The Intolerable Side Effects of Vyvanse and Adderall XR for Adult ADHD

Adderall XR is produced by pharmaceutical giant Shire. It is FDA-approved for treating adult ADHD. It is an amphetamine-based stimulant that comes in capsules that are filled with tiny beads of the medication. There is no set dose for treating adult ADHD, but Shire recommends starting with the lowest effective dose to minimize adverse affects. One of the most common starting dose is 20mg and a 30 day supply of 20mg capsules costs about $120 without insurance. Adderall XR is marketed to last the entire school/work day in adults, wearing off early enough to not cause insomnia. Shire's patent on Adderall XR is set to expire in April of 2019. To ensure Shire would maintain their high-placement on the list of ADHD medications after Adderall XR's patent expires, they bought the pharmaceutical company New River Pharmaceuticals who developed Vyvanse.