Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse), atomoxetine and other ADHD medicines compared

Page summary

Comparing ADHD medication in the UK covers five medicines, and Adderall isn’t one of them. The medicines differ in type, in who they’re licensed for and in how long one dose lasts. Lisdexamfetamine is sold as Elvanse in the UK and as Vyvanse in the US. Methylphenidate is sold under brand names that include Ritalin and Concerta. A specialist prescriber chooses the medicine with you, and can switch it if one doesn’t suit. Prescribers at AuDHD Psychiatry start and manage ADHD medication online, after an assessment.

Table of Contents

• How do ADHD medicines work?
• What is Elvanse, and is it the same as Vyvanse?
• What are Ritalin, Concerta and Medikinet?
• Is Adderall available in the UK?
• What are atomoxetine and guanfacine?
• How do the ADHD medicines compare side by side?
• Which ADHD medication is right for you?
• Questions people ask
• In short

Medicine names travel fast, through friends, forums and US social media. A lot of what you’ll read online is about American medicines and American prescribing. So it’s reasonable to want to know what’s actually used here before you see anyone. None of the names on this page is right for you until a clinician has looked at your history.

At a glance

• Used in the UK: methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and dexamfetamine (stimulants), and atomoxetine and guanfacine (non-stimulants).
• Who chooses: a specialist prescriber, with you, after an assessment.
• Controlled drugs: methylphenidate and amphetamine-based medicines are controlled drugs in the UK.

How do ADHD medicines work?

ADHD medicines fall into two groups, stimulants and non-stimulants [1]. NICE guidance uses the same split when it sets out the order of treatment [1]. Methylphenidate is thought to work by raising the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline, two chemical messengers in the brain [2]. The stimulants are controlled drugs in the UK, Class B and Schedule 2 [12]. Our guide to the question are ADHD medications like drugs explains what that means for you.

Lisdexamfetamine starts differently. It does nothing until your body converts it. Red blood cells break it down into dexamfetamine, and dexamfetamine is what does the work [3]. So two of the medicines on this page end up as the same active substance. Whichever medicine you take, it helps with the symptoms of ADHD rather than making ADHD go away.

What is Elvanse, and is it the same as Vyvanse?

Elvanse and Vyvanse are the same medicine, lisdexamfetamine. Elvanse is the UK brand name [3], and Vyvanse is the brand name on the US label [4]. If you’ve read American forums, every mention of Vyvanse applies to the medicine UK prescribers call lisdexamfetamine.

In the UK, lisdexamfetamine is licensed for adults whose ADHD symptoms began in childhood [3]. It’s also licensed for children aged 6 and over when methylphenidate hasn’t helped enough [3]. NICE guidance places it among the first choices for adults, and as the next step for children after methylphenidate [1]. Lisdexamfetamine is a stimulant, and stimulants can be misused or passed on to other people. The UK product information asks the prescriber to consider that risk before prescribing it [3].

What are Ritalin, Concerta and Medikinet?

Ritalin, Concerta and Medikinet are all brands of methylphenidate. Delmosart and Equasym are methylphenidate brands too [2]. Standard tablets are usually taken 2 or 3 times a day, while slow-release forms are taken once a day [2]. Slow-release brands include Concerta XL, Medikinet XL, Equasym XL and Xaggitin XL [6][13]. The right form depends on how long each day you need the effect, as the table shows. Because the brands release the medicine in different ways, the NHS advises staying on the same brand [2]. If your brand is hard to get, our guide to the ADHD medication shortage sets out what to do.

Methylphenidate is licensed for children aged 6 and over, and for adults [5][6]. NICE guidance names it as a first choice for both [1]. Common side effects include headaches and trouble sleeping [2]. Our guide to ADHD medication side effects covers what else to look out for and what helps.

Is Adderall available in the UK?

No, Adderall isn’t licensed in the UK. Adderall is a US medicine made from a mix of amphetamine salts, including dextroamphetamine [7]. NICE guidance names the ADHD medicines it recommends, and Adderall isn’t among them [1]. The guidance says any medicine outside its list should only be used on advice from a specialist ADHD service [1].

The nearest medicines in the UK are dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine. Dexamfetamine is the UK name for dextroamphetamine. Lisdexamfetamine sits close too, because your body turns it into dexamfetamine [3]. Dexamfetamine is licensed for children and young people aged 6 to 17 when methylphenidate hasn’t helped enough [8]. For adults, a specialist can prescribe it outside its licence, as NICE guidance allows [1]. That’s for adults who respond to lisdexamfetamine but can’t tolerate how long its effect lasts [1].

What are atomoxetine and guanfacine?

Atomoxetine and guanfacine are the two non-stimulant ADHD medicines in NICE guidance [1]. Atomoxetine is licensed for children aged 6 and over and for adults [9]. Adults are offered it if they can’t tolerate lisdexamfetamine or methylphenidate, or if neither has helped [1]. Children can be offered atomoxetine or guanfacine on the same terms [1]. Atomoxetine starts on a low dose and is raised gradually [9].

Guanfacine is licensed for children and young people aged 6 to 17 [10]. The licence covers those for whom stimulants aren’t suitable, aren’t tolerated or haven’t worked [10]. NICE says guanfacine shouldn’t be used for adults without advice from a specialist ADHD service [1]. If you’d rather not rely on medicine at all, our guide to alternatives to ADHD medication looks at other approaches.

How do the ADHD medicines compare side by side?

The table puts seven medicines side by side, Adderall included. Every row answers the same five points, drawn from the UK product information and NICE guidance [1]. Where the product information gives no single figure for how long one dose lasts, the cell says “not stated” rather than guessing.

ADHD medicines compared by group, UK licence, how long one dose lasts and where NICE guidance places them.

Medicine (generic name)	Examples of UK brand names	Group	Licensed in the UK for	How long one dose lasts	Where NICE places it
Lisdexamfetamine	Elvanse (Vyvanse in the US)	Stimulant	Children 6 and over after methylphenidate; adults whose symptoms began in childhood [3]	Still working at 13 hours in children and 14 hours in adults, in studies [3]	First choice for adults; next step for children [1]
Methylphenidate, standard	Ritalin	Stimulant	Children 6 and over, and adults [5]	Up to about 4 hours [5]	First choice for children and adults [1]
Methylphenidate, slow release	Concerta XL and other brands	Stimulant	Children 6 and over, and adults [6]	Until 12 hours, in studies in children [6]	First choice for children and adults [1]
Dexamfetamine	Generic name used	Stimulant	Ages 6 to 17 after methylphenidate; adults outside the licence [8]	Not stated	When lisdexamfetamine works but its long effect isn’t tolerated [1]
Atomoxetine	Generic name used	Non-stimulant	Children 6 and over, and adults [9]	Not stated	When first choices aren’t tolerated or haven’t worked [1]
Guanfacine	Intuniv	Non-stimulant	Ages 6 to 17 when stimulants aren’t suitable [10]	Not stated	Children only, unless a specialist ADHD service advises [1]
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)	Adderall (US only)	Stimulant (US)	Not licensed in the UK	Not stated	Not in NICE’s list [1]

A large 2018 review of 133 short-term trials compared these medicines in children, young people and adults [11]. Most of the medicines eased ADHD symptoms more than a dummy pill did [11]. Some also led more people to stop because of side effects than a dummy pill did [11]. The review looked at groups over weeks, not at one person over years. So it can’t tell you which medicine will suit you, and the authors said long-term effects still need research [11].

Which ADHD medication is right for you?

Your specialist prescriber chooses the medicine with you. NICE guidance asks prescribers to match both the medicine and its form to each person’s needs [1]. We do not recommend specific medication until after a full clinical assessment. At AuDHD Psychiatry, the prescribing team includes a consultant psychiatrist, nurse prescribers and a senior clinical pharmacist.

Switching between lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate is considered after a 6-week trial at an adequate dose [1]. Never switch or share a medicine on your own. Don’t stop it alone either, unless its leaflet says to stop at once. Stopping methylphenidate suddenly can bring on withdrawal symptoms such as low mood [2].

Talking to us may help if:

• you think you have ADHD and haven’t been assessed.
• you were diagnosed elsewhere and want to talk about medication.

It might not be right today if:

• you need urgent help now. Call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, or in Northern Ireland call Lifeline free on 0808 808 8000, any time. In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E [14].
• you want a named medicine prescribed without an assessment.

Our guides cover starting ADHD medication and switching ADHD medication, and the ADHD medication guide explains prescribing with us.

Questions people ask

What is Adderall called in the UK?

Adderall has no UK name. The closest medicines prescribed here are dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine. Dexamfetamine is the same substance as dextroamphetamine, one of the amphetamine salts in Adderall. Only a specialist prescriber can decide whether either of them suits you. Prescribers at AuDHD Psychiatry start medication only after a full assessment, and some people don’t need a stimulant at all.

Is Vyvanse available in the UK?

Not under that name. Vyvanse is the US brand of lisdexamfetamine, and the same medicine is sold in the UK as Elvanse [3][4]. You won’t see Vyvanse on a UK prescription. In the UK, a specialist starts and supervises lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse), as its product information requires [3].

Which lasts longer, Ritalin or Elvanse?

Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse) lasts longer than a standard methylphenidate (Ritalin) tablet. In studies, one morning dose was still working at 14 hours in adults [3]. A standard tablet works for up to about 4 hours [5]. Slow-release methylphenidate brands sit in between. A longer effect isn’t better in itself, because the right length depends on how long each day you need it.

What is the strongest ADHD medication?

There’s no single strongest ADHD medicine for everyone. Prescribers choose by how you respond and which side effects you get, not by strength. The right dose of any of them is found step by step, with symptoms and side effects checked at each change [1]. A higher dose isn’t the aim either: the aim is the dose that works for you, with side effects you can manage [1].

In short

Five ADHD medicines are used in the UK: methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine. Adderall isn’t one of them. The choice between them is made together with a specialist prescriber, once your needs are clear. If you haven’t been diagnosed yet, an adult ADHD assessment is the first step. AuDHD Psychiatry assesses adults living in the UK, online, and our prescribers start and manage medication where it’s right for you.

Related

• Not diagnosed yet: our private ADHD assessment for adults
• Diagnosed elsewhere: you can ask to transfer your care to us
• Questions first: book a free 15-minute call

Sources

1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), guideline NG87, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management, published 14 March 2018, last updated 13 September 2019. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
2. NHS, Methylphenidate for adults (About, How and when to take, Common questions), read 30/09/2026. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/methylphenidate-adults/
3. Elvanse 30 mg hard capsules, summary of product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium, revised 14/01/2026, read 30/09/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/14089/smpc
4. US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed, Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) label, read 30/09/2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=704e4378-ca83-445c-8b45-3cfa51c1ecad
5. Ritalin 10 mg tablets, summary of product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium, read 30/09/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15987/smpc
6. Concerta XL 36 mg prolonged-release tablets, summary of product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium, revised 06/11/2025, read 30/09/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6871/smpc
7. US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed, Adderall label, read 30/09/2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=f22635fe-821d-4cde-aa12-419f8b53db81
8. Amfexa 10 mg tablets (dexamfetamine sulfate), summary of product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium, revised 14/01/2026, read 30/09/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7403/smpc
9. Atomoxetine (Atomaid 40 mg capsules), summary of product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium, read 30/09/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/12649/smpc
10. Intuniv 2 mg prolonged-release tablets, summary of product characteristics, electronic medicines compendium, revised 05/03/2026, read 30/09/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7511/smpc
11. Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C and others, Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis, Lancet Psychiatry, September 2018, 5(9):727-738. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30097390/
12. Home Office, List of most commonly encountered drugs currently controlled under the misuse of drugs legislation, GOV.UK, updated 01/04/2025, read 30/09/2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/controlled-drugs-list–2/list-of-most-commonly-encountered-drugs-currently-controlled-under-the-misuse-of-drugs-legislation
13. Electronic medicines compendium, summaries of product characteristics for Medikinet XL, Equasym XL and Xaggitin XL (all methylphenidate), read 01/10/2026. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/313/smpc, https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3887/smpc, https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9920/smpc
14. nidirect, Mental health emergency: if you’re in crisis or despair, read 29/09/2026. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/mental-health-emergency-if-youre-crisis-or-despair

About AuDHD Psychiatry

AuDHD Psychiatry is the trading name of Adhddegree Ltd, a company registered in Scotland. The company number is SC822923. Our registered office is 3f1 Third Floor, Hill Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3JP.

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Last updated: 13 October 2026