From the Guidelines
The starting dose for Adderall XR is typically 5 mg or 10 mg once daily in the morning for patients who are beginning treatment. When considering the initiation of Adderall XR, it's crucial to prioritize the patient's age, response, and tolerance to the medication. For children aged 6-12 years, the recommended starting dose is 5-10 mg once daily, while adolescents aged 13-17 and adults often start at 10 mg once daily 1. The dose may then be gradually increased by 5-10 mg increments at weekly intervals based on the patient's response and tolerance, until optimal effect is achieved. Key considerations include:
- Starting at a lower dose to minimize side effects such as insomnia, decreased appetite, and increased heart rate
- Gradually increasing the dose to allow the body to adjust to the medication
- Taking the medication in the morning to avoid insomnia
- The extended-release formulation provides symptom control throughout the day with a single dose, as it gradually releases the medication over approximately 12 hours. It's essential to monitor the patient's response and adjust the dose accordingly, with follow-up appointments made at least monthly until the patient's symptoms have been stabilized 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Amphetamines should be administered at the lowest effective dosage and dosage should be individually adjusted. Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity: Not recommended for pediatric patients under 3 years of age. In pediatric patients from 3 to 5 years of age, start with 2.5 mg daily, by tablet; daily dosage may be raised in increments of 2. 5 mg at weekly intervals until optimal response is obtained. In pediatric patients 6 years of age and older, start with 5 mg once or twice daily; daily dosage may be raised in increments of 5 mg at weekly intervals until optimal response is obtained.
The starting dose for Adderall XR (amphetamine) is:
- 2.5 mg daily for pediatric patients from 3 to 5 years of age
- 5 mg once or twice daily for pediatric patients 6 years of age and older
- 5 mg to 10 mg daily for patients 12 years of age and older with Narcolepsy 2
From the Research
Adderall XR Starting Dose
- The provided studies do not directly mention the starting dose for Adderall XR.
- However, study 3 mentions that the dose of ER mixed amphetamine salts (ER MAS) used in the study was 10,20,25-30 mg.
- Study 4 also mentions that the dose of mixed amphetamine salts extended release used in the study was 30 mg.
- It can be inferred that the starting dose for Adderall XR may be around 10-30 mg, but this information is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- Further research is needed to determine the exact starting dose for Adderall XR, as the provided studies do not provide a clear answer to this question 5, 6, 7.