Adderall in Germany: Import Rules, Risk and Alternatives

Adderall has no German marketing authorisation, so you cannot refill it here. You can carry a 30-day supply with the right certificate.

Quick reference

Drug class: CNS stimulant
Controlled substance: Amphetamine is a controlled narcotic in Anlage III of Germany’s Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG). Adderall holds no German marketing authorisation, so it cannot be prescribed or dispensed locally, but a personal travel supply may be carried with the correct certificate.
Prescription required: For local dispensing, yes, but Adderall cannot be dispensed in Germany at all. A German psychiatrist can prescribe licensed alternatives such as dexamfetamine (Attentin), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse), or methylphenidate.
Available locally: Adderall and Adderall XR are not sold in Germany. Sibling brands Mydayis and Adderall XR are equally unavailable. The closest licensed alternatives are Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) and Ritalin / Medikinet (methylphenidate).
Storage: Store at room temperature, 15–25°C, away from moisture and direct light.
Max supply to carry: Up to 30 days, carried with an Article 75 Schengen certificate authenticated by your Land health authority, or a multilingual prescriber certificate if entering from outside Schengen. No local refill is possible.
Key document: An Article 75 Schengen certificate (completed by your prescriber, authenticated by your Land health authority), or a multilingual prescriber certificate if you enter from outside Schengen. Keep medication in original labelled packaging.
Emergency alternative: If you run out of your home-country ADHD medication in Germany, see a German psychiatrist who can prescribe Elvanse or methylphenidate under the BtMG controlled-prescribing rules.

Where to find Adderall in Germany

Rossmann / DM / Saturn-Apotheken (all chains)
Adderall is not approved in Germany. No pharmacy chain stocks it. Ask a pharmacist about licensed alternatives such as Elvanse or Ritalin.
Unknown
DocMorris (online pharmacy)
Adderall cannot be dispensed by German online pharmacies. German-registered products containing methylphenidate or lisdexamfetamine are available with a valid German BtM prescription.
Unknown
Hospital outpatient pharmacies
University hospital pharmacies (e.g. Charité Berlin, LMU Munich) can dispense BtMG-controlled medications including Elvanse and methylphenidate to patients with a valid German narcotic prescription.
Unknown

Save this to your travel brief

Keep these pharmacy notes + your medication list in one place across every trip.

Save to my record

Adderall in Germany: what you need to know before you travel

Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) is not approved for medical use in Germany^[1], so no German pharmacy can dispense it. Amphetamine is a controlled narcotic listed in Anlage III of Germany’s Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG), the annex covering substances that are both marketable and prescribable. Adderall itself holds no German marketing authorisation, so it cannot be prescribed or dispensed here, but a traveller may carry a personal supply under the rules below. Sibling brands Adderall XR and Mydayis are equally unauthorised in Germany. For the full ADHD medication import framework, see our Germany ADHD travel guide.

This guide covers what Adderall's banned status means in practice, how German pharmacies handle ADHD medication, and the questions you need to ask your prescriber before you depart.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Documentation for travelling to Germany with Adderall

Germany permits a traveller to carry a 30-day personal supply of narcotic medication^[2]. Amphetamine sits in Anlage III of the BtMG, the annex for substances that are both marketable and prescribable. Travelling from another Schengen state, carry a certificate under Article 75 of the Schengen Implementing Convention, completed by your prescriber and authenticated by the competent supreme health authority of your Land. Entering from outside the Schengen area, carry a multilingual certificate from your prescriber stating the active ingredient, the individual and daily dose, and the duration of your journey.

Adderall at the German border

German customs officers are empowered to seize and destroy unlicensed narcotics including amphetamine. Carrying Adderall into Germany can result in confiscation, a criminal investigation, and potential prosecution under the BtMG. A prescription from your home country does not change this.

Questions to ask your prescriber before you travel

Bring these questions to your prescriber well before your departure date.

Can you write a letter confirming my ADHD diagnosis and current treatment plan, so a German psychiatrist can see my history if I need care while I am there?
Which licensed alternative available in Germany (such as Elvanse or methylphenidate) would you consider clinically appropriate for me, so I can discuss it with a German doctor if needed?
If I need to see a psychiatrist in Germany, what records or documentation should I carry to support a new local prescription?
What is the safest way to manage my treatment during a trip to Germany if I cannot bring Adderall?
How do I reach you or your practice from Germany if I need clinical guidance urgently?

How much Adderall to bring

Up to 30 days of your prescribed supply, with the certificate described above. The binding constraint is not the border but the pharmacy: Adderall has no German marketing authorisation, so you cannot refill or replace it here. Bring everything you need for the trip and speak to your prescriber before you fly about what to do if the trip runs long.

Customs and security with Adderall in Germany

German customs (Zoll) enforce the BtMG at all points of entry, including Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg airports. Amphetamine is a controlled narcotic under the BtMG^[3], so declare it and have your certificate ready. A personal supply within the 30-day allowance, carried with a valid Article 75 or multilingual certificate and in its original labelled packaging, is what officers are trained to accept. Undocumented amphetamine, or a quantity beyond the allowance, can be seized. The same rules apply if you are transiting through Germany en route elsewhere.

Transit risk

If your itinerary requires clearing German customs during a layover, Adderall in your possession at that point is subject to German law. Plan a routing that avoids German customs clearance, or leave the medication at home.

Adderall availability in Germany

Adderall vs sibling brands in Germany

Brand	Indication	Formulation	Availability in Germany
Adderall	ADHD	Mixed amphetamine salts, immediate-release tablet	Not available. No German marketing authorisation.
Adderall XR	ADHD	Mixed amphetamine salts, extended-release capsule	Not available. Equally unauthorised in Germany.
Mydayis	ADHD	Mixed amphetamine salts, extended-release capsule (triple-bead)	Not available. Not licensed in Germany.
Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine)	ADHD	Lisdexamfetamine capsule	Available by prescription. Requires BtM narcotic prescription from a German specialist.
Ritalin / Medikinet / Concerta (methylphenidate)	ADHD	Methylphenidate tablet or capsule, various release profiles	Available by prescription. Most commonly used ADHD medication class in Germany.

Adderall, Adderall XR, and Mydayis are absent from the German market because amphetamine has never received EMA or national BfArM approval^[4] as a medical product in Germany. The German drug authority (BfArM) has not granted marketing authorisation for any amphetamine-containing product. This differs from lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse), which is a prodrug metabolised to dextroamphetamine and is separately licensed.

If you need to access ADHD treatment while in Germany, a licensed psychiatrist or neurologist can prescribe Elvanse or methylphenidate under the BtMG narcotic prescribing pathway. A BtM-Rezept (narcotic prescription form) is required^[5] for both; a standard Kassenrezept is not sufficient. Private consultations typically cost €80-€200 (~$89-$222) without statutory health insurance coverage.

Pharmacy phrases for Germany

“Ich brauche ein ADHS-Medikament. Adderall ist in Deutschland nicht erhältlich. Können Sie mir helfen, einen Psychiater zu finden?”

I need ADHD medication. Adderall is not available in Germany. Can you help me find a psychiatrist?

“Haben Sie Elvanse (Lisdexamfetamin) auf Lager?”

Do you have Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) in stock?

“Ich habe ein Rezept aus meinem Heimatland. Können Sie mir sagen, welches Medikament hier in Deutschland verfügbar ist?”

I have a prescription from my home country. Can you tell me which equivalent medication is available here in Germany?

Get these phrases in 23 languages — offline

Nomedic Translate works at the pharmacy counter even without signal.

Try Nomedic Translate

Switching to a different brand or generic in Germany

Adderall cannot be substituted at a German pharmacy because it does not exist in the German market. The nearest licensed products are Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine, a controlled substance under BtMG) and methylphenidate products such as Ritalin, Medikinet, and Concerta. Elvanse and Adderall share dextroamphetamine as an active metabolite, but Elvanse is a distinct prodrug with a different pharmacokinetic profile; a switch is a clinical decision that requires a German prescriber. Methylphenidate is a different active ingredient entirely and is not a direct substitute.

Do not attempt to self-substitute. A German psychiatrist who understands your history can evaluate which licensed option is most appropriate for the duration of your stay.

What to do if you have no ADHD medication in Germany

If you arrive in Germany without ADHD medication and need treatment, contact a private psychiatry practice or a hospital outpatient psychiatry department. The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV) operates a medical on-call hotline at 116 117^[6] available around the clock, which can direct you to an out-of-hours doctor. Carry your home-country diagnosis documentation, as a German psychiatrist will need to confirm your diagnosis before issuing a BtM prescription for Elvanse or methylphenidate.

For medical emergencies, dial 112 in Germany. For non-emergency medical queries in English, the Berlin-based CITIES Intercultural Health Centre and Munich's English-speaking psychiatry practices can assist international patients.

Your medication details, ready to share

Nomedic stores your medication name, INN, dosage, and frequency in your IPS so any clinician worldwide can read it.

Go to my record

Frequently asked questions

Is Adderall legal in Germany?

Adderall holds no German marketing authorisation and cannot be prescribed or dispensed there, but that is not the same as being banned. Germany's own declaration to the INCB permits a 30 day personal supply of narcotic and psychotropic medication and lists no prohibited substances, so you may carry your own prescription if you hold a doctor's certificate endorsed by the health authority in your country of residence. You cannot replace it locally, so ask your prescriber about the alternatives licensed in Germany, dexamfetamine (Attentin) and methylphenidate.

Is Adderall available in Germany?

No. Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) holds no German marketing authorisation, so no pharmacy stocks it and no German prescriber can issue it. You may still carry your own prescribed supply into Germany for up to 30 days with the correct certificate; you simply cannot obtain more once here.

Will German customs confiscate Adderall if I declare it?

Not if your paperwork is in order. Germany permits a 30-day personal supply of narcotic medication carried with an Article 75 Schengen certificate authenticated by your Land health authority, or a multilingual prescriber certificate if you are entering from outside the Schengen area. Without that documentation, or above the 30-day allowance, the medication can be seized. You still cannot refill Adderall in Germany, because it has no German marketing authorisation.

What is the difference between Adderall and Elvanse in Germany?

Adderall contains mixed amphetamine salts and is not authorised in Germany. Elvanse contains lisdexamfetamine, a prodrug that the body converts to dextroamphetamine, and is licensed in Germany for ADHD. Elvanse requires a BtM-Rezept (narcotic prescription) from a German specialist, while Adderall cannot be prescribed at all. They are not interchangeable without a clinical assessment.

Can I switch from Adderall to Elvanse or methylphenidate in Germany if Adderall isn't available?

Potentially, but only under the supervision of a German psychiatrist. Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) and methylphenidate products such as Ritalin and Concerta are the licensed ADHD options in Germany. A German doctor must evaluate your history and issue a BtM narcotic prescription before you can access either. Do not self-substitute.

How much does a private psychiatry consultation cost in Germany for ADHD?

A private (GOÄ-billed) psychiatry consultation in Germany typically costs €80-€200 (~$89-$222) depending on the duration and the practice. International travellers without German statutory health insurance (GKV) pay out of pocket. Check whether your travel insurance covers specialist consultations before your trip.