Adderall vs. Methylphenidate hydrochloride: side effect and effectiveness comparison (a real world drug study)
Summary:
We compare the side effects and drug effectiveness of Adderall and Methylphenidate hydrochloride. The phase IV clinical study is created by eHealthMe based on reports (from sources including the FDA) of 152,935 people who take Adderall and Methylphenidate hydrochloride, and is updated regularly.
What is Adderall?
Adderall has active ingredients of amphetamine aspartate; amphetamine sulfate; dextroamphetamine saccharate; dextroamphetamine sulfate. It is often used in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. eHealthMe is studying from 64,225 Adderall users. Check the latest studies of Adderall.
What is Methylphenidate hydrochloride?
Methylphenidate hydrochloride has active ingredients of methylphenidate hydrochloride. It is often used in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. eHealthMe is studying from 6,823 Methylphenidate hydrochloride users. Check the latest studies of Methylphenidate hydrochloride.
152,935 people who take Adderall and Methylphenidate hydrochloride are studied.

Drugs being compared in this study:
- Adderall (amphetamine aspartate; amphetamine sulfate; dextroamphetamine saccharate; dextroamphetamine sulfate)
- Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (methylphenidate hydrochloride)
Most common side effects of the drugs, overall:
Most common side effects of the drugs, in long term (1+ years) use:
Drug effectiveness:
Adderall:
- not at all: 1.16 %
- somewhat: 11.35 %
- moderate: 31.86 %
- high: 40.13 %
- very high: 15.52 %
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride:
- not at all: 1.98 %
- somewhat: 15.51 %
- moderate: 36.08 %
- high: 34.5 %
- very high: 11.93 %
Want to compare Adderall with Methylphenidate hydrochloride?
- Personalize this study to your gender and age (0-99+)How to use the study?
DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting your doctor. If there are any serious or long term adverse effects discovered in the study, discuss the study with your doctor to ensure that proper medication management will be in place if applicable.
Related publications that referenced our studies
- Coskun M, Adak I, "Excessive and frequent menstrual bleeding with methylphenidate in an adolescent girl with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder", Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2017 Oct .
- Yektas ?, Samurcu ND, Tufan AE, "Loss of Eyebrows (Madarosis) After Use of Long-Acting Methylphenidate: Case Report", Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2017 Aug .
- Ersoy MA, Ersoy HT, "Manic symptoms associated with isotretinoin and methylphenidate combination: a case report", Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2014 Sep .
- Coskun M, Adak I, Akaltun I, "Bilateral gynecomastia in a preadolescent boy while under treatment with methylphenidate and paroxetine", Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2014 Aug .
- Adak, I., & Coskun, M. , "Symptomatic cholelithiasis associated with combined use of methylphenidate and fluoxetine in an otherwise healthy adolescent girl", Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2014 Jan .
- Coskun, M., & Adak, I. , "Excessive and frequent menstrual bleeding with methylphenidate in an adolescent girl with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder", Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2014 Jan .
- Yalcin O, Aslan AA, Sari BA, Turkbay T, "Possible methylphenidate related hoarseness and disturbances of voice quality: two pediatric cases", Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2012 Sep .
- Lufi D, Bucherman M, Akita M, Cohen R, Sibani C, "The effect of methylphenidate on speech patterns of children with attention deficit disorder", Journal of Behavioral Health, 2012 Jan .
- Coskun M, Adak I, "Excessive and frequent menstrual bleeding with methylphenidate in an adolescent girl with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder", Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2017 Oct .
- Yektas ?, Samurcu ND, Tufan AE, "Loss of Eyebrows (Madarosis) After Use of Long-Acting Methylphenidate: Case Report", Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2017 Aug .
- Ersoy MA, Ersoy HT, "Manic symptoms associated with isotretinoin and methylphenidate combination: a case report", Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2014 Sep .
- Coskun M, Adak I, Akaltun I, "Bilateral gynecomastia in a preadolescent boy while under treatment with methylphenidate and paroxetine", Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2014 Aug .
- Adak, I., & Coskun, M. , "Symptomatic cholelithiasis associated with combined use of methylphenidate and fluoxetine in an otherwise healthy adolescent girl", Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2014 Jan .
- Coskun, M., & Adak, I. , "Excessive and frequent menstrual bleeding with methylphenidate in an adolescent girl with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder", Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 2014 Jan .
- Yalcin O, Aslan AA, Sari BA, Turkbay T, "Possible methylphenidate related hoarseness and disturbances of voice quality: two pediatric cases", Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni-Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2012 Sep .
- Lufi D, Bucherman M, Akita M, Cohen R, Sibani C, "The effect of methylphenidate on speech patterns of children with attention deficit disorder", Journal of Behavioral Health, 2012 Jan .
Related studies
Alternative drugs to, pros and cons of:
- Adderall (50,503 reports)
- Methylphenidate hydrochloride (6,367 reports)
Browse all side effects of Adderall:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y zBrowse all side effects of Methylphenidate hydrochloride:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y zHow the study uses the data?
The study is based on amphetamine aspartate; amphetamine sulfate; dextroamphetamine saccharate; dextroamphetamine sulfate and methylphenidate hydrochloride (the active ingredients of Adderall and Methylphenidate hydrochloride, respectively). Other drugs that have the same active ingredients (e.g. generic drugs or brand names) are also considered. Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study.
Who is eHealthMe?
With medical big data and proven AI/ML algorithms, eHealthMe provides a platform for everyone to run phase IV clinical trials. We study millions of patients and 5,000 more each day. Results of our real-world drug study have been referenced on 800+ peer-reviewed medical publications, including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature. Our analysis results are available to researchers, health care professionals, patients (testimonials), and software developers (open API).
WARNING, DISCLAIMER, USE FOR PUBLICATION
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.
If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.
Recent studies on eHealthMe:
- Senna and Sleep Apnoea Syndrome for Men aged 50-59 - 3 seconds ago
- Senna and Sleep Apnea Syndrome for Men aged 50-59 - 4 seconds ago
- Salmon Oil and Exhaustion, Fatigue, Lethargy, Tiredness, Weariness for Women aged 40-49 - 7 seconds ago
- Salmon Oil and Weariness for Women aged 40-49 - 7 seconds ago
- Salmon Oil and Tiredness for Women aged 40-49 - 7 seconds ago
- Salmon Oil and Lethargy for Women aged 40-49 - 7 seconds ago
- Salmon Oil and Exhaustion for Women aged 40-49 - 8 seconds ago
- Salmon Oil and Fatigue for Women aged 40-49 - 8 seconds ago
- Aortic Disorder and drugs of ingredients of tramadol hydrochloride - 10 seconds ago
- Could Tysabri cause Photosensitivity Reaction? - 14 seconds ago