Also known as: mixed amphetamine salts, MAS, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (generic)
Adderall (immediate-release) is a short-acting ADHD stimulant containing a mixture of four amphetamine salts. Each dose lasts approximately 4 to 6 hours, and most people take it two or three times a day. It is one of the most widely prescribed ADHD medications in the United States and is also used as a booster alongside long-acting formulations. ADHDose tracks each dose individually and models the combined levels when doses overlap.
Adderall contains a mixture of amphetamine salts: approximately 75% dextroamphetamine and 25% levoamphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is the more pharmacologically potent isomer. Levoamphetamine acts more peripherally and has a slightly longer half-life, which contributes to the extended tail of each dose.
A single dose is typically absorbed within 30 to 60 minutes, peaks at approximately 2 to 3 hours, and clears within 4 to 6 hours. Because of this short duration, most people take multiple doses through the day, timed to maintain continuous coverage through their working hours.
Both formulations contain the same mixed amphetamine salts. The difference is delivery. IR releases everything at once. XR uses a two-phase bead system that releases half immediately and half four hours later, providing 10 to 12 hours of coverage from a single capsule.
IR gives you more control over timing. You can adjust exactly when your second and third doses fall, which makes it possible to fine-tune coverage around your daily schedule. The trade-off is that multi-dose management requires more decisions through the day, and forgetting a dose creates a gap in coverage.
Some prescribers start with XR for simplicity and switch to IR or add IR as a booster if the coverage timing needs adjustment.
Adderall IR is commonly prescribed as an afternoon or evening booster alongside long-acting formulations like Adderall XR or Vyvanse. The purpose is to extend coverage beyond what the long-acting medication provides alone.
Timing the booster is critical. Too early and it overlaps unnecessarily with the long-acting dose. Too late and it pushes active medication levels into the night, affecting sleep. ADHDose models the booster alongside your primary medication so you can see the combined effect and how it affects your wind-down window.
Adderall IR titration typically starts at 5mg once or twice daily and increases based on response. The prescriber adjusts both the dose per tablet and the number of daily doses to find the right balance of coverage, effectiveness, and tolerability.
Because each dose is short-acting, the effect of adjustments is visible quickly. Tracking how each dose level and timing pattern affects your focus, sleep, and daily experience helps your prescriber make data-informed decisions at each review.
ADHDose models each Adderall IR dose individually and shows the combined effect when doses overlap. You can see your total coverage through the day and how each dose contributes.
For multi-dose medications, this is particularly valuable. It can reveal whether a coverage gap explains the difficult hour you experience every afternoon, or whether your second dose is timed too close to your first.
See every dose, every overlap, and your total coverage through the day. Free to download, no account needed.
Download free →This page is for informational purposes only. ADHDose is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your prescribing doctor or specialist before making changes to your medication.