difference between A.d.d. meds and Methamphetimine or Phentermine?

[Talanga]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could explain the difference between a.d.d. medications and methampehetimine or the diet pill phentermine.
Are these all the same thing?
If you cant explain it I would appreciate links that might answer. Thanks in advance!

[tinmuning]

There are different medications for ADD, most common are the "stimulant" medications such as Ritalin, Adderall & Dexedrine.

Ritalin is a brand name of the drug "methyphenidate" which treats daytime drowsiness symptoms of narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome. Adderall is also a stimulant like Ritalin but uses mixed amphetamine salts. Similar to this would be the brand Dexedrine (generic drug: dextroamphetamine sulfate).

I don't know if you just confused yourself with Metamphetamine with the generic drug of Ritalin which is methyphenidate. Metamphetamine is also a stimulant and it is related to an ADHD & anti-obesity medication dextromethamphetamine (brand name Desoxyn). Desoxyn is used to treat ADD only if methylphenidate caused too much side effects.

Phentermine, on the other hand, is an appetite suppressant of the amphetamine and phenethylamine class.

[peter_bragansa]

some years ago, Ephedra was banned. this drug is actually half phentermine, which is legal and the other half, well, it was banned. Phentermine is like the friendly half of amphentamine.

Peter Bragansa

[Talanga]

Thank you both for your informative replies.

[SummerIdyll33]

Would it be okay to take phentermine long term? I took phentermine for a year, stopped, and now take ritalin. I was only planning on taking phentermine for a couple months to loose weight, but that drug did WONDERS to help me with studying! After the year, I was prescribed with Adderall and that didn't work for me, then I tried Ritalin and that works pretty well, but not as great as phentermine did.

I want to know is it ok to take phentermine for long periods of time, such as 4 years, to finish pharmacy school?

Also, if Phentermine is an amphetamine, then how come this drug is only Controlled and not a Narcotic like the ADD medications?

I don't want to really severely hurt my health, but phentermine worked excellent for me and my doctor said it was "ok as long as I kept up with my straight A's and helped with school". BUT I do know that I cannot trust everyone's opinion.

AND if I take Ritalin for 5 or so years, will it have the same, less, or worse effect on my body as phentermine would ?

Any answers or opinions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!