Stimulants: Understanding the Uses and Risks
Stimulant drugs are substances that speed up the body’s systems. Learn about the different types of stimulants, their uses, side effects, and potential for addiction.
dextroamphetamine
Used for ADHD, Narcolepsy
Used for ADHD, Narcolepsy
Dextroamphetamine is used for the treatment of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can also be used to treat uncontrollable daytime sleepiness (narcolepsy). Some side effects of the medication include difficulty sleeping, restlessness, and loss of appetite (that might lead to possible weight loss).
What is Dextroamphetamine?
What is Dextroamphetamine used for?
- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Narcolepsy (extreme daytime sleepiness)
How Dextroamphetamine works
Dextroamphetamine is a stimulant medication. It's not exactly known how dextroamphetamine helps to improve attention and focus. But it's thought to work by raising the levels of chemicals in your brain called norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
When does Dextroamphetamine start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Dexedrine Spansule, ProCentra, Zenzedi |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Stimulant |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Schedule II |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Risks and warnings for Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Misuse and dependence
- Risk factors: History of substance or alcohol use disorder | Taking more dextroamphetamine than prescribed | Long-term use | Suddenly stopping dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine has a risk of misuse and dependence. Misuse is when a medication is used differently than how it's prescribed. Misusing dextroamphetamine raises your risk for serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects, such as high heart rate, high blood pressure, other heart problems, and changes in behavior. In addition, over time, you can become physically dependent on dextroamphetamine to function normally. And if you develop dependence, you might have bothersome withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication suddenly after you've taken it for a long time. These symptoms include irritability, nightmares, and sleep problems. Because of these risks, it's important to take dextroamphetamine exactly as prescribed to you. Don't change the dose or how often you take it without talking to your provider first.
Serious heart-related problems
- Risk factors: History of heart problems
There have been reports of sudden death, stroke, and heart attack in people with heart problems who took dextroamphetamine at usual doses. Dextroamphetamine can also raise your blood pressure and heart rate. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of heart problems before starting dextroamphetamine to make sure it's safe for you to take. Your provider will check for heart problems before starting treatment. Let your provider know if you experience unexplained fainting, chest pain with physical activity, or irregular heartbeat while you're taking dextroamphetamine.
Aggressive behavior and psychosis
- Risk factors: History of psychotic episodes, bipolar disorder, or other mental health or mood-related conditions
Some people who've taken a stimulant like dextroamphetamine can have mental health problems, such as hallucinations (seeing things that aren't really there), aggressive behavior, unclear thinking, and mania. This medication can worsen mood-related problems that you already have, but these changes in behavior can also happen even if you haven't had these problems before. If you develop these mood-related symptoms while taking dextroamphetamine, talk to your healthcare provider right away because you might have to stop taking it.
Slowed growth in children
In studies, children taking a similar stimulant medication for ADHD had a slowed growth rate (both in height and weight). It's not clear if dextroamphetamine can cause something similar to happen to your child. To be safe, your child's healthcare provider will check your child's growth progress closely. If they suspect slowed growth, they might pause or stop your child's dextroamphetamine treatment. Talk to your child's provider if you have any concerns.
Seizures
- Risk factors: History of seizures | High risk of seizures
Although rare, dextroamphetamine might make it easier for you to have seizures, especially if you've had seizures before. If a seizure happens while you're taking this medication, get medical help right away. You'll likely have to stop taking dextroamphetamine.
Blood circulation problems (such as Raynaud's phenomenon)
Dextroamphetamine might be linked to poor blood circulation problems, such as Raynaud's phenomenon. People with Raynaud's phenomenon can experience episodes of poor blood flow to the fingers and toes, which can cause the skin to turn pale and to feel cold, numb, or painful. If this happens, symptoms are typically mild. But rarely, it can cause sores or ulcers in more serious cases. Let your healthcare provider know if you notice symptoms of circulation problems, such as bouts of numbness or pain in your fingers or toes. Your provider might need to lower your dose of dextroamphetamine or ask you to consider a different medication.
Serotonin syndrome
- Risk factors: Taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) 14 days before starting dextroamphetamine | Taking other medications that raise serotonin levels in your brain
Serotonin syndrome is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition where there's too much serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemicals in your brain responsible for your mood. Since dextroamphetamine might raise your serotonin levels in the brain, your risk for this condition goes up if you use dextroamphetamine with other medications that also affect serotonin levels. These medications can include antidepressants (e.g., sertraline (Zoloft), duloxetine (Cymbalta)), MAOIs (e.g., phenelzine (Nardil)), and certain migraine medications (e.g., sumatriptan (Imitrex)). Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, changes in behavior, and confusion. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Interactions with other medications
Dextroamphetamine can interact with a lot of commonly used medications. Dextroamphetamine counteracts (works against) the effects of many blood pressure medications, including prazosin (Minipress) and beta-blockers like propranolol (Inderal) and metoprolol (Lopressor). This means that the blood pressure medications might not work as well for you if you take them at the same time as dextroamphetamine.
Additionally, avoid taking dextroamphetamine with other medications that affect serotonin levels to lower the risk of serotonin syndrome. Also don't take dextroamphetamine with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) because of the risk of severely high blood pressure and serotonin syndrome. Make sure your healthcare provider and pharmacist know about all the medications you take (including over-the-counter medications and supplements) so they can check for any dangerous interactions. Don't start any new medications while taking dextroamphetamine without letting them know.
Side effects of Dextroamphetamine
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Fast heartbeat
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach upset
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Tremors
- Trouble sleeping
Less Common Side Effects
- Restlessness
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Hives
- Changes in sex drive
- Blurry vision
Dextroamphetamine serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reactions: rash; hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart problems: heart attack, fast heart rate, high blood pressure
- Brain-related problems: seizures, stroke
- Mental health-related problems: manic episodes, changes in thoughts or behavior, hallucinations
- Serotonin syndrome: fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, fever, confusion
When do Dextroamphetamine possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Headaches
Fast heartbeat
Stomach upset
Low appetite
Trouble sleeping
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
The following Dextroamphetamine side effects have also been reported
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:
Rare
Agitation
delusions
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
Incidence not known
Blurred vision
chest discomfort or pain
difficulty breathing
dizziness
faintness
false or unusual sense of well-being
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
headache
pounding in the ears
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
swelling of the feet or lower legs
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
unable to sleep
uncontrolled vocal outbursts and/or tics (uncontrolled repeated body movements)
unusual tiredness or weakness
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Change in consciousness
dark-colored urine
discouragement
feeling sad or empty
irritability
lack of appetite
loss of consciousness
loss of interest or pleasure
mood or mental changes
muscle cramps or spasms
muscle pain or stiffness
panic state
physical attempt to injure
rapid breathing
seizures
stomach cramps
sweating
trouble concentrating
violent actions
vomiting
Some 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:
Other 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.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$71.05
GoodRx discount
$22.38
Pros and cons of Dextroamphetamine
Pros
- Available as a lower-cost generic medication
- Available in immediate-release tablets and extended-release capsules
- Available as a liquid solution if you have difficulty swallowing pills
- Tablets and solution are okay to use in children as young as 3 years old
Cons
- Has a risk of misuse and dependency
- A controlled medication, so there are special requirements for getting the prescription filled
- Can cause trouble sleeping if taken late in the day
- Not the best option if you have heart problems
Pharmacist tips for Dextroamphetamine
- Avoid taking dextroamphetamine too late in the day. Otherwise, the medication can make it difficult for you to sleep at night.
- Take dextroamphetamine with or without food. It's best to take it in the same way each day so the medication gets absorbed into your body consistently. Don't eat or drink too many acidic things (e.g., fruit juice, citrus fruits) because they can affect medication absorption into the body.
- Avoid alcohol while taking dextroamphetamine because it can make your ADHD symptoms worse and make your medication work less well. This combination can also cause dangerous side effects, including alcohol poisoning and heart problems.
- Avoid driving the first few days after you start dextroamphetamine and after dose changes until you know how this medication affects you. Dextroamphetamine might cause dizziness. It might also cause blurry vision, which can affect how well you see.
- Stimulants like dextroamphetamine can lower appetite, which can potentially lead to some weight loss. If your child is taking dextroamphetamine, the medication might also affect their growth. Make sure to follow a healthy and balanced diet. If you notice that you're not eating enough or you're losing too much weight while taking dextroamphetamine, let a provider know.
- Dextroamphetamine might worsen tics and Tourette syndrome. Talk to a provider if you have these problems so they can see if this medication is right for you.
- Dextroamphetamine can interact with several medications. Make sure your provider knows all the medications you're taking before starting dextroamphetamine. Don't start any new medications while taking dextroamphetamine without talking to your provider or pharmacist first.
- Take dextroamphetamine exactly as your provider told you to. Don't change your dose or suddenly stop taking the medication without talking to your provider first. Doing so can lead to bothersome withdrawal symptoms, such as tiredness, irritability, and trouble sleeping. If you want to stop dextroamphetamine, speak with your provider about how to do so safely.
- For the dextroamphetamine extended-release capsules: Don't cut, crush, or chew the capsule because it'll affect how it releases medication into your body. Each extended-release capsule is specially made so that some medication is released into the body right away, while the rest gets slowly released throughout the day.
- For the dextroamphetamine oral liquid: Make sure you know how much medication you need to measure out and take. Only use an oral syringe or dosing cup from the pharmacy to measure out your dose. Don't use household spoons because they aren't accurate and might cause you to take the wrong dose. Store the dextroamphetamine oral liquid at room temperature in the bottle you got from the pharmacy to protect it from light.
Dextroamphetamine dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 10mg of Dextroamphetamine is $25.31 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 76.33% off the average retail price of $106.95. 
Ml of oral solution
Ml of oral solution| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg/5ml | 150 ml | $78.29 | $0.52 |
Interactions between Dextroamphetamine and other drugs
Dextroamphetamine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Dextroamphetamine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine 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.
- Furazolidone
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Linezolid
- Methylene Blue
- Moclobemide
- Nialamide
- Phenelzine
- Procarbazine
- Rasagiline
- Safinamide
- Selegiline
- Sibutramine
- Tranylcypromine
Using this medicine 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.
- Abiraterone Acetate
- Acetazolamide
- Alfentanil
- Almotriptan
- Aluminum
- Amifampridine
- Amineptine
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amoxapine
- Anileridine
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzthiazide
- Brompheniramine
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Buspirone
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Carbonate
- Carbamazepine
- Chlorothiazide
- Chlorpheniramine
- Citalopram
- Clomipramine
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Desipramine
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dexlansoprazole
- Dextromethorphan
- Diazoxide
- Dibenzepin
- Difenoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
- Diphenoxylate
- Dolasetron
- Donepezil
- Doxepin
- Duloxetine
- Eletriptan
- Escitalopram
- Esomeprazole
- Ethylmorphine
- Fenfluramine
- Fentanyl
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
- Frovatriptan
- Granisetron
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Hydrocodone
- Hydroflumethiazide
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxytryptophan
- Imipramine
- Iobenguane I 131
- Ketobemidone
- Lansoprazole
- Lasmiditan
- Levomilnacipran
- Levorphanol
- Lithium
- Lofepramine
- Lorcaserin
- Magaldrate
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Melitracen
- Meperidine
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Milnacipran
- Mirtazapine
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Naratriptan
- Nefazodone
- Nicomorphine
- Nortriptyline
- Omeprazole
- Ondansetron
- Opipramol
- Opium
- Opium Alkaloids
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Palonosetron
- Pantoprazole
- Papaveretum
- Paregoric
- Paroxetine
- Pentazocine
- Piritramide
- Polythiazide
- Protriptyline
- Quinidine
- Rabeprazole
- Remifentanil
- Ritonavir
- Rizatriptan
- Sertraline
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- St John's Wort
- Sufentanil
- Sumatriptan
- Tapentadol
- Terbinafine
- Tianeptine
- Tilidine
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Trichlormethiazide
- Trimipramine
- Tryptophan
- Venlafaxine
- Vilazodone
- Vortioxetine
- Xipamide
- Ziprasidone
- Zolmitriptan
How much does Dextroamphetamine cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Dextroamphetamine contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Dextroamphetamine will not be safe for you to take.
- Severe allergy to amphetamine-containing products
- Certain heart or blood vessel problems, like moderate-to-severe high blood pressure, heart disease, or thickening or hardening of arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Glaucoma
- Feeling agitated or distressed
- History of substance use disorder
- Currently take or have taken an MAOI in the last 14 days
What are alternatives to Dextroamphetamine?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Dextroamphetamine. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine images
