Bioequivalence and Bioavailability Forum

Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? [Off Topic]

posted by Helmut  – Vienna, Austria, 2012-05-31 03:38 (5138 d 16:55 ago) – Posting: # 8639
Views: 17,499

Dear John!

❝ Why are there 2 different salts of D and L amphetamine in Adderall?

Neither 2 nor 4 but 3 (sulfate, saccharate, aspartate):

• ¼ d-amphetamine saccharate
  
• ¼ d-amphetamine sulfate
  
• ¼ d/l-amphetamine sulfate (=racemate)
  
• ¼ d/l-amphetamine aspartate monohydrate (=racemate)

The isomeric ratio d/l is ≈3:1 (different molecular masses of the salts). BTW, I never could reproduce the ‘total amphetamine base equivalence’ given in Adderall XR’s label…

❝ D is more potent than L …

In most patients. Some showed better response to this weird mixture.*

❝ … but what is the rationale for the two different salts?

Good question.

❝ The only thing I can think of is to play around with solubility and the absorption rates.

Hhm. Amphetamine is highly soluble (BCS III, cLogP 1.285, logP 1.680) and almost completely absorbed. The anions are irrelevant. At least the price of d-amphetamine sulfate is astronomical. Maybe other salts are cheaper?

---

• LE Arnold
  Methylphenidate vs. amphetamine: Comparative review
  Journal of Attention Disorders 3, 200–11 (2000)

—
Dif-tor heh smusma 🖖🏼 Довге життя Україна! 
Helmut Schütz


The quality of responses received is directly proportional to the quality of the question asked. 🚮
Science Quotes

Complete thread:

• Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? jag009 2012-05-30 23:35 
  • Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine?Helmut 2012-05-31 01:38
    • Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? jag009 2012-05-31 18:02
      • Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? Helmut 2012-05-31 18:11
    • Amphetamine BCS? jag009 2014-02-28 17:00
      • Amphetamine BCS? Helmut 2014-02-28 17:12
      • Amphetamine BCS? AngusMcLean 2014-02-28 18:29
  • Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? Dr_Dan 2012-05-31 10:12
  • Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? AngusMcLean 2014-02-28 18:18
  • Adderall: why 4 salts of Amphetamine? AngusMcLean 2014-02-28 18:24