Can I take another stimulant for ADHD?

[Alm751]

I was on Adderall for at least 10 years. About a year ago, my MD noticed some twitching around my mouth. She took me off Adderall so that my twitching did not progress to TD. Does that mean I can never take a stimulant med for ADHD or just that I cannot take Adderall? She put me on Strattera, which did nothing. TIA.

[MaudQ]

The short answer is probably yes: different stimulants affect different people differently. So just because the Adderall was having an adverse effect, doesn’t mean a different stimulant would. I’ve switched between stimulants and many people have to try a few before finding the right med, timing and dose. So a different stimulant might work fine. Or not. Depending on your unique biology. In which case, there are also non-stimulant meds that could also work. Are you able to make an appointment with a psychiatrist? They will have a deeper understanding of medication options and management than a primary care physician. I would have thought that your doctor would have suggested other options as part of taking you off the Adderall. A good doctor will listen to your concerns and suggest treatments that are tailored to you and your experience.

[STEM_Dad]

Because of the twitching, I would suggest that you consult with a psychiatrist or even a neurologist since they specialize in the nervous system.

Adderall is amphetamine-based. It is one of many amphetamine-based stimulant medications. As MaudQ said, having this reaction to Adderall doesn't mean that you would have the same reaction to any of the others...however, it's still a possibility.

Yet, those aren't the only stimulant medications for treating ADHD. There are also the ones based on methylphenidate, such as Ritalin or Concerta. It's possible that you might be less likely to experience twitching from those, but I can't say for sure.

It's definitely a discussion that you need to have with your doctor or a specialist.