Anyone with a medical knowledge of biochemistry?

Question

was told by my doctor if i drank Orange Juice with Adderall XR i can tamp down any negative side effects i may be experiencing due to the absorbic acid's reaction to the chemical in adderall xr. what i am asking is, Is there any other things i might have at home besides orange juice that could help me to tamp down the negative side effects??

Answer 1

Disclaimer: I am neither a medical doctor nor a pharmacist, so take this with a grain of salt (pun intended).

I believe you may have misunderstood your doctor's instructions... that, or your doctor may not understand the issues with Addarall and acids.

Organic acids like ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and citric acid (found in orange juice, along with ascorbic) may slow the uptake of Adderall and speeds its excretion. From the maunufacturer (apparently, see reference below):

"Urinary and stomach pH levels can have the strongest effect on DL-amphetamine excretion and absorption. Co-administration of acidic substances (e.g. citric acid) causes an accelerated excretion of DL-amphetamine while co-administration of alkaline agents (e.g. antacids) causes a marked increase in both retention and absorption of amphetamines potentially resulting in dangerously high serum amphetamine levels."

Needless to add, Adderall is an amphetamine. Thus any mitigation of side-effects you may experience by drinking orange juice are likely due to under-dosing caused by the OJ. Consider having your doctor adjust your dose rather than continue with OJ therapy.