M Amphet Salts 20 Mg Vs Adderall Xr 20 Mg (Top voted first)

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Adderall xr 20 mg and M. Amphet Salts 20 mg. Are these the exact same medications? Are they both manufactured my Shire? Does Shire provide Teva/Barr with the generic version of Adderall xr under the name M. Amphet Salts 20mg? Thank you....

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I have been taking name brand Adderall XR for over 3 years. Finally being diagnosed with ADHD at age 31 was huge relief! And being able to control most of my symptomatic behaviors by taking Adderall XR has been a very positive experience for me.

Last week, when I filled my prescription for DAW (dispense as written) name brand Adderall XR, the pharmacist showed me that all the pills in the name brand bottle were all imprinted with M. Amphet. Salts - just like the generic. She even opened a new bottle of the name brand capsules to show me that Walgreens wasn't trying to screw me over.

I called Shire and they said that the FDA approved Shire imprinting the name brand capsules with either ADERALL XR or M. Amphet. Salts and that as long as my prescription came from a name brand bottle that said Shire that I was taking the same name brand drug I've been taking all along.

I HIGHLY doubt what I've been taking for the past few days is regular name brand Aderall XR. I have been experiencing headaches, tight/clenched upper back muscles, tingling/numbness in my face and pressure behind my eyes. My ADHD symptoms are not well-controlled and I also feel like I'm on something - I never felt like I was on something when I took name brand Adderall XR before!

I called Shire again and again they told me that as long as my prescription came from a bottle that said Shire that I was taking the same name brand drug.

Today I called the FDA and the representative said that Shire DOES NOT have permission to imprint the name brand Adderall XR with M. Amphet. Salts. The FDA rep said that name brand Adderall XR must be imprinted with the text ADDERALL XR.

I also told the rep that I had been experiencing side-effects after taking the generic imprint name brand and that those side effects were similar to those I experienced when taking the actual generic.

The rep said that the best thing to do is file a report online: https:/­/­www.accessdata.fda.gov/­scripts/­medwatch/­medwatch-online.htm

The rep also said that sometimes it only takes one report of mislabeling or side effects to warrant an investigation, but if multiple people file similar reports it will make a bigger impact.

If you have purchased name-brand Adderall XR that was labeled M. Amphet. Salts, whether or not you have experienced side-effects, please file an online report. It takes just a few minutes.

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I an SO glad that I came upon this site! I had mny many problems when taking the generic form of Adderall XR ~ migraines, irritability, moodiness, nausea, foggy head and numbness in my face and extremities. My old Dr refused to listen to my complaints and always told me that the generics were the same as the brand name. To be honest, at the time, I had never tried the brand name and didn't even think this could be the issue at hand; I simply thought I was on the wrong meds. I found a new Dr who is amazing, and takes the time to listen and talk with me every visit. He suggested from the start that I try the brand name to see if there was a difference for me as many of his other patients noticed. It was a life changing decision for me and my negative symptoms disappeared as well as my issues with ADD. Just this past month, I went to pick up my prescription at Walgreens and my pharmacist (who I adore and who knows and validates my issues with the generic) made a point of showing me the generic imprinted capsules coming from the brand name Adderall XR bottles. She was very confused and said she's never seen anything like it before. As soon as she opened the first bottle like this earlier in the month she said she thought of me and if I would have a bad reaction. She wondered aloud if perhaps Shire was trying to pull a fast one and save money by being able to dole out the generic while pretending it's the brand name. She suggested I call Shire and log a formal complaint as well as the FDA. As soon as I started taking them, I could tell it was not the same med as before. I go to see my Dr this week to talk about the possibility of switching meds. This is devastating for me ~ finding a med that worked and allowed me to lead a productive lifestyle was a Godsend. My self confidence improved dramatically ~ all these years I just always thought I was stupid or lazy. Now what will I do? Going through months and months of trialing new meds until I hopefully find another that works is going to be pure hell. Why would Shire do such a thing? Do they honestly think it will go unnoticed by those of us who take it and by those who dispense it? And if the above post is correct in that Shire doesn't have permission to be imprinting both labels on the brand name then how do they think they will get away with it without being held accountable legally? I'm going to call Shire as soon as I log off of here and then the FDA is next on my list so that I can file a formal report. Following that I think the news media needs to be contacted. Who knows, although Adderall users have gotten a bad rep as junkies and abusers, there are those of us who rely on this med daily and use it responsibly; think about if you altered a schizophrenics meds without telling them, maybe the media will at least care about the corruption and scandal involved? I say it's worth a try and i'm so irritated I'm going to do whatever I can to bring this to light. I wonder how many Adderall users are experiencing horrible issues because of this currently and just attributing it to their own lacking. This is more than just a shame, this is unforgivable....and all because some already rich jerk wanted to make an extra penny.

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I have had wonderful success with Adderall XR for the last 5 years. My doctor has been writing Brand Name Medically Necessary because a few months ago they gave me a generic. I got serve heart palpitations, nervousness, I felt like my ADD symptoms were not controlled from the generic. I went to get my prescription filled a few days ago, and the last few days I haven’t been feeling like myself. I feel serve heart palpitations, nervousness, headaches, feel like I am going to have a panic attack, and my attention isn’t normal. I thought maybe I was just tired. However, after a few days of feeling like crap…this morning when I taking my ADDERALL XR 20mg pills I noticed it said M. Amphet Salts 20mg. I feel like crap and told the pharmacy that I am on Brand Name Medically Necessary for a reason. They told me I got the BRAND NAME of ADDERALL XR! I know I am not taking the same thing. Did the manufacture stop making Adderall XR? I have been on regular Adderall but the XR works so much better for me. I am very concerned..what is everyone doing in the meantime?

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2

Thank you for your reply. The markings are, M. Amphet Salts 20 mg The capsule is orange. Other than the above imprint it looks exactly like the Adderall Xr capsule manufactured by Shire. Thank you again for your input.

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Melanie thank you for writing and for following up with the FDA. My daughter had headaches taking the M. Amphet from Shire too. I spoke to Shire and they told me that the Adderall XR 20mg and the M. Amphet 20 mg. capsules were exactly the same. They said that some are marked Adderall and some are market M. Amphet. I kept telling them that it did not make sense to me. Why would my daughter have headaches when taking the M. Amphet and she would not have any headaches when taking the Adderall XR. They kept insisting that they were the same. I kept disagreeing. They asked if I wanted to file a complaint and I told them definately. Which I did. I had her doctor write out another presctiption and had it filled at Walgreens. My daughter is now taking the brand name Adderall XR 20mg and she has not had an headache since she started. I agree with you that there is definately a difference with these two capsules. Thank you for giving the website for the FDA. I just finished filing a report. Something is not right here. In my search tonight I read the Shire is losing their license for manufacturing the Adderall XR and that is why they are now marking the capsules as M. Amphet Salts. This makes more sense to me, than what Shire was telling me. If there is anyone else having a problem with the M. Amphet Salts I urge you to file a report with the FDA and to call Shire to file a complaint.

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45

Mary if your script is for BRAND Adderall XR the pills should have Adderall XR stamped on the orange section and the 20mg stamped on the clear side. This is the ONLY way to tell BRAND Adderall XR mfg from Shire. If it's marked M. Amphet Salts on the orange side it is the GENERIC version. Now this is important,who does the label list as the mfg? If it says SHIRE then you should be OK but if it says TEVA then you'll probably have migraines,nausea and muscle aches.
I've had this issue for the first time in 6 years of taking this medication. I recently had my prescription filled for what I thought was Brand Adderall XR 30mg. I took it without looking and within hours had a migraine and horrible stomach cramps. I thought maybe I was having reactions since I hadn't taken it for 3 days due to an insurance screw up. So the next day I took it and it was even worse! Add on throwing up,hot skin with rash and muscle aches around my neck and shoulders like when you sleep wrong but 10 times more painful. When I looked at the bottle it said D-Amphetamine Salt Com XR and the capsule was marked M.Amphet Salts mfg TEVA. Well apparently my insurance only approved me for generic which I'm still fighting with them to approve BRAND by SHIRE. Well I've taken generic before when I lost my insurance but they were marked SHIRE on the pill and on the bottle. I called my cool,Duane Reade,pharmacist and he said he only got generics from Shire but recently Teva has been processing them. He said that there's got to be an added filler causing these reactions. I told him that it didn't work the same and I felt icky like I was on something. He replied that even though they may have the equivalent ingredients that the way they're processed and what is added to them can make them ineffective. He said I wasn't crazy and wasn't the first person to mention this. He said that when he gave me brand he only gave me ones marked Adderall XR on them and that's the only way way they should be marked.
So take them back and insist on ones marked Adderall XR if you're supposed to get Brand not M. Amphet Salts.
By the way my shrink is an NYU Dept of Psychiatry biggie and is looking into getting these lab tested to find out what's going on. Insurance companies and Pharma companies are partners in screwing over members with our money and our mental health well being. I'd like them to experience a day on meds that work and a day on meds that they say "are exactly the same". After they feel like crap I'd love for them to tell me I'm crazy!

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47

Well im so glad u found ur post. I take adderall xr20 mg 2 times daily. n last june my insurance changed rx coverage n I have to take name brand due to insurance not covering it any other way written so at first I thought my meds were not working n frustrated n not happy that I have to take medication now to make me funcion normal I didn't notify my dr n kept taking it thinking it would work I was imagining that my meds weren't working n no change a month later only. severe headaches n numbness in arms legs n fingers daily. My headaches were now daily n felt that im not imagining it my meds arnt working and didn't wsnt to go back tomy dr n feel like a drugie n tell her to up my mg..I was going nuts not being able to be as I call it normal as I had been for 2yrs on what I thougjt was the same meds..well when my insurance rx plan changed now all of a sudden issues started..not only that I use to pay 50 for my perscription n now its only 30.00 well that's because shire did the same to me ..changed what there despencing but. labeled it same drug..wallgreens is where I fill my meds n csnt believe I have went. through feeling like a drugie n headaches daily so bad I have called off work n I never call off sick..the numbness n tingling in my extremidies n scared to notify dr. about side effects im now having yet I been taking the same medication for 2yrs...shame on my insurance united healthcare n damn Shire for ruining my life. by swindeling us americans with a knock off rx they claim is one thing but in reality something else..damn wallgreens for allowing drug makers to screw us and. for walgreens for being as bad as Shire is by knowing this n never informing us as they should on our explanation sheet attached to our medication bag. Isn't it funny how they ask u if need anything explained on ur meds or have any questions..well after 2yrs on the same meds u say no cause u think its remained the same..well surprise..its not at sll the same n they damn well know it..im filing a. report to FDA n calling Shire along with writting a letter to the attorney general snd. our local I Team Investigates channel 9 news on whats going on with Shire and our pharmacies. we deserve to be normal functioning human beings with out dealing with side effects due to BIG RX COMPANIES CHEATING US BY LYING N SAYING OUR MEDICATION IS ADDERALL BUT INFACT AMPHEDIMINE SALTS...

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33

My pharmacy (Walgreens) filled my name brand prescription for Adderall XR 20mg with half Adderall XR and half M Ampet Salts 20mg and charged me for the name brand price. I even had to go back a second time because the first time they filled it generic and I told them I didn't want generic. Over the course of the next month I had terrible cramps and explosive diarrhea almost every workday after lunch. This was extremely unusual for me since my stomach almost never gets upset. I began to think that I had a parasite due to some seafood I had eaten around that same time that had been left out for awhile, but I noticed that I wouldn't get sick on the weekends, only weekdays. After the third week I knew this wasn't a coincidence so evaluated my routine and found Adderall and oatmeal were the only 2 things that were different from my weekend routine, but consistent in weekday routine. As soon as I stopped taking the "Adderall" the symptoms stopped. I still thought it was strange because I have taken Adderall XR for almost 2 years and it has never had this effect on me. I just looked at the bottle today and realized that most of the pills that I had taken were the generic form, M. Amphet Salts. I feel very certain that the symptoms I experienced were because of the medication I was taking. My pharmacist swears they are the same and I wouldn't question it had I not experienced first hand the symptoms that I had.

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I also have migraines when on the generic, I went back to the pharmacy and demanded the money back on the difference with the brand vs generic. The pharmacist called the distributor, and said exactly what you mentioned above, they are the same, however thank you to whoever posted the link to the FDA I filed a report! Has anyone taken the non-XR version? I may have the doctor prescribe that if it is not generic?

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I have checked with different pharmacies and have found that the Walgreens by us carries the capsules that state AdderallXR on them. It is costing me more but worth it. In the meantime, I have contacted the FDA, Shire by phone and today sent an e-mail to both [email protected] and [email protected]. I have alerted them to this website. I encourage anyone with these problems to contact the same. I also sent an e-mail to the board of directors. The website is http:/­/­www.shire.com/­shireplc/­en/­about/­directors. To send them an e-mail use the first initial of their first name and their whole last name @shire.com, ([email protected]). Please do what you can do to help stop Shire from using M.Amphet Salts as brand name. Thank you

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My Pharmacist said I got the brand name from Shire even though it is marked M. Amphet Salts on the pills and my bottle of pills says ADDERALL XR. They would not take my pills back and now I am stuck for a month. I swear the pills are not the same and the pharmacist made me feel like I was crazy. I am so happy I can accross this site. Next month, I am going to go to Walgreens and report this to the FDA.

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15

Just a thought. Has anyone considered having Adderall XR and M. Amphet. Salts evaluated by a certified lab for the exact ingredients? However, a friend of mine said that even if the ingredients are the same the process in which the medication is produced may alter the effectiveness. Thank you.

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I'm back to give a little update. Being back on brand name Adderall XR (capsules imprinted with Adderall XR) has been wonderful and I feel so much better. This situation has opened my eyes to the differences between brand name and generic versions of prescriptions and I will be much more cautious from now on. I hope that Shire will continue manufacturing the original formula.

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20

I've been taking Adderall XR for 4 years . This story relates to the past 4 months.
The first 2 months I was recieving the supposed Shire Adderall that had M. Amphet. Salts imprinted on the capsule and I was experiencing sensitiviy to light, headaches, and had mood swings. Me and my doctor felt it was just life circumstances. i.e. Work and School and staring at computer screens for both for hours a day and the stress that came with them.
Month 3 I no longer have insurance and I go fill my prescription and the capsules say Adderall XR and my mood swings, light sensitivity, and head aches dissipated. I still had school and work and it was even more stressful because it was the end of the semester.
For Month 4 I asked my doctor for a generic version since I no longer had insurance. When I filled the script the capsules said M. Amphet. salts. and my headaches, light sensitivity, and mood swings returned.

After reading the comments above I'm going to file a complaint and speak with my doctor about writing the specifications on the script. ADDERAL XR only. I'm sick of headaches and my coworkers are sick of my mood swings.

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I am just starting the generic brand today, and I always read up on what I'm taking before I take it so this site seems to be rather eye opening. to reply directly to what you, alexxx said

"The only logical one I have that Shire gave up on Adderall all together, and sold whatever they had in stock to BARR, told them, yeah go ahead, use our bottles..."

I wanted to add something I read (abc news):
abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/03/adderall-drug-shortage-will-continue-in-2012-government-officials-say

This article says that there was a shortage on adderall through-out 2011 and possibly earlier. This is supposedly caused by restrictions on companies of how much amphetamines they can produce. (Coincidence? I think not....) This whole generic switch up could've been their solution to the problem. After all since you're buying a name brand, when you call they could just be confirming that you are buying their name brand. But this may not answer someones concern of which chemical formula you're buying.

Not to get political, but s*** (almost) always hits the fan when government interferes with economics and the simple law of supply and demand.

Hope this offers any clarification on the issue! And if this looks like a rant its because the generic is kicking in lol

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32

Regarding dextroamp-amphet er 25 mg versus adderall xr: i am ADD and after coping skills wore thin, i was prescribed Adderall. My script always reads Addreall XR 25MG cap substitutions allowed. I work for the government thus have good insurance; my co pay for generic is $5.00, (covered) brand names $15.00. Never realizing there might be a difference, i had been dispensed with the generic dextroamp-amphet er 25 mg . As a matter of fact, the pharmacy - I've used Walgreens for years - never asked my preference. Long story short, unknowing of the expected result, within 30 minutes (fast result on an empty stomach), i'd feel a stimulant rush which lasts maybe 1 - 2 hours. Id get alot of work done but also did alot of talking. By the 4th - 5th hour, i'd be crash. At this stage id become irritated, eager, and anxious. By the 6th month, i asked the pharmacist for the brand name. The Bottle and caplet reads Adderal XR 25MG. I noticed the difference at first dose. As a matter of fact, I felt it wasn't working because of the lack in the quick rush, however over the first 3 hours i found myself calm, focused, and productive. Within the 6th hour, i did NOT feel the crash i had become regretful of. If you can afford Brand Name, go with it. Life changing difference. THe experience made me question the pharmaceutical industry's intent. I have since spoke with my doctor about it.

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39

Really glad I found this thread.

Barr 20mg IR -> Haunting Side-Effects
Adderall 20mg IR -> Perfect

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53

Some people are highly sensitive to the so called inactive ingredients. It's called DRUG SENSITIVITY. To call people ignorant truly shows you're own ignorance on the subject. Please refrain from putting people down when this is a very real problem many deal with & have a hard enough time as it is.

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Unfortunately I have only taken the generic form of the IR that Barr makes. I had an immediate reaction that produced pressure behind my eyes and then a an awful rash on my hands, feet, knees and face. (I took the blue 10mg dose) I have taken that same dose, from Barr before (maybe a year ago) and had no problems. This time however, my body reacted in a completely different way. My knuckles also swelled and then cracked open. It was awful. Whatever Barr has done to change their formula, it is very very bad.

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I have been taking Adderall XR for 10 years at the same dose. It was a Godsend for me and three of my four sons. I'm 45 years old and have struggled with chronic iron deficiency for a few years as well. I accepted the generic when it was released by Barr Pharmaceuticals although it wasn't as good but I had no specific complaint to justify demanding the brand name. In January and February, my pharmacy filled my prescription with brand name. I remember thinking how I was finally starting to feel better but relating it to diligence with my iron supplements then about a month ago I started feeling worse than before and it wasn't until this past weekend that I figured it out. My last prescription was filled with a generic made by Global Pharmaceuticals. It seems to make my ADD symptoms worse along with a tighened feeling around my chest and back about an hour after I have taken it. I've had mild headaches which I never have. I've also had sores that are similar to chicken pox on my face, neck and scalp. My physician wrote me a new prescription so that the brand name is dispensed and I picked them up this afternoon. My insurance even covered the cost when they were told that I was having problems with this new generic. I'll post again after I've taken the pills marked Adderall XR for a few days. My son hasn't noticed any physical symptoms but it doesn't seem that this generic is controlling his ADD symptoms either.

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