| Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Concerta vs Qelbree
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Deep comparison between: Concerta vs Qelbree with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsQelbree has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Concerta based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Qelbree but not Concerta, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Concerta
Qelbree
At A Glance
Oral
Once daily
CNS stimulant
Oral
Once daily
Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Indications
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Dosing
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 18 mg once daily in the morning (adults may start at 18 or 36 mg); swallow whole; titrate by 18 mg weekly; max 54 mg/day (ages 6-12), 72 mg/day (ages 13-65).
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ages 6-11) 100 mg orally once daily; may titrate in increments of 100 mg weekly to a maximum of 400 mg once daily.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ages 12-17) 200 mg orally once daily; may titrate after 1 week by 200 mg to a maximum of 400 mg once daily.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adults) 200 mg orally once daily; may titrate in increments of 200 mg weekly to a maximum of 600 mg once daily.
Severe renal impairment 100 mg once daily; titrate in weekly increments of 50-100 mg to a maximum of 200 mg once daily.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or other components of CONCERTA
- Concomitant use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or within 14 days following MAOI discontinuation
- Concomitant treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), or within 14 days following discontinuing an MAOI, due to increased risk of hypertensive crisis
- Concomitant administration of sensitive CYP1A2 substrates or CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic range
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Adults: decreased appetite, headache, dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, weight decreased, irritability, tachycardia, hyperhidrosis; pediatric patients 6 years and older: upper abdominal pain
Serious Hypersensitivity reactions (angioedema, anaphylaxis), hypertensive crisis with MAOIs, increased blood pressure and heart rate, psychiatric adverse reactions, priapism, peripheral vasculopathy including Raynaud's phenomenon, long-term growth suppression in pediatric patients
Postmarketing Pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, angina pectoris, bradycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, hepatocellular injury, acute hepatic failure, convulsion, stroke, serotonin syndrome, hallucination, mania, priapism, alopecia, Raynaud's phenomenon, rhabdomyolysis
Most common (>=5%) - Pediatric (ages 6-17) Somnolence, decreased appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, irritability
Most common (>=5%) - Adults Insomnia, headache, somnolence, fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, dry mouth, constipation
Serious Suicidal thoughts and behaviors, blood pressure and heart rate increases, activation of mania or hypomania, somnolence and fatigue
Pharmacology
Methylphenidate is a CNS stimulant that blocks reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine into the presynaptic neuron and increases release of these monoamines into the extraneuronal space; its therapeutic mechanism in ADHD is not fully known.
Viloxazine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that inhibits the norepinephrine transporter and exhibits partial agonist activity at the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor; its mechanism of action in ADHD is thought to be through inhibiting norepinephrine reuptake.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Concerta
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (9/12) · Qty limit (10/12)
Qelbree
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Concerta
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (1/8)
Qelbree
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Concerta
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Qelbree
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Concerta.
No savings programs available for Qelbree.
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ConcertaView full Concerta profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.