IMPORTANT WARNING
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, and unusual changes in your personality or behavior. Overusing dextroamphetamine may also cause serious heart problems or sudden death.
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Why is this medication prescribed?
Dextroamphetamine is used as part of a treatment program to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age) in adults and children. 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?
Dextroamphetamine comes as a liquid, tablet and an extended-release (long-acting) capsule to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken 2 to 3 times daily with or without food. The extended-release capsule is usually taken once a day with or without food. The liquid is usually taken once or twice daily 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 because it may cause difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. 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
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?
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.
tell your doctor if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), 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: acetazolamide (Diamox); alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), and terazosin (Hytrin); antacids and other medications for heartburn or ulcers; antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as desipramine (Norpramin) and protriptyline (Vivactil), antihistamines (medications for colds and allergies); 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'); 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 (increased pressure in the eye that may cause vision loss), hyperthyroidism (a condition in which you have too much thyroid hormone in your body) or feelings of anxiety, tension, or agitation. Your doctor will probably 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, hardening of the arteries, or other heart problems. Your doctor will examine you to see if your heart and blood vessels are healthy. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take dextroamphetamine 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, seizures, or an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG; test that measures electrical activity in the brain). 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, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dextroamphetamine, call your doctor.
talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking dextroamphetamine if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take dextroamphetamine because it is not as safe as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
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?
Talk to your doctor about drinking fruit juice while taking this medicine.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, 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?
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
believing things that are not true
feeling unusually suspicious of others
hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
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, especially 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/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
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
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 the following:
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?
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
Dexampex®¶
Dexedrine®
DextroStat®¶
Ferndex®¶
LiquADD®¶
ProCentra®
¶ This branded product is no longer on the market. Generic alternatives may be available.
