Anniston

Adderall is a short acting medication and Adderall XR is the same medication but in an extended release form.

You can read about the medication:

Adderall and Adderall XR

I hope this helps.

Eileen 

Adderrall is a medication commonly prescribed to improve attention span. Needless to say for me it'd be like giving me coffee plus meth, which is basically what an amphetamine is but diluted. Ritalin was a very bad experience. Actually, by far, if you have a heart condition, it is inadvisable to medicate someone with amphetamine derivatives such as Adderrall. While some people have a good experience on Adderrall, medication is really about trial and error. Given I'm not a professional by any means (yet), I cannot fully answerr this question without a heavy glance at

http://www.rxlist.com/adderall-drug.htm

I also do not know what type of insurance you have, but you can feel free to email me. I'd be more than happy to look this up on your website.

http://www.rxlist.com/adderall-drug.htm

Adderrral XR has a much longer list of side-effects than Adderall. My guess is that one of the two drugs came first.  I leave you to your research, because I don't value fear-mongering anymore than the next person. Its better to come up with a concrete decision rather than fixate on the abstract of what could happen anyway.

http://www.rxlist.com/adderall-xr-capsules-drug.htm

The answer to your initial question can be found in the link above which states that Adderall XR is simply double the dose of the original Adderall. I invite you to imagine the comparison being like taking one cup of decaf coffee with Adderall while having Adderall XR is like taking a three-shot espresso. I hope this answers your question, although, by no means, am I a professional and I doubt this feels like its helped much even though I'm sure you have lots more to research. The way insurance is at this point in history not yet made, is a real drag isn't it?

As explained in another response, Adderall is short acting and Adderall XR is long acting.  If the prescribing doctor believes a trial on Adderall XR is potentially beneficial and will offer a more therapeutic response for your AD/HD it is worth contacting your state's health insurance department and asking for an exception.  Ask your doctor how strongly he/she feels about the benefit of Adderall XR over Adderall. If the doctor feels strongly then ask for a letter from the physician that will explain the need for the Adderall XR and provide this to your state's Department of Health and Human Services (or wherever your particular state houses this office). 

All the best,

Marcie Lipsitt