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Amphetamine (Adderall) / Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)

Evidence: ★★★★★ · Status: Controlled

💡 Did you know? Amphetamine was sold over the counter in the 1930s as a nasal decongestant — before anyone realised it was a powerful stimulant.

In plain English

Floods the brain's focus/motivation chemicals — extremely effective for ADHD, extremely habit-forming and hard on the heart if misused. Schedule II.

How it works

Release dopamine/norepinephrine and block their reuptake via DAT (SLC6A3) and NET (SLC6A2), and reverse-transport through VMAT2 — potent focus/wakefulness, high addiction/cardiac risk. Vyvanse is a prodrug (abuse-resistant).

Molecular target & official sources

SLC6A3 dopamine transporter (NCBI Gene) · Amphetamine (PubChem CID 3007)

Watch out

Dependence, cardiovascular strain, tolerance. **Bottom line:** Powerful, legitimate for ADHD, high misuse liability.

Helps with: Focus & Cognition · Cardiovascular

Stacks with

Shares a pathway — often paired with: Caffeine, Modafinil / Armodafinil, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), SSRIs (Sertraline, Escitalopram).

Availability & where to buy

Controlled substance. A controlled substance in most countries — illegal to buy, sell or possess without authorisation (in Singapore: HSA / CNB). Education only.

How it works: the Monoamines pathway →

Compare Amphetamine (Adderall) / Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)

Common questions

Does Amphetamine (Adderall) / Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) actually work?

Human-evidence rating: 5 of 5. Floods the brain's focus/motivation chemicals — extremely effective for ADHD, extremely habit-forming and hard on the heart if misused. Schedule II.

What are the risks or side effects of Amphetamine (Adderall) / Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)?

Dependence, cardiovascular strain, tolerance. Bottom line: Powerful, legitimate for ADHD, high misuse liability.

Is Amphetamine (Adderall) / Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) legal or approved?

Regulatory status: Controlled.