Bad Experience with Generic Adderall XR from Barr Labs

By KC Thursday, May 28, 2009

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Barr Labs recently gained FDA approval for their generic version of Shire's Adderall XR. It is called Amphetamine Salts ER. My son was on the 10 mg Adderall XR with good results. We started on the generic and boy did things go down hill and fast. Extremely long temper tantrums, little focus, very alarming unsafe behaviors (running into the street) and extrememly oppositional. That was Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I dug in the bottle to see if we had any of the Addrall on Monday and he was a totally different child, back to his normal self. I forgot about it on Tuesday, he was impossible to get to sleep and extremely oppositional. Wednesday he unbuckled himself from his car seat and opened the side door of the van while we were driving home from day care. He was laughing histerically and saying he wanted to die and to kill me. He is 6. Talk about scary. I finally got him back in his car seat an managed to get most of the way before he popped out of his car seat again. Found another Addrall XR this morning and again a totally different child. Well mannered, very loving. Totally weird. I called the pharmacist this evening and asked them to take back the generic. I also asked them to file a product complaint. Didn't have much luck with that, but will bring it up to the psychiatrist when we see her. I just wanted to pass along my experiences so that others are aware of potential issues. Hopefully I spelled most things correctly.

ADHD and Stimulants

Comments (37) | Add comment

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide

6/ 1/09 1:47pm

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with this medication. Although everyone reacts differently to medication, it is certainly worth considering before taking the medication.

As far as filing a complaint, you can do so on the FDA website:

How to Report a Non-Emergency

It is important for the FDA to be aware of adverse reactions, such as the one your son experienced.

Thanks again for alerting everyone.

Eileen

frustrated

6/16/09 8:13pm

I thought I was going crazy. I too, have noticed a difference with this generic adderall xr. My husband has been on it over a month and some of the all behaviors and mood swings have been creeping back up especially as the day wears on. I am convinced it is this generic med. It took us so long to figure out why he was acting the way he was, I was a step away from divorice. I feel like I am reliving this all over again. I know I can ask for the non generic med but I am afraid I am going to have to fight with the insurance company.

cheese

7/16/09 10:23pm

The "authorized generic" is the same exact drug, manufactured in the same manner by the same company. The only difference is the capsule shell, packaging and labeling.

Anonymous

7/17/09 8:17pm

Not true. The ingredients that enable the extended release may be different. This can cause the drug to be absorbed differently. The generic form did not work for my son. It wore off much sooner and he had an emotional crash at the end of the day. Tried this drug for a month. We will pay the extra for the brand!!

7/22/09 8:28pm

The pharmacist I spoke with indicated that if the doctor writes on the RX, brand medically necessary, the insurance company sometimes will cover more. May not be just as cheap as before the generic came out, but at least it is something to try. Also, file a complaint with the company and the FDA. The more adverse events that are reported, the more hope the agency will look into the matter. It could be something as simple as a difference in colorant or other filler.

Adonna

9/22/09 4:30am

How do you explain taste differant? And most important effectivness?

Anonymous

1/ 1/10 12:49pm

You are refering to DAR or Dispense As Written which the doctor must write on the script plus check the do not subsititue generic.

Dissappointed with Barr

1/21/10 8:48am

Not true! We are told they are the "exact" same as the Brand name by pharmacies and doctors but the fact is that they are not.

They only actually need 10% of the active ingredient adn the "fillers" are not the same.

I too changed generics Adderall from Shire to Barr and did I notice the difference. I became depressed, angry, aggitated etc. And from what I have been researching many people have had the same experiences, some even much worse, witht he Barr mfg'd generica Adderall> (

joe4

2/22/10 11:15pm

This is not true! The generic forms of a drug may not be the exact same drug. The FDA guidelines for brand vs. generic drugs are different when it comes to efficacy. The generic drugs can have different inactive ingredients as well as a much broader range of effectiveness. There are many people that have to use the brand drug Adderall because of this. The generic is just not as effective.

jhicks

3/16/10 9:10am

THIS IS NOT TRUE! GENERIC IS NOT THE SAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had taken Adderall xr for 5 years when the generic came out. I was the poster child for the name brand with no side effects. After taking the generic for 7 days the chest pains were so bad I thought I was having a hear attack. My insurance company changed me back to the name brand and I have been fine until the pharmacy filled my prescription and included generics and name brand in the same bottle.

Since they look the same and the bottle said name brand I did not check the individual pills. BIG MISTAKE! I am sitting here this morning with chest pains. Yesterday I went to the doctor because I wasn't feeling well and found out that for the first time in my life my blood pressure was elevated. Since I was at the doctors office and it was time to get another prescription for Adderall I went to the pharmacy. I checked the bottle of pills and again there were name brand and generic in the bottle. The outside said Adderall XR 25 mg and when I told them and they checked their supply and their were both in the name brand container. The Rite Aid Pharmacist tried to make me believe that although they did not say Adderall on the pill they were the name brand. I called my Doctor and she said that Adderall should be stamped on the 25mg pill and that there should not be two different pills in the same container. The pharmacist opened a new bottle of Adderall and all the pills had Adderall on them. Makes you wonder doesn't it!.

With this information I went home to find the same thing in my prescription I had been taking for a month. My wife returned to the pharmacy and they gave her the name brand perscription.

CONCERNING BEING THE SAME: There can be as much as a 20% difference in strength as well as the agents that bind the medication together are not the same. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!

j. Hicks, Michigan

enough is enough

4/28/10 5:44am

To all out there. Adderall xr generic (AMPHETAMINE SALTS ER) is "WITH OUT A DOUBT"not the same. I have been on adderall xr for 4 yrs and it has changed my life.In 2009 I tried the so called generic and in less then a week I knew it was not the same so I got back on Adderall XR.Then I found out,Accorrding to the Food And Drug Administration via Wikipedia,In 1996,Shire Pharmaceuticals introduced Adderall brand in the form of multi-dose,instant-release tablet derived from an original formula of the weight management drug Obetrol,With active ingredients being A combination of dextroamphetamine and racemic DL-amphetamine salts.Then in 2001,Shire introduced an extended-release preparation of these ingredients in a variety of dosages under the name"Adderall XR" on which Shire retains exclusive patent rights untill the patent expires,expected in 2018.However,due to issues with Shires inability to evergreen(extend the patent life by either obtaining a new FDA indication or application of other patent life)the patent for Adderall XR,the drug has become available in a generic form.In 2009 Barr Pharmaceuticals and Shire reached a settlement agreement permitting Barr to offer a generic form of the drug beginning April 1,2009.The reason for this is Shire sold the rights to the Adderall name back in 2006 Duramed Pharmaceuticals and with some mergers and or aquisitions Barr in 2008 ended up with having rights to the name(THIS IS REALLY BOORING I KNOW,BUT BEAR WITH ME).However even though AMPHETAMINE SALTS ER CAPLETS are being marketed as the generic for Adderall XR,The Food And Drug Administration has NOT given it an AB rating which the FDA assigns as being therapeutically equivalent.There is a difference between generic and therapeutically equivalent.If you go to www.fda.gov and go to there glossary of terms you will find "Therapeutic Equivalence" defined as a generic that will be substituted with the full expectation that it will produce the same clinical effect and saftey profile.So in the future I will ask checking the FDA site if any one wants to change any med me and my family are taking.

I hope this information was helpfull

"Hey enough is enough"

San Antonio, Texas

9/ 9/10 12:11pm

NO COMPARISON

My daughter requires the name brand.

The generic causes her to become depressed, suicidal...unthinkable.

On a name brand only prescription, the label reads, ADDERALL but the contents were filled with identical capsules stamped AMPHETAMINE SALTS. My daughter noticed it, I didn't.

We took it back to CVS, the pharmacist felt horrible, but double checked the dispensing records and found everything was as it should be. She called me later to explain that "Adderall and Amphetamine Salts are made up of identical components".

She even called my daughters doctor to tell her the same, and that my doctor should keep a better medical eye on my daughter.

Needless to say, I am changing pharmacies.

No. They are not identical.

Janet Bianchini

11/ 1/10 10:31pm

So wrong. The effectiveness of generic vs brand is sub par!

7/21/09 8:00pm

This doesn't surprise me one bit. While I can't speak of Adderall XR, I have been taking Adderall IR for 10 years now, and I can say for certain that the generic is next to worthless.

Generic simply does not work for me...period. I function much better without it, actually. The generic is a torturous exercise in futility. It ramps up my nerves and anxiety, but never gives me clarity. This breeds uncontrollable contempt and frustration that leads to wild, uncharacteristic mood swings (frustrated, pouty, argumentative, apathetic, spiteful, verbally cruel). I can never think straight, get anything done, or feel like I know I should, and every task feels like an insurmountable obstacle.

I truly feel for your son, because it's difficult to cope with these effects as a 36 year old adult, let alone a young child. The good news is that you identified the problem quickly, and fixing the problem is as easy as staying on brand name.

I understand the concerns about insurance too. At one point, I did have issues with insurance coverage, but your doctor can specify Dispense As Written, and your insurance company will usually cover this after they speak with your doctor and he convinces them it's necessary.

Best of luck to you! You are not alone!

Anonymous

1/ 1/10 12:48pm

First I can understand your frustration but the IR is different than the XR Situation. If you do your research you will find that Teva owns the right and patent to make Brand Name Adderall IR for shire plus the Generic. You are essentially getting the exact same pill but with two different stampings on them. Look it up, you will find Aderall Brand Name under Teva's brand product line, and the Generic as well under thier Generic RX Line. Also note that Teva now owns Barr also. I would speculate that while you may think thier is a difference in the IR, its all in the mind as they are the exact same medication except for the product stamping and labeling. Shire has not made the IR version themselve for many years now. They sold the rights to Teva.

silent

7/28/09 3:48pm

That is too bad man, I hope you take him off the meds as he is so young.

kuhlmom

4/ 1/10 6:01am

Please refrain from making comments regarding something you obviously know nothing about. It is a very difficult decision to put a child on medication of this type. You can rest assured that if a parent has had to make that decision, there is a darn good reason for it. The constant barrage of comments from the peanut gallery insinuating that ADHD or ADD inattentive type will just go away if we cross our fingers and wish really hard is offensive.

Demanding my Brand Back

8/ 6/09 7:40pm

I am so happy I found this post! I have been on Adderall XR since December with amazing results then suddenly in June, I felt like I became a different person. I've been extremely irritable, lethargic, and in the last few weeks - extremely depressed. I couldn't figure out what had changed until I noticed that my mail order prescription provider had switched me to the generic. Everyone always says "generic is exactly the same" but in this case at least, I don't believe it is. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I will be demanding that I recieve a script for the brand name - whatever the cost!

leoni1cl

8/15/09 7:10pm

My Grandaughter took one pill [generic aderal xr] and had a bad seizure. Her whole body shook, and was still shaking hours later after recieving 3 meds to counteract the drug. That was the only drug in her system. Her eyes were roaming, and she could not walk. Please keep kids off of these meds!

Adonna

9/22/09 2:49am

The pharmacist claims that they are brand name. I paid cash! Barr Labs I was told is who I need to talk to. I take 20mg tablet for years, generic when I can't afford brand name, well I paid for the real stuff and it's not even as good as the generic I've had in the past! I can't believe it! My meds are very important for me, to perform well at work, clear thinking, ect. Is their other manufactures? Please and Thanks! I'm so glad your son is in good hands. Great Job!

Anonymous

1/ 1/10 1:01pm

Ok, are you speaking of IR or XR? The Generic XR just literally came out in April 09 so you were taking Brand Name XR or generic or brand name IR which does not matter as the IR and Generic is exactly the same made by the same company just stamped and labeled different. Teva produces the brand name for Shire, actually Teva owns the rights to it. Barr is now owned by Teva, and I can't figure out what you are trying to say here? The pharmacist claims they are brand name, and told to talk to Barr? This makes no sense as Barr, now TEVA, makes the Generica and Shire is the only company that still makes Adderall XR Brand Name Only. Sounds like you are getting your IR, XR, Brand, Generic, etc etc. confused and mixed up.

Kyle

10/12/09 1:27pm

We had our children on medication after their diagnoses, but since have take them off. We're sure it's on a case by case basis, but they have shown improvements with our alternate methods (and guidance from their doctor).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Qjh7KcK9c

Anonymous

11/ 9/09 11:47am

I fear my grandson who is 12 is experiencing the same thing. Got reports from his teachers saying not attentive, appears stressed. Going to have doctor write script for name brand only and give it a try.

Anonymous

11/ 9/09 3:06pm

Posted earlier about my 12 year old grandson. After reading your comments I had my pediatrician write for As Written Only RX. Would like to write to manufacturer of generic but no where on my rx bottle does it give any name for the manufacturer. Is there just one manufacturer of this drug that anyone knows of?

Anonymous

1/ 1/10 1:04pm

Barr was the company soley who did make it to start with, but the only company to make the Generic Adderall XR is Teva Pharmecuticals which bought out Barr. Teva also owns the right to Brand name Aderall IR and also products the brand name IR and Generic IR, plus Generic XR or ER. Talk about having the marketed wrapped up, lol. The site you are looking for or the company information can be found from the link to the company below.

www.tevausa.com

Abbey

1/15/10 1:01pm

I know I am posting this a little later than others but....

I am on the generic Adderall XR for narcolepsy (many drugs have different indications for use). I am on one the highest dosages they allow and this drug does wonders for me. I know everyone has different side effects. I think the reason I do not have the side effects may be that I am a 23 year old adult instead of a 6 year old kid, which makes a difference and absorption.

Anyway, I just wanted to let people know that this medication can work for certain people and I hope they do not change it for my sake because I tried many different medications before I found one that worked for me (which was a frustrating process). I would hate for them to only fill the brand name because I find that the generic is expensive enough (I pay $40 a month).

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get it cheaper? Thanks!

Generic is NOT the same medication as brand name Adderall XR.

2/19/10 10:14pm

I have been on Adderall XR for years and this month got switched to DextroAmp-Amphet CBRR. I have gone through HELL these past two weeks. I feel on the edge of panicking at any moment. Severe sadness for nothing at all and suddenly rushes of anger and back to helplessness. I have a business and family to take care of and now Im stuck for two more weeks with a medication that makes me go totally INSANE.

I returned to the pharmacy and of course they gave me the BS explanation that the same company makes both types of meds. In other words, it's ME that has the sudden problem. So there you go, insult on top of injury. Furthermore, my script said Adderall XR and the pharmacists states that CVS assumes the prescription is for generic if the Dr. does not put "brand name only". Just give me what is on the prescription, you know? The pharm companies and CVS, in this occassion, are dispensing a dangerous medication and that should be a criminal offense. The feeling of impotence on this subject is truly something to get enraged over.

Pardon the rant, but I know people that have or are going through this will understand.

holalola

2/27/10 12:10pm

My doctor alway writes brand medically necessary on my prescription. Usually they ask at my local Walgreens, but yesterday they were very busy and did not. This morning I took one of what I thought was brand name Adderall XR 25 mg and a little while later my heart started racing and there was pressure in my chest, and I started yelling at my poor kid for no reason. I was wondering if maybe my doctor had increased the dosage or something, so I took out the bottle and looked and realized it read "D-AMPHETAMINE SALT COM XR 25 MG CAPS" MFG BARR. There are only subtle differences in the capsules which is why I didn't notice this morning. Wow, I'd thought about trying the generic for budget reasons, but I'm getting ready to take a drive back to my Walgreens and ask why they didn't follow the dispensing instructions on the prescription.

cbt

4/12/10 3:22pm

FYI......I was just started on the generic form of Adderall XR 20mg and had several side effects; severe muscle cramps and fatigue, upset stomach, somewhat depressed, anti-social, felt disconnected from others and just didn't want to talk at all. Eventhough everyone kept on saying the generic is the same as the name brand, I wanted to see for myself. I got a Rx for the name brand and I felt very different. I didn't have an upset stomach, more energy, no muscle cramps at all, I was more social and I talked alot more. The generic form is not the same as the name brand at all. It felt like two different medications. I talked to my insurance company and the said the ACTIVE ingredients are the same, but the in-active ingredients are not, so it's absorbed differntly than the name brand. I'm going to take the name brand from this point on, because the muscle cramps were almost unbearable!!!

nicole

5/30/10 3:34pm

I went to pick up my adderall prescription like usual and when I got home it said on the script dextroamp-amphet er I thought what is this. My Pharmicist said its generic, which i never used because the price doesn't matter. The whole week I started feeling sick thinking I had stomach problems looking up everything about problems with digestion to thinking i had some illness. I started to feel fatigued, edgy, and everyday was getting worse. I felt like I was going crazy. Then I looked up this site and saw this. I was told they were the same and would have the same effect. Boy am I mad. Now it is the holiday and I can't go to the pharmcist till tuesday and what if he says he won't give me the nongeneric. Then have my doctor call in another prescription and pay another 200 dollars for my meds. Or will they take it back and give me my origianal medication. I am so upset right now that this has happened. I have been doing so good and have some important things this week going on. Adderrall changed my life and now this generic has changed it to crazy. I don't know what to do, I am so mad right now. I am about ready to call my pharmiscist who is a friend and chew him out and get him to get my meds, that is how crazy I feel, anyhow had to vent I really hope this is the problem and all this trouble has ruined alot for me. Don't know what to do in the meantime.

DupedBYgenericXR

6/ 6/10 10:19pm

I posted the next comment. I went from XR30 1x daily to IR20 3x daily and am back to doing pretty good. I tried going to the name brand XR and it didn't work the same anymore. (they may have switched the formula also). Be patient you will get better.

Anonymous

6/ 8/10 12:46pm

so are you on the generic or namebrand

DupedBYgenericXR

6/ 6/10 10:11pm

I have been on Adderall for a few years with great results. Suddenly in the Spring of last year I became super OCD and I started shopping uncontrollabley I ran up like $10K on my Credit Card. All my friends and family started telling me I seemed weird and they were concerned with my well being. I was tired all day then awake all night getting two or three hours of sleep a day. My wife and I started talking and I spent several days trying to figure out what was happening to me. Suddenly I realized that coinciding with my mood changes was the change of my name brand Adderall XR to the new generic XR. It has been nine months since I switched to the IR and I am doing much better now. Another important note about the IR is that CVS and Walgreens use two different brands that have very different affects. I hope that this information can save some one from the $10,000 lesson this crap cost me! While writing this it makes me so angry that I wish I could sue the company for causing me so much mental anguish. I almost lost my job, friends and gained a huge debt over this horrible experience. Buyer beware!!!

Anonymous

7/ 7/10 5:58pm

Wow! I'm surprised at the extreme difference in behavior between Adderall and it's generic version in your son! I found your post interesting because I think I'm having the opposite reaction: I don't think the generic is working for me, but it's been so long that I've had the brand name, I can't accurately compare.

There's a government website that takes reports of reactions to prescription meds. I don't have the website address, but there's a phone number given on the info printout I get with my meds. It's under the heading "Possible Side Effects."

The number is 1-800-FDA-1088.

Good luck with your son!

Nancie

chadwic

7/30/10 9:10pm

Hello... My son is 6 and the Dr. put him on 10mg's of dextroamp/amphet er. He went from being a smart happy go lucky (absent minded) 6 year old to a violent kid that hates everything! He is suffering bad mood swings! He is very angry and keeps saying he wants to die! He even went into the street to lay down in the middle of the road to let a car hit him.... I ran out there & picked him up and carried him back in the house & he bit me... He was never like this before... We don't know what to do... Please help I can't keep giving him these pills...

Janet Bianchini

11/ 1/10 10:28pm

I called Shire Labs today (Nov1) maker of the brand version of Adderral XR to register a complaint with product safety. I too have had a negative experience with the generic that Barr Pharmaceuticals distribute. I highly recommend that you as well as everyone else who have had a negative reaction or simply if the drug is not working effectively to call with your complaints. My pharmacist,doctor, and every medical professional that I have spoken with insist that the generics or equal to their brand counterparts. Not to take our complaints seriously is reckless and I will not stop pursuing this issue of "brand" versus "generic"

Nana boo

9/11/12 4:57pm

He was very active in school couldn't pay attention wasn't learning and very disruptive I am so glad the the drug exist because my son performs very well in school now and he has improved so much he get straight A's and I am a totally happy mother and thanking God it worked for my son I can see my son becoming the lawyer he say he wants to become

Bad Experience with Generic Adderall XR from Barr Labs

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