Dextroamphetamine vs Lisdexamfetamine for focus
Short answer: For focus, users rate them about the same: 88% report improvement with Dextroamphetamine (48 reports) and 87% with Lisdexamfetamine (200 reports).
Dextroamphetamine has 48 meta-analyses and 119 randomized trials on PubMed; Lisdexamfetamine has 58 and 112.
Based on 121 reports about Dextroamphetamine and 439 about Lisdexamfetamine. Not medical advice.
| Dextroamphetamine Medication | Lisdexamfetamine Medication | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 43%helped81 reports · medium confidence | 41%helped281 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 48 / 119 | 58 / 112 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Focus % reporting improvement | 88% (48) | 87% (200) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 41% (17) | 50% (82) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 84% (19) | 61% (62) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 38% (8) | 39% (36) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 25% (4) | 12% (17) |
| Common side effects | anxiety, tolerance, insomnia, withdrawal | anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, irritability |
| Typical dose reported | Not listed | Not listed |
Overall, despite a class effect of improving clinical response relative to placebo, there were few differences among the individual ADHD pharmacotherapies, and most studies were at risk of at least one important source of bias. Furthermore, the certainty of the evidence was very low to low for all outcomes, and there was limited reporting of long-term adverse events. As such, the choice between ADHD pharmacotherapies may depend on individual patient considerations, and future studies should assess the long-term effects of individual pharmacotherapies on patient-important outcomes, including qu
PLoS One, 2020 ↗“Keeps me focused without the anxiety Adderall started giving me; it helps me relax even.”
Our findings represent the most comprehensive available evidence base to inform patients, families, clinicians, guideline developers, and policymakers on the choice of ADHD medications across age groups. Taking into account both efficacy and safety, evidence from this meta-analysis supports methylphenidate in children and adolescents, and amphetamines in adults, as preferred first-choice medications for the short-term treatment of ADHD. New research should be funded urgently to assess long-term effects of these drugs.
Lancet Psychiatry, 2018 ↗“It's been a game changer for my focus and energy levels, really brought me back to life.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate