Dextroamphetamine

U.S. Brand Names

Dexedrine®; DextroStat®

Canadian Brand Names

Dexedrine®

Pharmacologic Category

Stimulant

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

This medicine may be habit-forming; avoid long-term use. Tell healthcare provider if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. May cause serious heart-related side effects. Tell healthcare provider if you have any heart disease.

Please read the medication guide given to you.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to dextroamphetamine or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you have any of the following conditions: Both attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Tourette's syndrome or tics, drug abuse, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, nervous state, overactive thyroid disease, or structure abnormalities of the heart.

• If you are taking a weight loss medicine.

• If you have taken isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine in the last 14 days. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (eg, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine) must be stopped 14 days before this medicine is started. Taking the two together could cause dangerously high blood pressure.

• If you are breast-feeding.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat abnormal behavioral syndrome in children with minimal brain dysfunction.

• This medicine is used to treat attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.

• This medicine is used to treat depression.

• This medicine is used to treat narcolepsy.

• This medicine is used to treat obesity.

How does it work?

• Dextroamphetamine stimulates the brain in adults to increase alertness.

• It has a stabilizing effect in children with attention deficit disorder.

• It acts in the brain to decrease appetite.

How is it best taken?

• Take this medicine early in the day to avoid sleep problems.

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

• Long-acting products: Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

• If you are taking this medicine for weight loss, take 30-60 minutes before meals.

• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you are allergic to tartrazine, talk with healthcare provider. Some products contain tartrazine.

• This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.

• If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.

• You may have certain heart tests before starting this medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).

• Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake. Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, and fast heartbeat.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.

• Fast heartbeat.

• Nervous and excitable.

• Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Not hungry.

• Inability to sleep.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Check blood pressure and heart rate regularly if you have heart disease.

• If a child is using this medicine, monitor growth carefully.

• If you are diabetic, you will need to monitor blood sugars closely.

• Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Severe behavioral problems.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Very nervous and excitable.

• Severe headache.

• Sudden change in vision.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from light.

• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 11:53:40.0

Modified: 2008-05-28 15:16:23.0

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