Adderall (immediate-release amphetamine salts) for adults

Adderall is the brand name for an immediate-release tablet that combines four amphetamine salts. It is one of the oldest ADHD medications still in wide use. The FDA's Orange Book (data dated October 9, 2026) lists the brand Adderall tablets as discontinued, while the generic version remains on the market and is often simply called "mixed amphetamine salts" or "amphetamine salts." This page summarizes what the current FDA label says, with attention to what matters for adults. It is general information, not a recommendation. Whether any medication fits you is a decision for you and your prescriber.

What it is

Adderall tablets contain dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine aspartate, dextroamphetamine sulfate and amphetamine sulfate. The label describes the mix as a "single entity amphetamine product" with dextro- and levo-amphetamine in a 3 to 1 ratio. It is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant in the amphetamine family, the same family as Adderall XR, Vyvanse and dextroamphetamine.

Federal law lists amphetamine in Schedule II, the most tightly controlled category of prescription drugs. That status shapes how prescriptions work, which is covered below and in what controlled substance schedules mean.

How it works, in plain words

The label says the exact way amphetamines help ADHD "is not known." They are thought to block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine and to increase the release of these chemical messengers. In the label's pharmacokinetic study, blood levels peaked about 3 hours after a tablet was taken. Because it is immediate-release, it is a short-acting medication, and the label's directions describe doses taken more than once a day. If you want one dose to cover a longer day, extended-release products exist; Adderall IR vs Adderall XR compares the two.

Is it approved for adults?

This is less clear-cut than many people expect. The indications section of the label says Adderall "is indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Narcolepsy." It sets no age range for ADHD, so adult use falls within the wording of the indication. But the rest of the label is written around children:

• The ADHD dosing directions mention only children (it is "not recommended for children under 3 years of age").
• The label does not describe any adult ADHD trials.
• Under geriatric use it says Adderall "has not been studied in the geriatric population."

By contrast, the label for Adderall XR names adults directly: ADHD "in adults and pediatric patients 6 years and older." If label wording matters to you, ask your prescriber how they think about it. The overview of ADHD medications approved for adults in 2026 shows how other products compare.

Forms

Adderall comes as scored oral tablets in several strengths. Generic mixed amphetamine salts tablets from many manufacturers are listed on DailyMed. There is no liquid, chewable or patch form of this exact combination; other amphetamine products in those forms are covered in amphetamine liquids, dissolving tablets and the patch.

The boxed warning

Adderall carries the class-wide boxed warning for CNS stimulants that the FDA required on May 11, 2023: "ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION." The label says Adderall "has a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, including addiction," and that misuse "can result in overdose and death," a risk that rises "with higher doses or unapproved methods of administration, such as snorting or injection." Prescribers are told to assess each patient's risk before starting and to reassess it throughout treatment. The label also asks patients to store the medication in a safe place, preferably locked, and never give it to anyone else. More on this in misuse and addiction risk.

Other warnings on the label

• Heart disease: sudden death has been reported in people with structural heart problems or other serious heart disease. The label says to avoid use in people with known structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, serious arrhythmia or coronary artery disease.
• Blood pressure and heart rate: stimulants raise both on average, and some people have larger increases. See ADHD medication, heart health and blood pressure.
• Psychiatric effects: stimulants can worsen pre-existing psychosis, can trigger a manic or mixed episode, and rarely cause new psychotic or manic symptoms. The label asks prescribers to screen for bipolar disorder risk first.
• Seizures, circulation and tics: stimulants may lower the seizure threshold, are associated with Raynaud's phenomenon (cold, numb or color-changing fingers and toes), and can bring on or worsen tics.
• Serotonin syndrome: a rare, potentially life-threatening reaction when combined with other serotonergic drugs.

Common side effects listed on the label

The Adderall label lists adverse reactions by body system rather than giving percentages from adult trials. Examples include a fast or pounding heartbeat, raised blood pressure, restlessness, irritability, trouble sleeping (the label warns that late evening doses cause insomnia), dry mouth, unpleasant taste, stomach upset, loss of appetite and weight loss, and changes in libido. The label also lists rare serious reactions, including allergic reactions and serious skin rashes. For a broader view, see ADHD medication side effects in adults.

Who should not take it

The label lists two contraindications:

• Known hypersensitivity to amphetamine or other ingredients of the tablet.
• Taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or within 14 days of stopping one, including linezolid or intravenous methylene blue, because of the risk of a hypertensive crisis.

Interactions to mention to your prescriber

Bring a full list of what you take, including over-the-counter products and supplements. The label flags:

• MAOIs (contraindicated, as above).
• Serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, lithium, tramadol, fentanyl, buspirone and St. John's Wort.
• CYP2D6 inhibitors, which can raise amphetamine exposure.
• Alkalinizing agents (for example some antacids), which raise amphetamine levels, and acidifying agents, which lower them.
• Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, which change how quickly amphetamine peaks.
• Blood pressure medicines, whose effect amphetamines may blunt.

The guide's page on ADHD medication drug interactions goes further.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The Adderall label says there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, that amphetamines should be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk, and that infants born to mothers dependent on amphetamines have an increased risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. On nursing, the label says amphetamines are excreted in human milk and that mothers taking them should be advised not to nurse. The NIH LactMed database notes that some experts consider prescribed doses usable during breastfeeding with infant monitoring, while most manufacturers advise against it. Talk this through with your prescriber and obstetric clinician; ADHD in pregnancy and postpartum has more.

Generics, cost and the shortage

Generic mixed amphetamine salts tablets are widely made, while the brand tablets are listed as discontinued in the Orange Book. As of October 19, 2026, the FDA drug shortage database lists mixed amphetamine salts tablets with a status of "Current," a shortage first posted on October 12, 2022. Availability can vary by pharmacy and strength. This page does not give prices; your pharmacy and insurer can tell you what you would pay. Practical steps are in the ADHD medication shortage in New York and ADHD medication cost in New York.

New York and New Jersey prescribing rules

Because amphetamine is Schedule II, federal rules apply everywhere: a Schedule II prescription cannot be refilled, though a prescriber may issue multiple dated prescriptions covering up to a 90-day supply. On top of that:

• New York: prescribers check the state's I-STOP prescription monitoring registry before prescribing, and other state limits apply. See New York's rules for ADHD stimulant prescriptions.
• New Jersey: under P.L.2026, c.40 (effective July 8, 2026), an adult located in New Jersey who starts a Schedule II stimulant by telehealth needs an in-person visit within 30 days, a contact every three months (in person or by real-time audio and video) and an in-person visit at least once a year. State regulations also require a history, an exam, a check of the New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program and a treatment plan before a controlled substance is started. See New Jersey's ADHD medication rules.
• Federal telehealth: the DEA's telemedicine flexibilities for controlled substances run through December 31, 2026, as of October 2026.

Dr. Shershow, a psychiatrist licensed in New York and New Jersey, provides medication management when medication is appropriate. The office can explain how visits are arranged for patients located in New Jersey.

Questions to ask your prescriber

• Why immediate-release rather than an extended-release product for my schedule?
• How will we check my blood pressure and heart rate, and how often?
• Do any of my current medications or supplements interact with it?
• What should I do if my pharmacy cannot fill it because of the shortage?
• What side effects should make me call you, and which mean urgent care?

A longer checklist is in questions to ask before starting ADHD medication. Never start, stop or change a medication without talking to the clinician who prescribes it.