Adderall dosage, forms, and strengths

Adderall is a brand-name prescription drug that treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Combining two very similar stimulants, amphetamine, and dextroamphetamine, Adderall helps people with ADHD to focus, pay attention, and control impulses better. For narcolepsy, the active ingredients in Adderall help to alleviate daytime sleepiness. Adderall is taken as a tablet with or without food. As an immediate-release drug, one to three doses per day may be required. Alternatively, Adderall is available in an extended-release format, Adderall XR, that only requires a single daily dose.

RELATED: Learn more about Adderall | Get Adderall discounts

Adderall forms and strengths

Adderall tablets come in seven different dose strengths.

• Tablet: 5 milligrams (mg), 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg

Each tablet contains amphetamine salts dextroamphetamine sulfate, amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharate, and d,1-amphetamine aspartate. Tablets are scored to allow them to be halved into two smaller doses.

Adderall dosage for adults

Adderall is taken one to three times a day to treat ADHD or daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy. There is no single standard dose. Instead, the goal is to find the lowest possible effective dose, so doses will be adjusted based on a person’s needs and responsiveness to Adderall.

• Standard dosage for adults: 5-40 mg (ADHD) or 5-60 mg (narcolepsy) taken as one dose or divided into two or three doses given every four to six hours

• Maximum dosage for adults: Not specified

Adderall dosage for children

The pediatric use of Adderall is approved for children as young as 3 years of age for ADHD and in children as young as 6 diagnosed with narcolepsy.

Adderall dosage for ADHD

Adderall is FDA approved to treat hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms in adults and children 3 years and older with clinically significant impairment due to a ADHD diagnosis.

• Adults and children 6 years and older: 5–40 mg by mouth divided into one to three daily doses.

• Children 3–5 years old: 2.5–40 mg by mouth divided into one to three daily doses. 

• Renally impaired patients: Not defined

• Hepatically impaired patients: Not defined

The first dose should be taken when you wake up in the morning. Any additional doses should be taken four to six hours apart. 

Adderall dosage for narcolepsy

Adderall is taken to relieve daytime sleepiness in adults and children 6 years and older who have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, a condition characterized by daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations, which occur right before falling asleep.

• Adults and children 6 years and older: 5–60 mg divided into one to three daily doses.

• Renally impaired patients: Not defined

• Hepatically impaired patients: Not defined

Again, the first dose should be taken when you wake up in the morning. Any additional doses should be taken four to six hours apart.

Adderall dosage FAQs

How long does it take Adderall to work?

Adderall is readily absorbed through the gut into the bloodstream, so its effects should be noticed about 30 to 45 minutes after taking it. Adderall hits its peak effectiveness in about one to three hours. 

Adderall can be taken with or without food, although there is no research on how food affects the absorption of Adderall.

How long does Adderall stay in your system?

How long Adderall stays in the system differs depending on what type of test is being used to detect the drug. In general, Adderall can be detected in your system between 20 to 96 hours after you take your last dose. It’s detectable through a urine test for 72 to 96 hours after last use, in the blood for up to 46 hours, in saliva 20 to 50 hours, and in hair for up to 3 months. But these times may vary depending on several factors, such as your age, your Adderall dosage, and how healthy your organs are. 

What happens if I miss a dose of Adderall?

A missed dose can be taken when remembered, but avoid taking a dose late in the day. Remember that doses should be taken every four to six hours, so taking a missed dose will reset the clock. Never take extra doses of Adderall to make up for a missed dose.

How do I stop taking Adderall?

Adderall can cause physical dependence when taken for a prolonged period of time. Because of its potential for abuse and dependency, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) labels Adderall as a Schedule II controlled substance. Suddenly stopping Adderall can cause fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbances. Before stopping Adderall, talk to a healthcare provider. In most cases, they will come up with a plan for you to lower your dose gradually until it’s safe for you to stop the drug completely.

However, if you’re experiencing serious side effects or side effects that won’t go away, talk to your provider right away. There may be some situations where you may need to stop Adderall abruptly. 

What is the maximum dosage for Adderall?

While the drugmaker hasn’t specified a maximum dosage, the Prescriber’s Digital Reference (formerly the Physician’s Desk Reference) recommends a maximum dose of 60 mg per day for ADHD in adults and children 6 years and older. The maximum dosage for children ages 3 to 5 years with ADHD is 40 mg per day. However, Adderall is only rarely prescribed in daily doses greater than 40 mg daily for ADHD. For adults and children with narcolepsy, the maximum dosage is 60 mg per day. 

What interacts with Adderall?

Drugs like Adderall that affect the brain can have a number of drug interactions. Examples of drugs that may interact with Adderall include: 

• Certain antidepressants

• Other stimulants

• Certain migraine medications

• Stomach acid reducers

• Antihistamines

• Certain mental health drugs

• Certain seizure medications

To lower the risk of interactions, discuss all current prescription and over-the-counter medications and medical conditions with a healthcare professional before you start Adderall treatment. 

Resources:

• Adderall prescribing information, DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Amphetamine aspartate monohydrate/amphetamine sulfate/dextroamphetamine saccharate/dextroamphetamine sulfate—drug summary, Prescriber’s Digital Reference

• Amphetamine compound summary, U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Amphetamine, past, and present—a pharmacological and clinical perspective, Journal of Psychopharmacology

• Biological tests, University of Arizona

• Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine, StatPearls

• How long does Adderall stay in your system? American Addiction Centers (2024)

• New formulations of stimulants: An update for clinicians, Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (2019)

• The treatment of narcolepsy with amphetamine-based stimulant medications: A call for better understanding, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine