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What should I avoid while taking amphetamine?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Amphetamine may cause dizziness, blurred vision, or restlessness, and it may hide the symptoms of extreme tiredness. If you experience these effects, avoid hazardous activities.

Do not take amphetamine late in the day. A dose taken too late in the day can cause insomnia.

What are the possible side effects of amphetamine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking amphetamine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• an irregular heartbeat or very high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or

• hallucinations, abnormal behavior, or confusion.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take amphetamine and talk to your doctor if you experience

• restlessness or tremor;

• anxiety or nervousness;

• headache or dizziness;

• insomnia;

• dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in the mouth;

• diarrhea or constipation; or

• impotence or changes in sex drive.

Amphetamine is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on this medication, and withdrawal effects may occur if you stop taking it suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Talk to your doctor about stopping this medication gradually.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect amphetamine?

Do not take amphetamine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days.

Before taking amphetamine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• insulin or another medicine to treat diabetes;

• guanethidine (Ismelin) or reserpine (Diutensin-R);

• doxazosin (Cardura), terazosin (Hytrin), prazosin (Minipress), or guanadrel(Hylorel);

• a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), clomipramine (Anafranil), protriptyline (Vivactil), or desipramine (Norpramin)

• a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine);

• lithium (Lithobid, Lithonate, Eskalith, others); or

• haloperidol (Haldol).

You may not be able to take amphetamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with amphetamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has more information about amphetamine written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

An amphetamine salt, amphetamine sulfate, is available generically with a prescription in 5 mg and 10 mg tablets. Other formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.