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What is dextroamphetamine?
Dextroamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Dextroamphetamine is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dextroamphetamine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of dextroamphetamine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using dextroamphetamine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;

• feeling light-headed, fainting;

• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or

• tremor, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or motor tics (muscle twitches).

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache or dizziness;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in your mouth;

• diarrhea, constipation;

• loss of appetite, weight loss; or

• loss of interest in sex, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take dextroamphetamine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Take this medication with a full glass of water. Do not take dextroamphetamine in the evening because it may cause sleep problems (insomnia). Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

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What is the most important information I should know about dextroamphetamine?
Do not use dextroamphetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take dextroamphetamine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to dextroamphetamine, or if you have hardened arteries (arteriosclerosis), heart disease, moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension), overactive thyroid, glaucoma, severe anxiety or agitation, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, or if it is already evening, skip the missed dose and take the medicine the next morning. Taking this medicine late in the day can cause sleep problems. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect dextroamphetamine?
Before taking dextroamphetamine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: blood pressure medications; a diuretic (water pill); cold or allergy medicines (antihistamines); acetazolamide (Diamox); chlorpromazine (Thorazine); ethosuximide (Zarontin); guanethidine (Ismelin); haloperidol (Haldol); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); methenamine (Hiprex, Mandelamine, Urex); phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet); reserpine;

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Dextroamphetamine has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of embryotoxicity and teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. There has been one report of a case of severe congenital bony deformity, tracheoesophageal fistula, and anal atresia (vater association) in a baby born to a woman using dextroamphetamine during the first trimester of pregnancy. Dextroamphetamine should only be given during pregnancy when benefits outweigh risks.

Infants born to mothers dependent on amphetamines have an increased risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. These infants may experience symptoms of withdrawal including dysphoria, agitation, weakness, and exhaustion. One study on the affects of methamphetamine abuse on pregnancy outcome reported that body weight, length, and head circumference were significantly decreased in neonates born to mothers who abused methamphetamines during pregnancy. The study also noted that the frequency of congenital anomalies was not significantly increased.

Dextroamphetamine is excreted into human milk. Dextroamphetamine is considered contraindicated during breast-feeding by the manufacturer.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity or idiosyncrasy to the sympathomimetic amines, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, moderate to severe hypertension, glaucoma, or advanced arteriosclerosis; within 14 days of MAO inhibitor therapy; and in agitated patients.
• Although amphetamines generally should not be used in patients with a history of drug abuse, some experts state that this is not an absolute contraindication, provided the patient can be monitored more carefully than would otherwise be indicated.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of dextroamphetamine can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, tremor, muscle twitches, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, panic, aggressiveness, muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine. These symptoms may be followed by depression and tiredness. Other overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, uneven heartbeats, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

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What should I discuss with my doctor before taking dextroamphetamine?
Do not use dextroamphetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take dextroamphetamine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to dextroamphetamine or if you have: heart disease or moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension);

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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