What does Adderall look like? A guide to visual identification

October 8, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the FDA, real Adderall contains a combination of four amphetamine salts, but its visual appearance varies significantly depending on its form and dosage. Learning to recognize the legitimate medication and spot counterfeit versions is critical for patient safety, as fake pills may contain unknown and potentially dangerous substances.

Quick Summary

The appearance of Adderall varies by formulation (IR tablets vs. XR capsules), brand vs. generic, and dosage strength. Tablets are round or oval with specific colors and imprints, while capsules are often two-toned with visible beads. Genuine pills have unique identifiers to help distinguish them from potentially harmful counterfeits.

Key Points

IR vs. XR: Immediate-release (IR) Adderall comes as a solid tablet, while extended-release (XR) is a capsule, sometimes with visible beads.
Dosage-Based Colors: The color of both IR tablets and XR capsules changes based on the dosage, with low doses often being white or blue and higher doses being orange.
Recognize Imprints: Brand-name IR tablets have an "AD" imprint, while brand-name XR capsules are marked "ADDERALL XR". Generic versions use different manufacturer codes, like "dp".
Spot Counterfeits: Fake Adderall may have missing or incorrect imprints, unusual colors or shapes, and suspicious packaging like blister packs, and could contain dangerous substances.
Know Your Medication: Always check the appearance of your medication against a trusted pill identifier to ensure you have the correct dosage and formulation.
Source Legitimately: The most reliable way to avoid fake medication is to obtain your prescription from a licensed pharmacy and not from illicit sources.

Understanding Adderall's Appearance by Formulation

Adderall is prescribed in two main formulations: immediate-release (IR) tablets and extended-release (XR) capsules. The visual differences between these two types are significant and important for identification. The specific color, shape, and imprint are tied to the dosage strength to help prevent medication errors.

Instant-Release (IR) Adderall Tablets

IR Adderall tablets are typically round or oval and feature an imprint with the letters "AD" for the brand name, followed by the dosage in milligrams. The color and shape are consistent for each dose:

5 mg: A small, round, white tablet with "AD" on one side and "5" on the other.
7.5 mg: An oval, blue tablet with "AD" and "7.5" imprints.
10 mg: A round, blue tablet with "AD" and "10" imprints.
12.5 mg: A round, peach-colored tablet with "AD" and "12.5" imprints.
15 mg: An oval, orange tablet with "AD" and "15" imprints.
20 mg: A round, orange tablet with "AD" and "20" imprints.
30 mg: An oval, light orange tablet with "AD" and "30" imprints.

Extended-Release (XR) Adderall Capsules

Adderall XR is dispensed in capsules that are designed to release the medication slowly over time. The appearance is characterized by a two-tone shell, and sometimes the medication beads inside are visible. Brand-name capsules have "Adderall XR" and the dosage printed on them.

5 mg: Blue and clear capsule.
10 mg: Opaque and transparent halves, both blue.
15 mg: Opaque white and transparent blue halves.
20 mg: Entirely opaque orange capsule.
25 mg: Opaque white and orange halves.
30 mg: Opaque orange and transparent halves.

The Appearance of Generic Adderall

Generic versions of Adderall, produced by various manufacturers, are chemically identical to the brand name but can differ visually. The most common difference is the imprint. For example, Teva Pharmaceuticals, a major generic manufacturer, uses the letters "dp" instead of "AD" on its instant-release tablets. The color scheme generally remains consistent with the equivalent brand-name dosage. Generic XR capsules also often have different two-tone color patterns or manufacturer's name imprints.

Comparison: IR Tablets vs. XR Capsules

It is crucial to understand the distinct differences between the two formulations, which are detailed in the table below:


Feature	Instant-Release (IR) Adderall	Extended-Release (XR) Adderall
Form	Solid tablet	Capsule
Appearance	Round or oval, opaque, solid color	Two-toned or solid color, contains beads inside
Release Mechanism	Immediate, providing a rapid effect	Extended over several hours, for all-day coverage
Common Imprints	Brand: AD + dosage Generic: e.g., dp + dosage	Brand: ADDERALL XR + dosage Generic: Manufacturer's name + dosage

How to Spot Counterfeit Adderall

Counterfeit Adderall is a serious safety concern, especially given recent demand and shortages. Illicit manufacturers may press pills containing harmful substances like fentanyl, making visual identification critical.

Warning signs of fake Adderall include:

Unusual Color or Shape: Any deviation from the standard colors and shapes associated with authentic doses is a red flag.
Incorrect or Missing Imprints: Genuine brand-name Adderall has clear "AD" or "ADDERALL XR" imprints. Counterfeits may have no imprint or an incorrect one.
Inconsistent Appearance: Be wary of inconsistencies in color, size, or font of the imprint. Real pharmaceuticals are manufactured to strict quality control standards.
Packaging Anomalies: Legitimate Adderall is dispensed by pharmacies in bottles. Counterfeits may arrive in blister packs or suspicious containers. Misspellings on packaging are also a sign of fake products.

If you receive medication that appears suspicious, do not take it. Contact the dispensing pharmacy or the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations immediately.

Conclusion

Identifying the correct Adderall medication, whether IR tablets or XR capsules, is essential for patient safety. The medication's distinctive shapes, colors, and imprints are directly linked to its dosage and release mechanism. While generic versions may have different imprints, they follow a similar color-coding system. However, the rise of counterfeit pills highlights the importance of checking for consistency in appearance and ensuring the medication comes from a legitimate source. Being able to recognize these visual cues can help prevent potentially life-threatening mistakes.

For additional verification, resources like the FDA's approved drug labels or reliable online pill identifiers can be helpful. FDA Accessdata: ADDERALL (CII)

Frequently Asked Questions

The main visual difference is their form: IR Adderall is a solid tablet, while XR Adderall is a capsule, which is often two-toned and may contain visible beads.

Check the imprint. Brand-name orange Adderall tablets will have an "AD" imprint along with the dosage (e.g., AD 20), whereas a common generic version from Teva will have a "dp" imprint (e.g., dp 20).

No, generic Adderall is made by various manufacturers, and while it must contain the same active ingredients, the visual appearance (imprints, shades of color) can differ slightly from one generic version to another.

If you receive a pill that looks different, contact your pharmacist immediately. It may be a different generic manufacturer, but it is important to confirm to avoid medication errors.

A brand-name 10mg IR Adderall tablet is round and blue with an "AD 10" imprint. A 10mg XR capsule is all-blue with one opaque half and one clear half, and is imprinted with "ADDERALL XR" and "10mg".

Look for inconsistencies such as missing or incorrect imprints, unusual colors, off-shapes, or typos on the packaging. Any pill from an unregulated source should be considered fake and is potentially very dangerous.

No. A brand-name 30mg IR tablet is a light orange oval, while a brand-name 30mg XR capsule is orange and clear. Generic versions may also have slight variations in the orange shade.