MedlinePlus Drug Information: Dextroamphetamine

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Other drug names:	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Dextroamphetamine

(dex troe am fet' a meen)

Contents of this page:
Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose?	What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? In case of emergency/overdose What other information should I know? Brand names

IMPORTANT WARNING: Return to top

Dextroamphetamine can be habit forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor. If you take too much dextroamphetamine you may find that the medication no longer controls your symptoms, you may feel a need to take large amounts of the medication, and you may experience symptoms such as rash, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, irritability, hyperactivity, changes in your personality, and loss of contact with reality. Tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications.

Do not stop taking dextroamphetamine without talking to your doctor, especially if you have overused the medication. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually and monitor you carefully during this time. You may experience depression and extreme tiredness if you suddenly stop taking dextroamphetamine after overusing it.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Store dextroamphetamine in a safe place so that no one else can take it accidentally or on purpose. Keep track of how many tablets or capsules are left so you will know if any are missing.

Dextroamphetamine may cause sudden death or serious heart problems, especially if the medication is misused.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with dextroamphetamine and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/cder) or the manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide.

Why is this medication prescribed? Return to top

Dextroamphetamine is used as part of a treatment program for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age). Dextroamphetamine is also used to treat narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep). Dextroamphetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

How should this medicine be used? Return to top

Dextroamphetamine comes as a tablet and an extended-release (long acting) capsule to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken two to three times daily with or without food. The extended-release capsule is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take dextroamphetamine at around the same time(s) every day. If you are taking dextroamphetamine tablets, take your first dose as soon as you wake up in the morning, and space your doses by 4 to 6 hours. Do not take dextroamphetamine in the evening. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take dextroamphetamine exactly as directed.

Do not chew or crush the extended-release capsules.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of dextroamphetamine and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every week.

Your doctor may tell you to stop taking dextroamphetamine from time to time to see if the medication is still needed. Follow these directions carefully.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top

Dextroamphetamine should not be used to treat excessive tiredness that is not caused by narcolepsy.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow? Return to top

Before taking dextroamphetamine,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dextroamphetamine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in dextroamphetamine tablets or capsules. If you are taking the tablets, tell your doctor if you are allergic to tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5, a color additive) or aspirin.
tell your doctor if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks. Your doctor will probably tell you that you should not take dextroamphetamine until at least 14 days have passed since you last took an MAO inhibitor.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), and terazosin (Hytrin); antacids; antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as desipramine (Norpramin) and protriptyline (Vivactil), antihistamines; ascorbic acid (Vitamin C); beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); chlorpromazine (Thorazine); diuretics ('water pills') such as acetazolamide (Diamox); furazolidone (Furoxone); guanethidine (Ismelin); haloperidol (Haldol); lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith); medications for high blood pressure; medications for seizures such as ethosuximide (Zarontin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); meperidine (Demerol); methenamine (Hiprex, Urex); propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvon-N);reserpine (Serpalan); sodium bicarbonate (Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, Soda Mint); and sodium phosphate. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor what nutritional supplements you are taking, especially glutamic acid (L-glutamine).
tell your doctor if you have glaucoma (an eye disease), hyperthyroidism (a condition in which you have too much thyroid hormone in your body) or feelings of anxiety, tension, or agitation. Your doctor may tell you not to take dextroamphetamine.
tell your doctor if anyone in your family has or has ever had an irregular heartbeat or has died suddenly. Also tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack and if you have or have ever had a heart defect, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, heart or blood vessel disease, or other heart problems. Your doctor will probably examine you to see if your heart and blood vessels are healthy. Your doctor may tell you not to take dextroamphetamine and amphetamine if you have a heart condition or if there is a high risk that you may develop a heart condition.
tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), facial or motor tics (repeated uncontrollable movements), verbal tics (repetition of sounds or words that is hard to control) or Tourette's syndrome (a condition characterized by the need to perform repeated motions or to repeat sounds or words), or has thought about or attempted suicide. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had mental illness or seizures. If your child is taking dextroamphetamine to treat ADHD, tell your child's doctor if your child has recently experienced unusual stress.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking dextroamphetamine, call your doctor. Do not breastfeed while you are taking dextroamphetamine.
you should know that dextroamphetamine may make it difficult for you to perform activities that require alertness or physical coordination. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that dextroamphetamine should be used as part of a total treatment program for ADHD, which may include counseling and special education. Make sure to follow all of your doctor's and/or therapist's instructions.

What special dietary instructions should I follow? Return to top

Talk to your doctor about drinking fruit juice while taking this medicine.

What should I do if I forget a dose? Return to top

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose or if it is close to your bedtime, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause? Return to top

Dextroamphetamine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

restlessness
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
headache
uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body
dry mouth
unpleasant taste
diarrhea
constipation
loss of appetite
weight loss
changes in sex drive or ability

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

fast or pounding heartbeat
shortness of breath
chest pain
excessive tiredness
slow or difficult speech
dizziness or faintness
weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
seizures
mood changes
psychosis (loss of contact with reality)
hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
mania (frenzied or abnormally excited mood)
aggressive or hostile behavior
abnormal movements
verbal tics
changes in vision or blurred vision
hives

Dextroamphetamine may slow children's growth or weight gain. Your child's doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child's doctor if you have concerns about your child's growth or weight gain while he or she is taking this medication. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving dextroamphetamine to your child.

Dextroamphetamine may cause sudden death in children and teenagers with heart defects or serious heart problems. Dextroamphetamine may cause sudden death, heart attack, or stroke in adults, especially adults who have heart defects or other serious heart problems. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking dextroamphetamine.

Dextroamphetamine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? Return to top

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose Return to top

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

restlessness
uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body
dark red or cola colored urine
muscle weakness or aching
tirednessor weakness
fast breathing
fever
confusion
aggressive behavior
hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
panic
depression
irregular heartbeat
dizziness
fainting
blurred vision
upset stomach
vomiting
diarrhea
stomach cramps
seizures
coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)

What other information should I know? Return to top

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking dextroamphetamine.

This prescription is not refillable. Be sure to schedule appointments with your doctor on a regular basis so you do not run out of medication.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names Return to top

Dexedrine®

DextroStat®

Last Revised - 06/01/2007
Last Reviewed - 08/01/2007

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer