What do blue Adderall pills look like? A guide to identification and safety

October 8, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 75% of children with ADHD see improved symptoms with stimulant medications like Adderall, which often comes in blue pill forms for specific dosages. This guide explains what do blue Adderall pills look like, detailing their specific shapes, markings, and formulations to ensure safe and correct medication use.

Quick Summary

Blue Adderall pills typically come in 7.5mg and 10mg immediate-release tablet forms or certain extended-release capsules. Visual identifiers include specific shapes and imprints, which vary between brand-name and generic versions. Identifying these features is critical for ensuring medication safety and avoiding dangerous counterfeit products, especially those containing illicit substances like fentanyl.

Key Points

Immediate-Release (IR) Identification: Blue Adderall IR tablets come in 7.5mg (oval, 'AD 7.5' imprint) and 10mg (round, 'AD 10' imprint) dosages for the brand name.
Generic Variations: Generic blue tablets for the same dosages may have different manufacturer imprints, such as 'E 341' or 'dp 10'.
Extended-Release (XR) Capsules: Blue also appears in Adderall XR capsules, which are two-toned (e.g., blue and clear) and imprinted with "Adderall XR" and the dosage.
Counterfeit Risk: Numerous counterfeit blue pills are in circulation, and many contain dangerous substances like fentanyl.
Spotting Fakes: Signs of counterfeit medication include incorrect or smudged imprints, unusual colors or shapes, and improper packaging.
Prescription Source: Always obtain Adderall from a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription to ensure its authenticity.
Use as Prescribed: As a Schedule II controlled substance, Adderall must be used exactly as prescribed to avoid potential abuse and serious health risks.

Visual Identification: Immediate-Release (IR) Blue Adderall

Immediate-release (IR) blue Adderall tablets are most commonly associated with the 7.5mg and 10mg dosages. The appearance can differ slightly depending on whether the medication is the brand-name version or a generic formulation produced by another manufacturer. These distinct characteristics are printed directly on the pill to help patients and healthcare providers correctly identify the medication and dosage.

Brand-Name Adderall IR Tablets

7.5mg Tablet: This pill is blue and oval-shaped. On one side, it is imprinted with "AD" and on the other side, the dosage is marked with "7.5".
10mg Tablet: This pill is blue and round. It is imprinted with "AD" on one side and "10" on the other.

Generic Blue Adderall IR Tablets

Multiple manufacturers produce generic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, the active ingredients in Adderall. While they use a similar color scheme, their imprints are different. For example, some generic 10mg versions are round and blue but feature the imprint "dp 10" instead of "AD 10". Another common generic blue pill is round and imprinted with "E 341". Generic 7.5mg tablets are also typically blue and oval-shaped, though with different manufacturer markings.

Extended-Release (XR) Blue Adderall Capsules

The blue color also appears in extended-release (XR) formulations, but in capsule form rather than tablets. The XR capsules are designed to release medication slowly throughout the day.

5mg Adderall XR: This is a capsule with one opaque blue half and one transparent, clear half. It is imprinted with "Adderall XR 5 mg".
10mg Adderall XR: This capsule is entirely blue, with one transparent half and one opaque half. It is imprinted with "Adderall XR 10 mg".
15mg Adderall XR: This capsule has one opaque white half and one transparent blue half. It is imprinted with "Adderall XR 15 mg".

The Critical Danger of Counterfeit Blue Pills

With ongoing medication shortages and high demand, particularly on the illicit market, counterfeit pills are a significant and growing danger. Many counterfeit blue pills are designed to look like legitimate prescription medications but contain deadly substances like fentanyl. These fakes can be almost identical to real prescription drugs, making it difficult to spot the difference without close inspection.

How to Spot a Fake Blue Pill

Incorrect or Missing Imprints: Authentic Adderall has specific, clear imprints like "AD," "XR," or a manufacturer's code for generics. A pill with a missing, smudged, or incorrect imprint is a major red flag.
Unusual Color or Shape: If the pill's shade of blue or its shape seems off, it could be a fake.
Suspicious Packaging: Genuine Adderall is dispensed by a pharmacy in a bottle, not a blister pack. Misspellings on labels or unusual fonts are also warning signs.
Texture: Some fentanyl-laced pills have a grainier texture and may leave a powdery residue.
Source: The only guaranteed way to receive legitimate medication is from a licensed pharmacy based on a valid prescription. Never purchase pills from unverified online sources or off the street.

Understanding Authorized Use and Associated Risks

Adderall is a powerful central nervous system stimulant prescribed primarily for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It works by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain to help improve focus, reduce hyperactivity, and manage symptoms. However, as a Schedule II controlled substance, it carries a high potential for misuse, abuse, and dependence. Misusing Adderall, especially by taking larger or more frequent doses than prescribed, can lead to serious health complications, including cardiovascular issues and addiction.


Feature	Brand-Name Adderall 7.5mg IR	Brand-Name Adderall 10mg IR	Generic 10mg IR (e.g., Epic Pharma)	Generic 10mg IR (e.g., Teva)
Shape	Oval	Round	Round	Round
Color	Blue	Blue	Blue	Blue
Imprint	AD 7.5	AD 10	E 341	dp 10

Conclusion: Prioritizing Safety and Correct Identification

Properly identifying blue Adderall pills is an essential aspect of medication safety, especially given the risks associated with counterfeit drugs. By recognizing the specific shapes, colors, and imprints of authentic brand-name and generic pills, individuals can reduce their risk of mistakenly consuming a dangerous product. Patients should always obtain their prescription from a licensed pharmacy and consult a healthcare provider with any questions about their medication. If a pill's appearance is inconsistent with what is expected, it should not be ingested. The potential for abuse and the severe risks of counterfeit substances necessitate extreme caution and vigilance in the identification of all prescription medications.

For more authoritative information on this medication, please refer to the FDA-approved patient information sheet for Adderall.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common blue Adderall doses are the 7.5mg and 10mg immediate-release (IR) tablets. Blue is also used for some strengths of the extended-release (XR) capsules.

While chemically identical, brand-name blue Adderall IR tablets are imprinted with 'AD' and the dosage, whereas generic versions may have different manufacturer codes, such as 'E 341' or 'dp'.

Counterfeit pills may have incorrect, poorly pressed, or missing imprints. They might also have unusual colors, inconsistent shapes, or come in improper packaging like blister packs instead of a pharmacy bottle.

A brand-name 10mg Adderall IR pill is round and blue with the imprint 'AD 10'. Generic versions, such as one by Epic Pharma, are also round and blue but may be imprinted with 'E 341'.

Yes, some extended-release (XR) capsules of Adderall are blue. For example, the 10mg Adderall XR is an all-blue capsule with one opaque half and one transparent half, marked with 'Adderall XR 10 mg'.

Counterfeit blue pills often contain highly dangerous and potentially lethal substances like fentanyl. Taking them without a prescription puts you at a significant risk of overdose, even in small amounts.

If you find a suspicious blue pill, do not take it. Safely dispose of it at a drug take-back program, often available at police stations or pharmacies.