Complete ADHD Medication List: Comparing Popular Meds
What’s the difference between Adderall and Concerta? Ritalin and Vyvanse? Jornay PM and Intuniv? All of these ADHD medications can be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults, but they vary widely in dosage, method of delivery, and duration of effects. Use this straightforward chart to learn the facts about stimulants and non-stimulants used to treat ADD.
EDITORS’ NOTE: The following information is updated annually. The ADHD Medication Guide, developed and maintained by Dr. Andrew Adesman, comprises a comparison chart of FDA-approved stimulants and non-stimulants that is updated more frequently.
What Is the Best Medication for ADHD? It Depends
Treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. This means parents and adults have more options than ever when it comes to ADHD medication — but it also means that the plethora of medication choices can be confusing, overwhelming, and time-consuming to sort through when you’re trying to design your ideal treatment plan.
If you’re considering — or already taking — medication to treat your or your child’s ADHD, use this simple, easy-to-follow ADHD medication list to learn the dosages, formulations, and special considerations for all the major medication players, including stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta, Jornay PM, as well as nonstimulants like Strattera (discontinued in 2023), Intuniv, Qelbree and Wellbutrin. Click on each brand name for an in-depth breakdown of that particular medication, including side effects, precautions, interactions, and more. Please note that this chart is best viewed on a wide screen; you can also download this chart here.
For further detail on each medication, including dosages, precautions, and interactions, visit the WebMD Drugs & Medication Database.
For more information on savings programs, go to this chart.
ADHD Medication
| MEDICATION | FORMULATION | COMPOUND | DURATION | DOSING CONSIDERATIONS | SAVINGS PROGRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| METHYLPHENIDATE | |||||
| Aptensio XR® or generic (Rhodes Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release capsule |
Capsule with multilayer beads; 40% of dose in the immediate-release layer and 60% in the extended-release layer (2nd peak at 7–8 hrs)* | 12 hours* | Capsule may be opened and contents swallowed completely with applesauce | YES |
| Concerta® or generic** (Janssen and others) |
Extended-release tablet |
Tablet with OROS osmotic pump technology; biphasic release with initial peak at 1 hr (22% of dose) and 78% gradual release over 9 hrs. Only Patriot version is authorized for substitution for brand at pharmacy.* | 12 hours* | Must be swallowed whole; non-absorbable shell may be passed in stool | YES |
| Cotempla XRODT™ (NEOS Therapeutics) |
Extended-release orally disintegrating tablet |
Dissolving tablet with 25% immediate-release microparticles and 75% extended-release | 12-13 hours* | Grape-flavored, allow to dissolve in saliva | YES |
| Daytrana® or generic (Noven Therapeutics) |
Transdermal patch |
Drug dispersed in adhesive layer; applied daily | 9-hour wear-time* | The time worn can be varied to control the duration of effects; monitor for skin rash or sensitivity. Discard patches appropriately. Slow onset of medication over initial six hours. | YES |
| JORNAY PM™ (Ironshore Pharmaceuticals) |
Delayed release – Extended release capsule |
Dual-layer delexis delivery: outer layer delays release for up to 10 hours, inner layer controls daytime release | 12 – 14 hours* | Taken before going to sleep to provide early morning symptom control | YES |
| Methylphenidate HCI (Lupin) |
Chewable tablet |
Methylphenidate HCl | 3-4 hours* | Grape-flavored chewable tablet | |
| Methylphenidate HCl (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release tablet* |
Methylphenidate HCl | 6-8 hours* | Swallow whole; do not crush or chew | |
| Methylin™ Liquid or generic (Shionogi Pharma and others) |
Oral solution |
Methylphenidate HCl | 3-4 hours* | Colorless, grape-flavored liquid; store at room temperature | |
| Quillichew ER™ (Tris Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release chewable tablet |
30% of the dose is immediate-release and 70% extended-release | 8 hours* | Cherry-flavored; may be taken with or without food | YES |
| Quillivant XR® (Tris Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release oral suspension |
20% of the dose is immediate-release and 80% extended-release | 12 hours* | Fruit-flavored; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle for at least 10 seconds. May be stored at room temperature | YES |
| Ritalin® or generic (Novartis and others) |
Short-acting, immediate- release tablet |
Methylphenidate HCl | 3-4 hours* | Abrupt onset and offset increase the number and severity of side effects | |
| Ritalin LA® or generic (Novartis) |
Extended-release capsule |
Capsule with Spheroidal Oral Drug Absorption System (SODA S) technology; 50% immediate-release beads and 50% delayed-release (2nd peak 4 hrs later)** | 8-12 hours* | Capsule may be opened and contents swallowed completely with applesauce | |
| SERDEXMETHYLPHENIDATE & DEXMETHYLPHENIDATE | |||||
| Azstarys™ (Corium) |
Once-daily oral capsule |
Dexmethylphenidate serdexmethylphenidate | 13 hours* | Capsule can be taken with or without food. Capsule may be swallowed completely or opened and sprinkle onto applesauce or add to water. | YES |
| DEXMETHYLPHENIDATE | |||||
| Dexmethylphenidate HCI ER (Adare and others) |
Extended-release capsule |
Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride | 8-12 hours* | May open capsule, but do not crush/chew contents | |
| Focalin® or generic (Novartis and others) |
Short-acting, immediate- release tablet* |
Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride | 4-6 hours* | Isolated active dextroisomer; give approximately 1/2 methylphenidate dose | |
| Focalin XR® or generic (Novartis and others) |
Extended-release capsule |
Capsule with SODA S technology; 50% of the beads contained in the capsule are immediate-release and 50% are delayed-release* | 8-12 hours* | Capsule may be opened and beads swallowed completely with applesauce | YES |
| AMPHETAMINE | |||||
| Adzenys ER™ (Neos Therapeutics) |
Extended-release oral suspension |
50% immediate-release and 50% delayed-release particles | 10-12 hours* | Orange-flavored; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle vigorously before dispensing the dose. | YES |
| Adzenys XR-ODT™ (Neos Therapeutics) |
Extended-release orally disintegrating tablet |
Dissolving tablet with 50% immediate-release and 50% delayed-release particles | 10-12 hours* | Allow tablet to dissolve in saliva. | YES |
| Dyanavel® XR (Tris Pharma) |
Extended-release oral suspension | Oral solution with bubblegum flavor | 13 hours* | Bubblegum flavor; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle before preparing the dose. May be stored at room temperature | YES |
| DEXTROAMPHETAMINE | |||||
| Dexedrine® or generic (Amedra Pharmaceuticals and others) |
Short-acting tablet |
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate | 3-4 hours* | Take first dose on awakening | |
| Dexedrine ER® or generic (Amedra Pharmaceuticals and others) |
Extended-release spansule |
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate delivered in a sustained-release spansule. Initial dose released immediately, remaining medication released gradually. | 5-10 hours* | ||
| ProCentra® or generic (Independence Pharma, Tris Pharma, and others) |
Oral solution |
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate | 3-6 hours* | Bubblegum flavor; may be taken with or without food. Shake bottle before preparing the dose. May be stored at room temperature | YES |
| Xelstrym (Noven Pharmaceuticals) |
Transdermal patch |
Dextroamphetamine | 9 hours* | Patch may be applied to the upper arm, upper back, hip, chest, or flank area two hours before the effects of the medication are needed. Do not use more than one patch in a 24-hour period. | |
| Zenzedi® or generic (Arbor Pharmaceuticals) |
Immediate-release tablet |
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate | 4-6 hours* | Take first dose on awakening | YES |
| METHAMPHETAMINE | |||||
| Desoxyn® or generic (Recordati Rare Diseases and others) |
Immediate-release tablet |
Methamphetamine | 4-6 hours* | ||
| MIXED AMPHETAMINE SALTSDextroamphetamine | |||||
| Dextroamphetamine /amphetamine (Ani Pharms and others) |
Immediate-release tablet |
Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate and Amphetamine Sulfate | 5-8 hours * | ||
| Dextroamphetamine /amphetamine (Ani Pharms and others) |
Extended-release capsule |
Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate and Amphetamine Sulfate | 10-12 hours * | May open ER cap, but do not crush/chew contents | |
| Adderall® or generic (CorePharma and others) |
Short-acting, immediate-release tablet |
Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate and Amphetamine Sulfate | 4-6 hours* | May be taken with or without food | |
| Adderall® XR or generic (Takeda and others) |
Extended-release capsule |
Capsule with Microtrol delivery system: 50% immediate-release and 50% delayed-release beads** | 10-12 hours* | Capsule may be opened and beads swallowed whole with applesauce | |
| Mydayis® (Takeda) |
Long-acting capsule |
Long-acting, triple-bead, mixed amphetamine salts formulation | 14-16 hours* | Capsule may be opened and beads swallowed whole with applesauce | YES |
| AMPHETAMINE SULFATE | |||||
| Evekeo® or generic (Arbor Pharmaceuticals) |
Immediate-release tablet |
50 percent dextroamphetamine and 50 percent levoamphetamine | 4-6 hours* | YES | |
| LISDEXAMFETAMINE | |||||
| Vyvanse® (Takeda) |
Long-acting capsule |
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate; peaks in 3.5 hrs** | 10-13 hours* | Capsule may be opened and contents dissolved in water, yogurt, or orange juice; use immediately after dissolving | |
| Vyvanse® (Takeda) |
Chewable tablet |
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate; peaks in 4.4 hrs** | 10-13 hours* | Strawberry flavored; may be taken with or without food | |
| ATOMOXETINE | |||||
| Strattera® or generic (Strattera was discontinued in 2023) (Lilly) |
Long-acting capsule |
All day atomoxetine | 24 hours* | Selective norepinephrine inhibitor. Starts working in a few days to one week, but may take several weeks to achieve full effect. Swallow capsule whole; powder is irritating. Dose is commonly divided in two to lower side effects | YES |
| CLONIDINE | |||||
| Kapvay® or generic clonidine (Kapvay was discontinued in 2023) (Advanz Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release tablet |
Clonidine Hydrochloride. | 24 hours* | Swallow tablet whole | |
| GUANFACINE | |||||
| Intuniv™ or generic guanfacine (Takeda and others) |
Extended-release tablet |
Guanfacine | 24 hours* | Swallow tablet whole; a high-fat meal may increase absorption to unhealthy levels. FDA -approved for doses up to 7 mg | YES |
| BUPROPION | |||||
| Wellbutrin XL® or generic (Valeant Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release tablet |
Bupropion HCL | 24 hours* | Low efficacy; takes 8 weeks to fully develop benefits. IR dosed 3 times a day; SR dosed 2 times/day; XL dosed once a day. | YES |
| VILOXAZINE | |||||
| Qelbree™ (Supernus Pharmaceuticals) |
Extended-release tablet 100mg, |
Viloxazine hydrochloride | 24 hours* | Capsules may be swallowed whole or opened and the entire contents sprinkled onto applesauce. |
YES |
Administration with a high-fat meal may affect the rate of absorption of some medications, but has no significant effect on the total amount of the medication that is absorbed.
*The medication’s estimated duration of action is based on information provided by the drug’s manufacturer. For any individual patient, this medication’s effects may last longer or shorter than indicated.
** Note that most of the formulations that are marketed as “generic Concerta” are not reliable and have been downgraded from AB status to BX (“cannot be substituted for the brand name by the pharmacy”). As of September 2019, patients should accept only the Patriot generic which is “authorized” by the brand name maker.
