What is Methamphetamine?

Commonly Used Brand Name(s)Desoxyn

Therapeutic ClassificationsCNS Stimulant

Blackbox WarningTOP

Oral route (Tablet)

Methamphetamine has a high potential for abuse and it should be tried only in weight reduction programs for patients in whom alternative therapy has been ineffective. Administration for prolonged periods of time in obesity may lead to drug dependence and must be avoided .

OverviewTOP

Methamphetamine is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants.

Methamphetamine is also used for weight reduction in obese patients.

Methamphetamine works in the treatment of ADHD by increasing attention and decreasing restlessness in children and adults who are overactive, cannot concentrate for very long, or are easily distracted and impulsive. This medicine is used as part of a total treatment program that also includes social, educational, and psychological treatment.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription. Prescriptions cannot be refilled. A new prescription must be obtained each time you or your child need this medicine.

Proper UseTOP

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more 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. If you feel that the medicine is not working properly after taking it for several weeks, check with your doctor first and do not increase the dose.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Do not take this medicine late in the evening. It may prevent you from falling asleep.

DosingTOP

The dose of this medicine 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 this medicine. 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.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For ADHD:
  - Adults and children 6 years of age and older—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) 1 or 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
  - Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For weight loss:
  - Adults and children 12 years of age and older—5 milligrams (mg) 30 minutes before each meal.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use is not recommended.

Missed DoseTOP

If you miss a dose of this medicine, 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.

Use & StorageTOP

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.

Before UsingTOP

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 this medicine, the following should be considered:

AllergiesTOP

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine 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.

PediatricTOP

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of methamphetamine in children with obesity who are younger than 12 years of age, and in children with ADHD who are younger than 6 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

GeriatricTOP

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of methamphetamine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving methamphetamine.

PregnancyTOP

	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.

Breast FeedingTOP

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug InteractionsTOP

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
Acetazolamide
Alfentanil
Almotriptan
Amineptine
Amitriptyline
Amitriptylinoxide
Amoxapine
Benzthiazide
Brompheniramine
Buprenorphine
Bupropion
Buspirone
Butorphanol
Carbamazepine
Chlorothiazide
Chlorpheniramine
Cinacalcet
Citalopram
Clomipramine
Cocaine
Codeine
Cyclobenzaprine
Desipramine
Desvenlafaxine
Dextromethorphan
Diazoxide
Dibenzepin
Difenoxin
Dihydrocodeine
Diphenoxylate
Dolasetron
Donepezil
Doxepin
Duloxetine
Eletriptan
Escitalopram
Ethylmorphine
Fentanyl
Fluoxetine
Fluvoxamine
Frovatriptan
Granisetron
Hydrochlorothiazide
Hydrocodone
Hydroflumethiazide
Hydromorphone
Hydroxytryptophan
Imipramine
Ketobemidone
Levomilnacipran
Levorphanol
Lithium
Lofepramine
Lorcaserin
Melitracen
Meperidine
Methadone
Milnacipran
Mirabegron
Mirtazapine
Morphine
Morphine Sulfate Liposome
Nalbuphine
Naratriptan
Nefazodone
Nicomorphine
Nortriptyline
Ondansetron
Opipramol
Opium
Opium Alkaloids
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Palonosetron
Papaveretum
Paregoric
Paroxetine
Pentazocine
Piritramide
Polythiazide
Protriptyline
Quinidine
Quinine
Remifentanil
Rizatriptan
Rolapitant
Sertraline
Sodium Bicarbonate
St John's Wort
Sufentanil
Sumatriptan
Tapentadol
Terbinafine
Tianeptine
Tilidine
Tramadol
Trazodone
Trichlormethiazide
Trimipramine
Tryptophan
Venlafaxine
Vilazodone
Vortioxetine
Xipamide
Ziprasidone
Zolmitriptan

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Ritonavir

Other InteractionsTOP

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.

PrecautionsTOP

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure the medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

You should not use this medicine if you have used a drug for depression called an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate® in the past 14 days.

This medicine may cause serious heart or blood vessel problems. This may be more likely to occur in patients who have a family history of heart disease. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting while taking this medicine.

Tell your doctor right away if you or your family notice any unusual changes in behavior, such as an increase in aggression, hostility, agitation, or irritability. Tell your doctor if you have hallucinations or any unusual thoughts, especially if they are new or getting worse quickly.

If you have been using this medicine for a long time and you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor. Some signs of dependence may be:

A strong desire or need to continue taking the medicine.
A need to increase the dose to receive the same effects.
Withdrawal effects after stopping the medicine such as mental depression, nausea or vomiting, stomach cramps or pain, trembling, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause some people to feel a false sense of wellbeing or to become dizzy, lightheaded, or less alert than they are normally. It may also cause blurred vision or other vision problems. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

This medicine may cause slow growth. If your child is using this medicine, the doctor will need to keep track of your child's height and weight.

This medicine may cause Raynaud phenomenon, which is a problem with blood circulation in the fingers or toes. Tell your doctor if you have tingling or pain, a cold feeling, paleness, or skin color changes in the fingers or toes, especially when exposed to cold. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained sores or ulcers on your fingers or toes.

Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines, herbal or vitamin supplements, and medicine for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hayfever, or sinus problems.

Chemical ClassificationsTOP

Amphetamine (class)