Strattera (atomoxetine) and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts) are prescription drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall and Strattera are available as generic drugs.
This article explains how Strattera and Adderall are alike and different. Your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of these and other treatment options based on your diagnosis and medical history.
For more information about these drugs, including details about their uses, see this Strattera overview and this Adderall overview.
A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. The following list identifies whether Strattera and Adderall are available in generic forms:
- Strattera:
- Available as a generic: yes
- Active ingredient: atomoxetine
- Adderall:
- Available as a generic: yes
- Active ingredient: amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts
If your doctor prescribes Strattera or Adderall but you’re interested in taking the generic version instead, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The following table shows the conditions each drug treats in adults:
| Use | Strattera | Adderall |
|---|---|---|
| ADHD | ✓ | ✓ |
| narcolepsy | ✓ tablet only, not the capsule |
To learn more about using Strattera or Adderall to treat your condition, talk with your doctor.
Strattera treats ADHD in children ages 6 years and older.
Adderall comes in two forms and also treats ADHD in children, as follows:
- Adderall oral immediate-release (IR) tablet:
- treats ADHD in children ages 3 years and older
- Adderall XR oral extended-release (ER) capsule:
- treats ADHD in children ages 6 years and older
For more information about treatment with Adderall or Adderall XR in children, talk with your child’s doctor.
Note: The “IR” (immediate release) form of Adderall releases the drug into the body right away. The “ER” (extended release) form of Adderall releases the drug into the body slowly over time.
Both Strattera and Adderall treat ADHD. Adderall oral tablet also treats narcolepsy, but this use isn’t addressed here. To learn more about the dosages for all conditions these drugs treat, see the Strattera dosage article and Adderall dosage article.
Dosage for ADHD
The following table summarizes Strattera and Adderall dosages for treating ADHD in adults and certain children. All dosages are in milligrams (mg).
| Factor | Strattera for ADHD | Adderall for ADHD |
|---|---|---|
| Forms | oral IR capsule | Adderall: • oral IR tablet Adderall XR: • oral ER capsule |
| Strengths | • 10 mg • 18 mg • 25 mg • 40 mg • 60 mg • 80 mg • 100 mg | Adderall: • 5 mg • 7.5 mg • 10 mg • 12.5 mg • 15 mg • 20 mg • 30 mg Adderall XR: • 5 mg • 10 mg • 15 mg • 20 mg • 25 mg • 30 mg |
| Dose | depends on the treatment plan prescribed | depends on the treatment plan prescribed |
| How often to take | once or twice daily | Adderall: • once, twice, or three times daily Adderall XR: • once daily |
Strattera and Adderall may cause side effects ranging from mild to serious.
For more details about possible side effects, see the Strattera side effects article and Adderall side effects article.
Mild side effects
Strattera and Adderall may cause mild side effects. The following table lists some mild side effects reported with these drugs:
This table may not include all mild side effects of these drugs. For more information on mild side effects of the two drugs, see the Strattera prescribing information, Adderall tablet prescribing information, and Adderall XR capsule prescribing information.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects may occur in people taking Strattera or Adderall. The following table lists some of these side effects:
| Serious side effect | Strattera | Adderall |
|---|---|---|
| increased heart rate and blood pressure | ✓ | ✓ |
| orthostatic hypotension and fainting | ✓ | |
| reduced blood flow to fingers or toes | ✓ | |
| liver damage | ✓ | |
| urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder) | ✓ | |
| priapism (prolonged erection) | ✓ | |
| slowed growth in children | ✓ | ✓ |
| seizure | ✓ | |
| mental health conditions, such as mania or psychosis (impaired reality) | ✓ | ✓ |
| risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents (See note below.) | ✓ | |
| risks of misuse and dependence (See note below.) | ✓ |
To learn about your specific risk for serious side effects from Strattera or Adderall, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: Strattera has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents. Adderall tablet and Adderall capsule have a boxed warning for the risks of misuse and dependence. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Warnings for Strattera and Adderall” section.
ALLERGIC REACTIONFor some people, Strattera and Adderall can cause an allergic reaction.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. They can also determine whether you should keep taking Strattera.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911. Or call your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Strattera. If they do, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
How do Strattera and Adderall compare with Vyvanse?
Doctors prescribe Strattera, Adderall, and Vyvanse to treat ADHD. They also prescribe Adderall oral tablet to treat narcolepsy and Vyvanse to treat binge eating disorder.
Strattera contains atomoxetine as its active ingredient. Strattera is a nonstimulant. Compared with Adderall and Vyvanse, it can cause some side effects that are similar and some that differ.
Adderall contains amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts, and Vyvanse contains lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. Both are stimulant medications that can cause similar side effects, and they have a risk of misuse and dependence. (Misuse is when someone takes a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. With dependence, you rely on a drug to function as usual, either physically or mentally.)
Strattera comes as an oral capsule that you take once or twice daily. Adderall comes as an oral tablet that you take once, twice, or three times daily. Adderall XR is a capsule that you take once daily. Vyvanse comes as an oral capsule and chewable tablet, and you take either once daily.
For more information about how these drugs compare, see this Strattera vs. Vyvanse article or this Adderall vs Vyvanse article.
How do Strattera and Adderall compare with Ritalin?
Doctors prescribe Strattera, Adderall, and Ritalin to treat ADHD. They also prescribe Adderall oral tablet and Ritalin to treat narcolepsy.
Strattera contains atomoxetine as its active ingredient. Strattera is a nonstimulant. Compared with Adderall and Ritalin, it can cause some similar and some different side effects.
Adderall contains amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts and Ritalin contains methylphenidate. Both are stimulant medications that can cause similar side effects. Both also have a risk of misuse and dependence. (Misuse is when someone takes a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. With dependence, you rely on a drug to function as usual, either physically or mentally.) But the risk of side effects, misuse, and dependence may be lower with Ritalin than with Adderall. Doctors typically prescribe Ritalin for children with ADHD and Adderall for adults with ADHD.
Strattera comes as an oral capsule that you take once or twice daily. Adderall comes as an oral tablet that you take once, twice, or three times daily. Adderall XR is a capsule that you take once daily. Ritalin comes as an oral tablet that you take once or twice daily. Ritalin also comes as a long-acting capsule, called Ritalin LA, that you take once daily.
To learn more about how Adderall and Strattera compare with Ritalin, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether one of these medications is right for you.
Does Strattera give you energy like Adderall does?
Adderall is a stimulant drug that can increase energy and alertness in some people. Strattera is a nonstimulant medication, so it doesn’t typically have this effect. In fact, fatigue (low energy) was a common side effect reported in studies of Strattera.
Note that Strattera and Adderall can both cause mania in some people. With mania, you may have increased energy, activity, and excitement. But when you take either medication as prescribed, this side effect is rare.
If you have more questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Adderall: Does Medicare Cover It?
Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may cover both brand-name and generic Adderall.
Strattera and Adderall both treat ADHD. Both drugs are effective for treating ADHD, as shown in studies of Strattera, Adderall tablet, and Adderall capsule. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics includes both drugs in its treatment recommendations for ADHD.
It’s important to note that your results with Strattera or Adderall may differ from those seen in studies. Talk with your doctor about whether one of these drugs is right for you.
If you’d like to read more about how each drug performed in studies, see the Strattera prescribing information, Adderall tablet prescribing information, and Adderall capsule prescribing information.
Whether or not you have health insurance, cost may be a factor when you’re considering these drugs. Visit Optum Perks to get price estimates for Strattera and Adderall when you use coupons from the site. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.) It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Keep in mind that what you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your treatment plan, health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
Strattera and Adderall are brand-name drugs. Both drugs also have generic forms. You’ll usually pay more for brand-name drugs than for generics. If you’re interested in taking the generic form of either drug, talk with your doctor.
For other resources that might help you save on the price of these drugs, see the Strattera cost article and Adderall cost article.
Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
Strattera and Adderall may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The prescribing information for these drugs refers to these factors as warnings.
The two drugs share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Some of these warnings appear below. Before you start taking Strattera or Adderall, be sure to talk with your doctor to check whether these warnings apply to you.
Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents
Strattera has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
In Strattera studies, some children and adolescents had suicidal thoughts during their first month of treatment. This side effect was very rare, and it was not reported in adults. Researchers reported that the studies had no suicides.
If your child takes Strattera, you should watch them closely for any unusual changes in their mood, feelings, thoughts, or behavior. This is especially important when they first start taking Strattera and after any dosage changes.
Your child’s doctor will monitor your child closely when beginning treatment with Strattera and whenever dosage changes. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any concerns about your child and treatment with Strattera.
Boxed warning: Risks of misuse and dependence
Adderall has a boxed warning for the risk of misuse and dependence.
Adderall, which is a Schedule II controlled substance, has a high risk of misuse and dependence. (A controlled substance is a drug the government regulates due to the risk of dependence or misuse.) Misuse is when someone takes a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it.
Misuse of Adderall can cause serious and life threatening side effects. It can also lead to dependence on the drug. With dependence, you rely on a drug to function as usual, either physically or mentally. This can lead to addiction or substance use disorder.
Before prescribing Adderall, your doctor will assess your risk of misuse and dependence. You should take Adderall only as prescribed by your doctor. Be sure to keep the medication in a safe place out of reach of children and pets.
Other warnings
In addition to boxed warnings, Strattera and Adderall also have other warnings.
Before taking Strattera or Adderall, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you.
- Warnings for Strattera:
- if you have pheochromocytoma (a type of adrenal gland tumor)
- if you have liver problems
- if you have difficulty urinating
- Warnings for Adderall:
- if you have blood flow problems in your fingers or toes, such as Raynaud phenomenon
- if you have a seizure disorder, such as epilepsy
- if you have tics or Tourette syndrome
- if you have kidney problems
- Warnings for both Strattera and Adderall:
- if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to the drug or any of its ingredients
- if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- if you have closed-angle glaucoma, which is sometimes called narrow-angle glaucoma
- if you have a heart condition
- if you have high blood pressure
- if you have a history of mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia
- if you take other medications, in particular monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
To learn more about these drugs, see this Strattera overview and this Adderall overview.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
The short answer: It’s possible.
Details: If needed, your doctor may have you switch between Strattera and Adderall. This might occur if one of the drugs doesn’t work well for you or causes bothersome side effects.
Reminder: You should not switch drugs or stop your current treatment unless your doctor recommends it.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.