From time to time, individuals go through several disorders. Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that is common in most children as well as adults. According to various studies, more than a million individuals suffer from this disorder. This number is increasing as time passes by.
We are well aware that the pharmaceutical industry is progressing consistently in today’s time. Because of this, a number of medicines are available to treat ADHD. The two medicines that doctors usually prescribe to their ADHD patients are Evekeo and Adderall. In this blog, we will learn about these two medicines and draw a detailed analysis of Evekeo vs Adderall.
What is Evekeo?
Let us first learn about Evekeo. It is a stimulant or an aphrodisiac drug that helps healthcare professionals in the treatment of ADHD in their patients. This medicine stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) in order to control uncommon behaviors prevalent in them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Evekeo for such individuals.
Evekeo tablets are administered by doctors to children who are 3 years old or above. Racemic amphetamine sulfate (a mixture of 50% dextroamphetamine sulfate and 50% levoamphetamine sulfate) is a primary constituent of this medicine. Some popular brand names of amphetamine, a generic drug, are Amphetamine Sulfate, Dyanavel XR, Adzenys XR-ODT, Evekeo, and Evekeo ODT (discontinued).
What is Adderall?
Adderall is a prescription-only medicine that is generally for people having ADHD. It contains two chemicals namely dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. These two components are CNS stimulants that impact the part of our nerves and brain as they control impulse and hyperactivity behavior.
Adderall is a drug that comes under the amphetamine category (a drug category of CNS stimulants). The three common brand names of this medicine are Adderall, Myda, and Adderall XR. It is available in two forms; oral tablets and XR (Extended-Release) oral capsules. The FDA has approved it as a Schedule II drug (a drug with a high possibility of misuse).
Uses of Adderall and Evekeo:
There are numerous uses of Evekeo and Adderall. Let us now explore these uses in this section.
Uses Of Evekeo:
- ADHD:
Healthcare professionals recommend Evekeo to individuals who are suffering from ADHD. Impulsiveness can be decreased and attention can be increased in these patients with the use of this medicine.
- Narcolepsy:
Symptoms of narcolepsy (a prolonged neurological disorder) are often treated with the help of Evekeo. This is due to the reason that Evekeo acts as a CNS stimulant that promotes wakefulness in patients suffering from this disorder.
- Obesity:
For the short-term treatment of obesity, doctors often go for this pharmaceutical drug. However, it must be combined with a diet with restricted calories. If other medications are not delivering good results on obese individuals, Evekeo can be used as an alternative for them.
Adderall Uses:
- ADHD:
Symptoms of ADHD can be effectively treated by healthcare professionals with the help of Adderall. The dosage of Adderall must be prescribed by them only as it can be harmful if taken by the individual’s choice.
- Narcolepsy:
Those who have the narcolepsy disorder suffer from excessive sleep and sleep paralysis. Adderall can be prescribed to such individuals by their healthcare professionals. It acts as a CNS stimulant for treating narcolepsy patients.
- Appetite Suppressant:
This medication drug is helpful in suppressing a patient’s diet. Doctors/dieticians/nutritionists generally recommend Adderall to individuals who want to subdue their appetite. Optimal dosages of Adderall are prescribed to them.
Dosages of Evekeo and Adderall:
Evekeo:
The lowest possible dosage of Evekeo is generally administered by healthcare professionals. Insomnia may occur in the patients after taking dosages of Evekeo drug. Hence, its dosage is not given in the late evening. The usual dose of this medication drug is 5 mg to 60 mg per day. Based on the patient’s response, the dosage can be altered by doctors. Evekeo must be taken half an hour or one hour before a meal.
Adderall:
Doctors do not suggest the use of this drug for children who are below three years old. A daily dosage of 2.5 mg of Adderall is administered by healthcare professionals to children of ages ranging from 3 years to 5 years. For children of age 6 years and above, a 5 mg dosage of this medicine is suggested twice a day. In unusual cases, the Adderall dosage may reach up to 40 mg daily. Adderall is taken one hour or two hours after taking food.
Comparison Between Evekeo and Adderall:
Knowing some differences as well as similarities between these two medicines is important. This section will cover the differences between Adderall and Evekeo.
- Expiration Date:
The expiry date of Adderall is two or three years after the date of its manufacture. On the other hand, the date of expiration of Evekeo is two years.
- Half-Life:
The half-life of Adderall is more than the half-life of Evekeo. The concentration of Adderall spans 34 hours in the human body before its effect starts to diminish, while the Evekeo medication drug has a half-life span of 11 hours.
- Treatment:
Although Adderall and Evekeo are used by healthcare professionals during the treatment of ADHD, there exist some differences. Adderall can be used as an appetite suppressant, while Evekeo can be helpful for the treatment of obesity.
- Legal:
Both these medications are approved by the FDA. Adderall was approved by the FDA on 19th January 1960. On the other hand, Evekeo was approved by this regulatory body on 9th August 2012.
- Potential for Abuse:
Adderall and Evekeo have a high potential for abuse. This indicates that both these medications are able to create high dependency in patients. Overdose of Evekeo and Adderall can cause many health complications.
Side Effects of Adderall and Evekeo:
Here are the side effects of Evekeo and Adderall. Some of these side effects can be common or rare depending on how the body reacts to the medicine.
Adderall:
- Pain in the urinary bladder
- Irregular pulse
- Irregular heartbeats
- Cloudy urine
- Pain in the lower back
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Blood in urine
- Difficulty in urination
- Painful urination
- Chills
- Cough
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Joint pain
- Headache
- Shivering
- Soar throat
- Runny nose
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Unusual tiredness
- Vomiting
- Double vision
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Trouble in speaking
- Pain in the chest
- Cramps in muscles
- Irritated eyes
- Stiffness in muscles
Evekeo:
- Urinary bladder pain
- Crying
- Agitation
- False sense of well-being
- Pain in the lower back
- Nervousness
- Depression
- Rapid changes in mood
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Fever
- Cough
- Chills
- Hoarseness
- Dizziness
- Hives
- Headache
- Sweating
- Dark urine
- Diarrhea
- Fainting
- Sore Throat
- Shivering
- Restlessness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The Wrap-Up:
In this blog, we have seen the uses and side effects and compared the two commonly prescribed ADHD medication drugs – Adderall and Evekeo. There are however some similarities as well that exist between them. Precautions are an important aspect of using these medicines. Adderall and Evekeo overdosages can cause health complications.
If anyone is suffering from ADHD, he or she must first consult a healthcare professional. Check the date of expiry before taking these medicines. Doctors may or may not choose to increase the dosage of Adderall or Evekeo when giving treatment to patients. The decisions are made by them after carrying out their patients’ health examinations.
Read More:
Dexedrine vs Adderall (Choose the best ADHD Medicine)
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