Adderall XR vs. Jornay PM

See how Adderall XR and Jornay PM compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Adderall XR is taken once each morning, while Jornay PM is taken in the evening so it starts working overnight and controls symptoms from the moment you wake up.

  • Both are Schedule II stimulants with a boxed warning for abuse, misuse, and addiction, and neither is approved for children under 6 years old.

  • Adderall XR comes in three dose strengths and has a generic version, while Jornay PM offers five higher-milligram strengths and has no generic available yet.

Adderall XR vs. Jornay PM Drug Summary

Adderall XR

Adderall XR is a CNS stimulant that combines four amphetamine salts to treat ADHD in adults and children 6 and older. It's an extended-release capsule taken once in the morning, with effects meant to last through the day.

Jornay PM

Jornay PM is a CNS stimulant containing methylphenidate, also approved for ADHD in people 6 and older. It's a delayed-release, extended-release capsule taken once each evening, so it works overnight and controls symptoms starting at wake-up.

Adderall XR vs. Jornay PM Side Effects

Adderall XR

Most common
anorexia (up to 22%)
insomnia (up to 17%)
abdominal pain (up to 11%)
emotional lability (up to 7%)

Jornay PM

Most common
insomnia (up to 41%)
decreased appetite (up to 27%)
affect lability (up to 22%)
headache (up to 19%)

Adderall XR vs. Jornay PM Dosage

Adderall XR

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 10 mg once daily At the start
Maximum dose 30 mg once daily If needed
Dose changes 2 increases As tolerated

Jornay PM

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 20 mg once daily At the start
Maximum dose 100 mg once daily If needed
Dose changes 4 increases As tolerated

Adderall XR vs. Jornay PM Indications

Adderall XR

Adderall XR is FDA-approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children ages 6 and up. It combines four amphetamine salts in one extended-release capsule to provide steady symptom control across the day.

  • ADHD in adults

  • ADHD in children 6 years and older

  • Not approved for children under 6

  • Not approved for patients with end-stage renal disease

Jornay PM

Jornay PM is FDA-approved to treat ADHD in people ages 6 and older. It uses a delayed-release, extended-release methylphenidate formulation taken the night before, so symptom control is already active when you wake up.

  • ADHD in adults

  • ADHD in children 6 years and older

  • Not approved for children under 6

  • Not approved for narcolepsy

Adderall XR vs. Jornay PM Pros and Cons

Adderall XR

Adderall XR has decades of clinical use and is approved across a wide age range, with three dose strengths for straightforward titration. It's generally less expensive than Jornay PM and available generically, but its once-daily morning dosing means effects can wear off before evening tasks that need symptom control.

Pros

  • Available generically, often lower cost

  • Long track record since 2001 approval

  • Simple three-strength titration schedule

Cons

  • Symptom control may fade before evening

  • Not designed to control symptoms right at wake-up

  • Higher appetite-loss rate reported in trials

Jornay PM

Jornay PM's evening dosing is designed so symptoms are already under control the moment a patient wakes up, which can help with the difficult morning routine many people with ADHD face. It costs more than Adderall XR and has no generic version, and its insomnia rate is notably high given it's taken at night.

Pros

  • Controls symptoms starting at wake-up

  • Five dose strengths for fine-tuned titration

  • Evening dosing avoids midday dosing at school or work

Cons

  • Roughly $340 to $620 a month, no generic available

  • Higher rate of insomnia reported in trials

  • Must be taken the night before, requires planning

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