How to explain the two major stimulant classes to patients—and what therapists should know When a patient begins ADHD medication, one of the first things they may ask is: What's the difference between Adderall and Ritalin? Or, after an unsuccessful medication trial: Does this mean stimulants don't work for me? Usually, the answer is more nuanced. Both amphetamines and methylphenidates are effective ADHD treatments, but they work somewhat differently, and an individual p
