Mallinckrodt Adderall vs. Teva/Barr Adderall (30 mg)?
Question posted by thetooshay on 12 Nov 2018
Last updated on 18 February 2025 (10 weeks ago) by BlueRhino2323
Does anyone else feel that adderall by Mallinckrodt is like taking a sugar pill? I don't feel anything but except tired unfocussed and cloudy. I do not think that this brand contains the same ingredients as my usual brand. Is anyone else experiencing this and know what I can do or if my doctor will write me a new script?
I've been taking 30mg instant release adderall for years by the manufacturer Teva. They're orange and oval shaped. On 11/9/2018, I took my prescription to three different pharmacies and all had NONE in stock. I finally found one with adderall in stock but was informed that it is a different manufacturer. She told me it possesses the same ingredients and has the same effects but IT IS NOT. I received adderall from the manufacturer MALLINCKRODT and it is white and shaped like an octagon. I do not feel anything.
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
53 Answers Page 2
BL
BlueRhino2323
10 June 2023
Hello forum. I would have to agree entirely regarding the useless mfg Mallinckrodt substitute. It is more like a sugar pill. I had been prescribed Adderall for 12 years. I had switched pharmacies from Kroger to Walgreens due to the manufacturer change years ago and how the pink round pill made me foggier, bloated, stare off into space, nauseous, and often dizzy, so I switched to Walgreens where they carried Teva. A few days ago I picked up my refill, and it was clear the manufacturer was changed by looking at it and right away I knew something wasn’t right when the pill started to dissolve before I can reach for my water. Shortly after taking it, my stomach started to knot, and feeling bloated and nauseated.
Reminded me a lot of the pink pill, (my apologies for forgetting the mfg as it had been many years since I had to stop and question if it was me or common to others on the internet) I triple checked they put the correct pill according to the description on the bottle because I had never had an Adderall look like this let alone dissolve almost as quick as a rapid release Claritin tablet you place under your tongue. I did enough research to know that I am right about all pills are not the same and are commonly not the same from batch to batch, so those who say,”it’s always the liars and often angry people or a pharmacist trying not to lose a customer writing the bad review…” well, that’s not always the case and definitely isn’t the case in this scenario. I went back to the pharmacist yesterday to make sure it was all Walgreens that are planning to switch to this useless excuse of a sugar pill or was it a temporary thing within that one Walgreens alone? He had confirmed this is what they are switching to. So either he doesn’t really understand the question I was asking or they are all changing over to this crap. I had been through struggles before trying to find what works best for me manufacturing-wise. So we are paying the same price for less quality from one generic to another too. What gives? I’m agitated at the fact if you speak up about it or go to a different pharmacy to get what you know works better, then you are suddenly judged, treated and looked at like a hardcore addict looking to score. This does not work well at all and is in fact the worst I have ever tried. It completely defies its purpose for those who need it. I had been prescribed Adderall for over 12 years. I did stop taking it for over a year and recently got back on due to obvious lifetime struggles and having a lack of attention span, staying still, focusing and finishing a task that it is affecting my work. So taking it too long and being used to the dose and suggesting a higher dose because of my tolerance built up isn’t the case here. This is awful and a waste of time and money. I truly hope a real attentive Mallinckrodt manufacturer employee and a corporate pharmacist at Walgreens is reading these and care enough to do something about it. And for everyone else, if you got to this forum, it’s because it’s clear you know it’s off enough for you to question it. All I can say at this point is that many times reviews are written by the fake and often by the angry so it’s good practice to take some with a grain of salt. This is one you want to read through while many of us as well as myself and most likely you too are currently feeling the same nasty, awful, unsettling, unbalanced, useless and wasteful feelings you get in an instance when taking this meds. Judging from how long it took me to type this comment, I’m surprised the FDA approved.
Votes: +0
XI
Xiaupe
4 June 2023
I agree completely! I’ve been taking Adderall for a while but I’m currently only taking 5 mg twice daily and previously had the Teva brand. For my last prescription I received the Mallinckrodt version. I don’t feel like it’s as effective. I have been feeling exhausted and more emotional ; probably how I’d feel if I stopped taking Adderall cold turkey. I talked with my pharmacist and he agreed that some people notice a difference. He suggested I let him know when my next script is due and he could see if he can find the Teva version. I sure hope so; I am not happy with this formulation
Votes: +0
ST
Stunner11
4 Sep 2022
I thought it was just me but I believe I was told there are only two manufacturers left? They do the same to me. Either I don't feel anything or I'm just tired. I just got a pink/white kind( use to be shire) and they are even worse than the others.
Votes: +0
ZT
Z T D 33
24 Aug 2022
Mallinckrodt is garbage and I’ve been stuck with it this past month due to the teva shortage with Walgreens.
Votes: +1
KI
killohertz1
4 April 2022
Thanks for your inputs about dextroamphetamine generic made by Mallinckdopt excuse my spelling and my story is that I filled my script and accepted the generic manufactured by the company Mall in kept and received 60 mg tabs of junk because I feel nothing from them.
Votes: +0
KA
Kamron
31 Dec 2020
I’ve been prescribed adderall 30 mg ir for quite sometime... I’ve never struggled with this medication until I received the mallen brand ( white tablets )... yes we all have to deal with certain side effects of adhd medication but am I the only one that is constantly gagging?! thru out the years, the teva & so many other brands have NEVER made me gag like this... I had to google about what causes the gagging & it says that anxiety & acid reflux ( plus other options ) could be one or both problems... whoever created these pills, I would freakin vote to have your job taken away for this is making the human beings that struggle with daily life even more problematic that’s nothing but struggles after another!! I’m sick
Votes: +0
SP
SPIDERFANG
21 Dec 2020
mallinckrodt 20mg XR (generic adderall XR)
My pharmacy (Walgreens) usually gives me 20mg XR of PRASCO GENRIC which work to counteract my ADHD symptoms quite well.
However, I just received a 30 day prescription of the (M) mallinckrodt 20mg XR & I have to say the results are horrific. Not only do I receive ZERO relief from my symptoms, I am finding that I have severe side effects from this “new” generic (listed below).
LETHARGY NOTICEABLE MOOD IMBALANCE IRRITABILITY (for no reason) DISASSOCIATION A SPECIFIC SORT OF HEADACHE WHICH SEEMS TO CAUSE BLURRED VISION BRAIN FOG CONFUSION
I EVEN STOPPED TAKING THIS GENERIC FOR 24 HOURS to see if it was indeed the (M) Generic causing these issues & when I took it again, the symptoms reappeared about an hour afterward.
Votes: +3
JE
JennD2
1 Dec 2020
Yes. It’s not effective at all. Not only that, it seems to have a sedative effect.
Votes: +0
MS
MsFitTam
16 Sep 2020
Yes Yes & Yes- I thought it counteracted w/ my other medication but it put me to sleep. It made me very drowsy. The Actavis - that’s another 1 to be mindful of bc that 1 had bad side effects nausea & itching. I stick w/ TEVA or nothing at all. I’d rather be myself than deal w/ ineffective meds that make me sick, itch or fall asleep.
Votes: +0
TW
TwoStep2
5 May 2020
I had the same experience, and even reported it to the FDA and the Mallinckrodt company. I have fantastic results with the Teva/Barr generic brand.
Active ingredients are one thing, the binders and fillers are different and react differently.
Just need to make sure your pharmacy fills with the generic that works best for you.
Votes: +0
RE
Rebeccagia1
1 May 2020
All the labs from China are crap. Aurobindo, mallinckrodt, sun pharmaceutical, and about 17 others. I looked deep into those bc I was on pain meds and the ones from mallinckrodt were crap. Those labs constantly get fined for having filthy labs. Mold and rats being the most common issues and then the Chinese will move their labs and change the name and send crappy meds to the US. And it takes years for the FDA gets back to there to check the quality again. It's a vicious circle of sending the USA pills that are sub par. There's no reason that the meds I get from any of those cause nauseous. It's a mess!
Votes: +0
EM
Emily1456
29 April 2020
Mallinckrodt Adderall generic are sugar pills. When I got the name brand I threw it out. I think Teva works better than the name brand, but I think there is a Teva shortage because that's what my pharmacy usually has and they gave me Mallinckrodt. If I would have known that while I was at the pharmacy, I would have told them to keep the sugar pills.
Votes: +0
AM
AmatistaLaRoca
24 Feb 2020
This is exactly the same concern I have with this particular manufacturer of generic immediate release Adderall. I recently read somewhere that generic drug manufacturers are permitted by FDA to contain up to 20% less of the active ingredients and still market their drugs at full strength. It was while researching the validity of that information that I saw this question. I have Narcolepsy with Cataplexy and cannot function at only 80% of the prescribed dose, or whatever their formulation contains. I’ve never been 100% functional even at my most successfully medication level, but this manufacturer seems to be essentially useless.
Votes: +0
KA
Kaylarichards
4 Nov 2022
So you said you were researching the validity of that statement; about the generic allowed to contain 20% less of the active ingredient and still market full strength…. Well is this accurate?
CR
CrazedMomof3
21 Feb 2020
I have always received the Teva brand of 20 mg IR and never had an issue. When I went to pick up my medications this month I noticed the pills were different and the manufacturer listed on the bottle MALLI. They are absolutely horrible!! I might as well start taking jelly beans in the afternoon.
Votes: +1
SO
sonica
16 Feb 2020
By the way, even tho Teva is the company listed on the 20mg prescription, Barr then, to this date, has not been associated with Teva, bec they've chosen another company to make it. Which, in my opinion and based on personal experience, has 1 huge unpleasant side effect like tongue swelling. I had to stop taking them and my doctor doubled a 10mg dosage.
I'd like to know why Teva and Barr parted ways and why we all now have to take inferior, less effective, less helpful products. And not to be informed, not even by your pharmacist, that the specific med customarily prescribed was switched and the way you found out was when you opened the medicine bottle and saw a different, peculiar looking pill and in a panic had to call the pharmacy about the mistake they made in giving you the "wrong" prescription.
