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dex-troe-am-FET-a-meen
Amphetamines have a high potential for abuse. Administration of amphetamines for prolonged periods of time may lead to drug dependence and must be avoided. Particular attention should be paid to the possibility of subjects obtaining amphetamines for non-therapeutic use or distribution to others, and the drugs should be prescribed or dispensed sparingly. Misuse of amphetamines may cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular adverse events .
Amphetamines have a high potential for abuse, and administration for prolonged periods of time may lead to drug dependence and must be avoided. Misuse of amphetamines may cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular adverse events .
Commonly used brand name(s):
In the U.S.
Available Dosage Forms:
Therapeutic Class: CNS Stimulant
Chemical Class: Amphetamine (class)
Dextroamphetamine belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (uncontrollable desire for sleep or sudden attacks of deep sleep) .
Dextroamphetamine increases attention and decreases restlessness in patients who are overactive, cannot concentrate for very long or are easily distracted, and have unstable emotions. It is also used as part of a total treatment program that also includes social, educational, and psychological treatment .
dextroamphetamine is available only with a doctor's prescription. Prescriptions cannot be refilled. A new prescription must be obtained from your doctor each time you or your child needs dextroamphetamine .
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For dextroamphetamine, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to dextroamphetamine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of dextroamphetamine in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder below 3 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established .
Dextroamphetamine sustained-release capsule is not recommended in children below 6 years of age .
No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of dextroamphetamine in geriatric patients .
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using dextroamphetamine.
Using dextroamphetamine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using dextroamphetamine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dextroamphetamine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Take dextroamphetamine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) .
If you or your child think dextroamphetamine is not working properly after you have taken it for several weeks, do not increase the dose. Instead, check with your doctor .
dextroamphetamine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions .
If you or your child use the tablet form of dextroamphetamine, and you take it two or three times a day. Take the first dose in the morning. The other doses may be taken during the day with 4 to 6 hours between doses .
It is best to take the sustained-release capsule in the morning. Taking dextroamphetamine in the afternoon or evening could make it harder for you to fall asleep .
Swallow the sustained-release capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it .
The dose of dextroamphetamine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of dextroamphetamine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
If you miss a dose of dextroamphetamine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure dextroamphetamine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .
If you or your child will be taking dextroamphetamine in large doses for a long time, do not stop taking it without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely .
Do not take dextroamphetamine within 14 days of taking an MAO inhibitor such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate®.
dextroamphetamine may cause some people to feel a false sense of well-being or to become dizzy, lightheaded, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to dextroamphetamine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.
Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you or your child to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) .
If you or your child have been using dextroamphetamine for a long time and you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor. Some signs that you may be dependent on dextroamphetamine are:
dextroamphetamine may cause slow growth in children. If your child is using dextroamphetamine, the doctor will need to keep track of your child's height and weight to make sure that your child is growing properly .
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements .
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
RareGet emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdoseSome side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not knownOther side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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