able to finish things that I start. Plus, I don't procrastinate nearly as much. I now read entire books, newspaper articles, etc., without quitting partway through."
- KNW...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- September 2, 2016
For ADHD "The first month I took this was perfect. Better focus, better moods, more productive, and was able to process info better. Then I got my refill, and things got bad. Those particular ones messed with my breathing, made my mind race, so focusing was even harder than before I ever took meds for focus, horrible anxiety, and paranoia. I know these two prescriptions were technically supposed to be the same, but they certainly were not the same! This stuff felt like either completely different medicine or it was made from some dirty, dirt cheap ingredients. They were both Actavis, but something just wasn't right with that refill. I didn't even go a full week taking those. I felt heartbroken because the first one worked so well."
- Lee...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- September 3, 2018
For ADHD "I have both ADD and ADHD and also narcolepsy. This medicine does control moods and also helps with depression I have noticed. I'm going to a psychiatrist for further notice, but I can say it helps me a lot. But when the pill gets out of the system, you feel somewhat down and frustrated. But once it kicks in, you're on your feet, not depressed and doing things around the house, etc. But the downside is the foods you intake. I feel like any vitamin C kills the drug. And it's bad that your body needs vitamin C, like apples, etc., but in the long run of 10/10, this is a great drug for people with ADHD and ADD also sleeping a lot."
- Jak...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- February 26, 2018
For ADHD "I am 18 years old, and I'm here to share my experience. Like many people say, this medication works miracles at first. I was now doing everything ADHD/mild depression and social anxiety stopped me from doing. Once I progressed towards the sixth month, problems slowly started coming up, and day by day, you fall back into where you started. If you keep going, you'll get even worse. The feelings of depression, anger, and anxiety are almost unreal, and it causes me to take the medication and do nothing but lay in bed instead of being energized, although it could be the 6 hours of sleep every night adding up. Tips for beginners: take weekends off, eat, drink, and sleep."
- nep...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- November 4, 2020
For ADHD "My grades instantly went from the 60s and 70s to 90s and 100s, and for once I felt like I had control over my life. The side effects were pretty bad and inconsistent, though, so I had to go from 20 to 15 mg."
- Bil...
- December 28, 2016
For ADHD "Helped my life entirely. I'm a more productive and clinical learner now. Didn't realize how bad I wasn't able to stay focused until I took this and noticed the difference. Sleep and eat fine on it. After the first week, that is. But the lack of appetite, restlessness wasn't even that bad even then."
- Ana...
- February 20, 2014
For ADHD "Adderall XR has been amazing for me. I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 5 and was on and off stimulants since the original diagnosis. As a kid, I would go through bouts of taking it and bouts of pretending to take it. I tried to be unmedicated as an adult, but that only produced anxiety, likely due to my naturally occurring rapid thought processing and tendency to fail to complete projects (distracted by new thoughts). My quality of life is significantly better when I take Adderall, and I see no shame to be had in that. I experience dry mouth fairly often, but overall it is amazing and totally worth it. I am, however, nervous about facing pregnancy without it, as well as breastfeeding. This medicine really makes a difference in my life."
- Leo...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- June 28, 2024
For ADHD "A miracle drug! At first, I was at a fairly low dose (25mg), but once my doctor gradually increased it to 60mg, it was profoundly life-changing! I am focused and motivated, much less distracted, my anxiety is completely gone, I feel less depressed, less impulsive, much more productive. I had tried pretty much all ADHD medications and this is the only one that truly works."
- Jds...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- October 5, 2019
For Narcolepsy "I was originally prescribed for adult ADD. I took it for several weeks with some results, but I soon learned that it was great for a sleep disorder as well. Recently, I stopped taking it, but soon afterward, all I could do was sleep all day. I was extremely fatigued. I had a blood test for hypothyroidism, but it was negative. The only side effect for me was hypertension, which I take medication for, but lately, it has been elevated. Nothing the doctor can't fix by increasing the dosage of my blood pressure med. I don't plan to stop this medication unless I need a larger dosage to work. Currently taking Adderall XR 20 mg in the morning and regular Adderall 20 mg at noon. Moreover, it helps ease my craving for carbs. It works better than any antidepressant."
- Roa...
- February 12, 2009
For ADHD "I am a 54-year-old male, just diagnosed. I have been a successful overachiever all my life. This drug has allowed me to stay on task and be much more focused. I no longer feel the need to do 10 things at once and get nothing done. I now have the benefit of good focus and concentration and don't feel I have lost any of the drive that has made me successful in the past. No side effects. Don't take it too late in the day, though."
- Nic...
- October 27, 2015
For ADHD "Honestly, taking Adderall has helped me very much. I no longer fight with others, and I'm not overly sensitive anymore. Ever since I have been taking it, my grades have gone up. Just a month ago, I went from failing everything to passing all my classes. For me, I don't have any negative side effects except one. When I drive alone at night, sometimes I think I see something on my passenger floor move, and it freaks me out immensely, but that's rare. Overall, my symptoms leave and go."
- Anonymous
- October 14, 2011
For ADHD "I have always known I was intelligent and a doer, but I could never finish a project or classwork without starting another (2-3 really!) projects. Therefore, I would always get depressed and feel worthless. I couldn't handle small talk and had extreme anxiety when I had to go to church because I couldn't sit still for more than 20-30 minutes without wanting to burst. My mom always found ways to teach me to calm myself down in different situations, but she didn't understand how bad it was. She also didn't believe in medicating her children. I wish I could describe what my first five employers said about me when I left their companies. I will just say this: Adderall XR 20 mg once in the morning has seriously made the difference in my life."
- Amp...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 17, 2023
For ADHD "I have struggled with ADHD throughout my entire life, and even simple tasks like cleaning my room have been challenging for me. I was initially prescribed Concerta in 1st grade, and I continued taking medication until I finished high school. However, I decided to take a break from medication during that time. Now that ADHD is affecting my adult life, I wanted to get back on medication. In 2021, I was prescribed Adderall IR, and it worked like a miracle. All of my problems seemed to be resolved, and every day felt like a blessing. However, my general doctor was no longer able to prescribe Adderall, so I had to find a psychiatrist who accepted my insurance. It took months to find one, but eventually, I got prescribed 20 mg of Adderall XR. On the first day of taking it, I experienced its effects, but they only lasted for about 3 hours. I found this to be strange but didn't think much of it. In the following days, I noticed very little to no change in my symptoms. Instead, I started experiencing a rapid heart rate, stomach pains, and anxiety, which I had never felt before. During the two-month supply of Adderall prescribed by my general doctor, it seems that there may have been a substitution of ingredients. These new symptoms have left me concerned and uncertain about the medication's effectiveness. I believe it's important to discuss these issues with my psychiatrist and explore other options that may better suit my needs."
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Concerta
Concerta is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity ...
Ritalin
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) and narcolepsy ...
Focalin
Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ...
Dexmethylphenidate
Dexmethylphenidate is used for ADHD, auditory processing disorder
Lisdexamfetamine
Lisdexamfetamine is used for ADHD, asperger syndrome, binge eating disorder, chronic fatigue ...
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.More about Adderall XR (amphetamine / dextroamphetamine)
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For ADHD "Started off with Concerta in May 2012, it was not effective at all. Switched over to Adderall XR 10 mg in July 2012 for seven days as a starter dose, then started Adderall XR 20 mg. I noticed a considerable difference between the two medicines instantly. I am able to focus for a very long period of time without being distracted. My grades improved exceptionally, I went from receiving grades below 55% to now my lowest grade being 83%. The benefits of this medicine do outweigh the side effects for me. I noticed 20 minutes after taking Adderall, I have increased bowel movements, lower libido, and decreased appetite. I stop taking Adderall during breaks and long weekends. The first day not on it, I am extremely tired. Exercising and eating healthy helps."