Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine : Drug Information
What are Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine?
Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine work as central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. Doctors prescribe this combination to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a performance booster as well. This combination is mostly available in the oral form. One can avail of this medication only with a proper prescription from a doctor.
Important Information
- You need to regularly visit your doctor and take frequent body checkups while on this medication.
- Medications with a combination of Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are highly addictive. Therefore, buying or selling Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine without any proper prescription is strictly prohibited under the law.
- Never share this medicine with anyone, especially those who have a past of drug abuse or addiction.
What to know before taking Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine?
You should avoid taking this medication if you are allergic to it or any of its components or if you have:
- Taken An MAO inhibitor such as methylene blue injection in the last 14 days
- An allergic reaction to any other stimulants
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Overactive thyroid
- Glaucoma
- Anxiety, tension, or agitation
- Addiction to drugs or alcohol
To ensure that a combination of Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine is safe for you, you should tell the doctor if you have or ever had the following medical issues:
- Depression
- Mental illness
- Bipolar disorder
- Psychosis or suicidal thoughts
- Twitching in the muscles
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Abnormal brain wave test
- Kidney disease
- Problems in blood circulation in hands or feet
Expecting women and lactating mothers should not use this medication; it may harm their child.
How to take Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine?
Take Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine precisely as prescribed by the doctor. You must follow all the directions and instructions given on the prescription label and medication guide. Please don’t take it more often than recommended and try to be consistent throughout the treatment. Consult your doctor if you are not feeling any improvement in your condition. Your doctor will adjust your dose according to your health condition.
Keep Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine tablets out of the children’s reach and store it at room temperature away from heat and moisture. After completion of treatment, ask your pharmacist regarding the disposal of leftover medication.
Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine dosage
The dosage of Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine prescribed by the doctor is dependent on several factors, such as :
- The age and weight of the patient
- Symptoms
- The seriousness of the condition
- Other medical issues that the patient is having
- Other medications that the patient is using
- How the patient reacted to the first dose of the medication
The doctor may prescribe the dosage of Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine according to the patient’s different medical conditions.
Dosage for attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
- For adults
Immediate-release tablets
5 mg once or twice a day; your doctor will adjust your dose if he thinks appropriate. However, only in rare cases, it should exceed more than 40 mg per day.
Extended-release tablets
20 mg of medicine once a day; your doctor will adjust your dose if he thinks appropriate.
- For children
- Immediate-release tablets
Between 6 years to 17 years
5 mg of the medicine one or two times a day, the doctor will adjust medicine quantity as per the patient’s condition.
Between 3 years to 5 years
2.5 mg once a day
Extended-release tablets
Between 13 years to 17 years
10 mg once a day; the doctor will adjust medicine quantity as per the patient’s condition. However, the maximum amount of medicine should not exceed 30 mg per day.
Between 6 years to 12 years
5 mg to 10 mg of the medicine once a day in the morning; the doctor will adjust medicine quantity as per the patient’s condition. However, the maximum amount of treatment should not exceed 30 mg per day.
Dosage for narcolepsy
- For adults
Immediate-release tablets
Daily 10 mg, divided into several doses; your doctor will adjust the medicine quantity if he thinks appropriate.
- For children
Immediate-release tablets
Above 12 years
10 mg per day; divided into several doses
Between 6 years to 11 years
5 mg daily; divided into several doses
Overdose
If you ever feel uneasy after taking Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine or have taken the medication in excess, Do consult your doctor and seek medical help as soon as possible. You can get medical assistance by calling on the poison helpline number at 1-800-222-1222. It would be best if you don’t ignore these symptoms; they can be very dangerous.
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Muscles twitching
- Rapid breathing
- Confusion
- Hallucination
- Panic attacks and depression
- Aggressiveness
- Pain or weakness in muscles
- Dark-colored urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pain in stomach
- Irregular heartbeats
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness
- Fainting
- Seizures
- Coma
What to avoid while using Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine?
Taking this medication can impair your thinking process or reaction to that. You must be very careful while driving and doing activities that require alertness and attention. Try to avoid Vitamin C supplements and fruits and juice rich in Vitamin C while on this medication. It can make the combination less effective.
Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine side effects
Some of the common side effects of using Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are as follows:
- Pain in stomach
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Mood swings
- Nervousness
- Irritation
- Fast heart rate
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Symptoms of serotonin syndrome
It is obvious to experience mild side effect symptoms, but if these symptoms bother you so much and are unbearable, you should consult your doctor and ask for medical help. You can stop taking medication and tell your doctor if you face the following problems while taking the combination of Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine:
- Symptoms of Heart problem
- Allergic reaction to the medicine
- Signs of psychosis
- Blood circulation problems
- Seizures
- Muscles twitching
- Problem in vision
You should also report to your doctor from time to time if you experience any new symptoms or your symptoms are getting even worse.
What drugs can interact with Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine?
If your doctor is treating you with Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, he must be knowing all the possible interactions with other medications. It is your responsibility to tell the doctor about all the over-the-counter medicines you take or taken in the past few days. Some of the following medications which can interact with Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine are:
- Lithium
- Medicines to treat mental disorder
- Antidepressants
- An MAO inhibitor
- Stimulants
- Treatment for maintaining blood pressure
- Blood thinner medicines
- Cold or allergy medicine that contains a decongestant
- Narcotic or opioid medication
- Medicines to treat seizures
- Other over the counter medication
- Herbal products
- Vitamins or other nutritional supplements