What is Adderall made from?

In this article:

• Adderall ingredients
• How Adderall works in the body
• Is Adderall meth?
• Adderall side effects and warnings

In this article

• Adderall ingredients
• How Adderall works in the body
• Is Adderall meth?
• Adderall side effects and warnings

Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Adderall is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant medication and is available in both brand and generic formulations, as well as immediate-release (Adderall) and extended-release (Adderall XR) forms. 

If you or your child has taken Adderall or its generic version (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, or mixed amphetamine salts), you may wonder, what is this medicine made of? Adderall is made up of a mixture of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine salts, along with inactive ingredients. Keep reading to learn more about Adderall. 

Adderall ingredients

While Adderall and Adderall XR, as well as their generic versions, contain amphetamine and dextroamphetamine as active ingredients (the ingredients that make the medication work), keep in mind that all medications—whether brand or generic—also contain inactive ingredients.

Active ingredients in Adderall

Active ingredients are responsible for how the drug works. Inactive ingredients are any ingredients in a medication other than the active ingredient(s). For example, Adderall and its generic form (mixed amphetamine salts) contain amphetamine and dextroamphetamine as the active ingredients. However, a generic drug may have certain minor differences from the brand-name product, such as different inactive ingredients. While these inactive ingredients generally do not affect most people, certain individuals may need to be more aware of them due to allergies, sensitivities, or specific medical conditions.

In Adderall and its generic forms, the active ingredients are mixed amphetamine salts. More specifically, they contain four types of amphetamines: dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine aspartate, dextroamphetamine sulfate, and amphetamine sulfate. Adderall XR contains the same four types of amphetamines but in an extended-release version that allows for once-daily dosing. 

Inactive ingredients in Adderall

Adderall’s inactive ingredients include colloidal silicon dioxide, compressible sugar (sucrose and maltodextrin), corn starch, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and saccharin sodium. Some strengths of Adderall also contain color additives. While the active ingredients are the same for all versions of Adderall, the inactive ingredients may vary slightly between different generic manufacturers. 

The inactive ingredients in Adderall XR include gelatin capsules (which contain edible inks, kosher gelatin, and titanium dioxide), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methacrylic acid copolymer, opadry beige, sugar spheres, talc, and triethyl citrate. Some strengths also contain certain color additives. Inactive ingredients may vary slightly between different generic manufacturers. 

How Adderall works in the body

Adderall is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. The active ingredients in Adderall increase levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain called norepinephrine and, at higher doses, dopamine. At even higher doses, Adderall increases serotonin. Adderall helps improve attention, energy, alertness, and mood and decreases impulsivity and aggression.

Due to the way Adderall works, it can also cause certain adverse effects, such as increased blood pressure (hypertension) and heart rate. In an overdose situation, Adderall can lead to severe cardiovascular problems, including dangerously high blood pressure, heart attack, and even sudden death. Adderall can also cause other side effects, such as decreased appetite and weight loss.

Is Adderall meth?

Adderall is not the same as methamphetamine, commonly known as meth. It may sound confusing as their ingredient names may sound similar. 

Adderall contains a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, also known as mixed amphetamine salts. It is a legal prescription drug used for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.

On the other hand, methamphetamine is a different drug. It is available in prescription form as both generic methamphetamine and as the brand-name drug Desoxyn. Methamphetamine is frequently misused (used for a reason other than legitimate medical use) in its illicit form (crystal meth), which is made illegally in meth labs using other ingredients, too. For example, the active ingredient in Sudafed, pseudoephedrine, is often used in meth labs to make crystal meth. Because of this potential for misuse, pseudoephedrine products are highly regulated and kept behind the pharmacy counter rather than on store shelves. While prescription methamphetamine has uses that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it has a much higher potential for abuse compared to most prescription amphetamines and is rarely prescribed. Misuse or overdose of methamphetamine (whether the product is prescription or illicit) can cause serious problems like seizures, stroke, or death. 

The chart below compares some features of Adderall versus prescription methamphetamine. Click on the links for each drug to learn more about these medications, including serious side effects, warnings, and other important information. 

Adderall side effects and warnings

Side effects 

The most common side effects of Adderall are:

• Stomachache
• Decreased appetite
• Nervousness

Many other side effects, including serious side effects, may occur. 

Read more about Adderall side effects. 

Warnings

Adderall has a black box warning, the most serious warning required by the FDA. The warning states that this medicine has a high potential for drug addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to substance use disorder. Misuse and abuse of CNS stimulant drugs, like Adderall, can result in overdose and death. The risk increases with higher doses or when the drug is misused, such as by snorting or injection. Before prescribing Adderall, your healthcare provider will assess your risk for abuse and educate you on how to properly use, store, and dispose of your medication. 

Other warnings include:

• Risks in people with heart problems
• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Mental health problems, such as exacerbation of psychosis or new psychotic or manic symptoms
• Induction of a manic or mixed episode in people with bipolar disorder
• Growth suppression in pediatric patients
• Seizures 
• Circulation problems, including Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Serotonin syndrome (discuss drug interactions with your healthcare professional)
• Onset or worsening of tics and worsening of Tourette’s syndrome

Contraindications

Adderall is not safe for everyone. You should not take Adderall or Adderall XR if you are allergic to amphetamine or any ingredients in the medicine. You should also not take these medicines if you have taken a drug in the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) class of drugs in the past 14 days (a class of drugs that contains certain antidepressants and medicines used for Parkinson’s disease) because the combination could cause a hypertensive crisis (dangerously high blood pressure).