Jeffrey Panko NP Psychiatry · Patient education
Dextroamphetamine
d-Amphetamine / Oral and transdermal formulations
A guide for adults taking dextroamphetamine.
Follow the directions on your prescription and your provider's recommendations.
Formulations: Oral formulations include immediate-release tablets or liquid and extended-release capsules. A transdermal patch is also available for ADHD. These formulations are not interchangeable milligram for milligram.
What it is used for
Dextroamphetamine is prescribed for ADHD; certain oral formulations are also used for narcolepsy. Approved ages and uses vary by formulation.
This guide is for adults. Your provider should explain whether the particular formulation and use are FDA-approved or off-label.
How it works
It increases dopamine and norepinephrine signaling, which can improve attention, impulse control, and wakefulness. It does not replace adequate sleep.
What to expect over time
Attention or wakefulness may improve on the day a dose is taken. Finding the right dose and duration of coverage usually requires follow-up over several weeks.
Track concentration, task completion, appetite, sleep, and mood. Feeling more alert is useful only if treatment also improves daily functioning.
Taking your medication
- Follow your specific formulation instructions. Oral doses are usually taken early enough to avoid interfering with sleep.
- Swallow extended-release capsules whole unless the leaflet explicitly permits another method. Measure liquid with the supplied device.
- For a patch, follow application, wear-time, site rotation, and disposal instructions. Do not apply external heat to it.
- Do not double a missed dose. Avoid a late catch-up dose; consult with your pharmacist about the next scheduled dose.
When to get help
Emergency symptoms. Get emergency care for chest pain, fainting, a seizure, severe breathing trouble, or stroke symptoms. Fever with confusion and stiff or twitching muscles may be serotonin syndrome.
Prompt medical advice. Contact your provider right away for hallucinations, paranoia, or unusually high energy with little need for sleep. Report painful or discolored fingers or toes.
If you feel unsafe or have thoughts of self-harm, call 911 or go to an emergency department.
Possible side effects
- Reduced appetite or weight loss
- Dry mouth, nausea, or headache
- Trouble sleeping, jitteriness, or irritability
- Increased pulse or blood pressure
Keeping track of treatment
Some side effects resolve with time; others may require a change of medication. Discuss persistent or bothersome side effects with your provider.
Have your blood pressure and pulse checked before starting and during treatment. Keep track of weight, sleep, appetite, and any new tics or mood symptoms.
Stimulants carry risks of misuse, addiction, and overdose. Physical dependence can also develop with prescribed use. Discuss any urge to increase the dose or use it differently.
If you take too much
For a suspected overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately, even if you feel well. Call 911 for a seizure, collapse, trouble breathing, or inability to wake.
Before you start
Discuss heart disease, fainting, high blood pressure, family history of sudden death, seizures, tics, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and substance use.
Discuss pregnancy, pregnancy plans, and breastfeeding with your provider. Treatment decisions should consider both the medication and the condition being treated.
Medicines and interactions
Review all your medications with your provider, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements. Have new medications checked before taking them.
Do not take with an MAOI or within 14 days after stopping one. Linezolid and IV methylene blue also require review.
Decongestants, other stimulants, and large amounts of caffeine can raise pulse or blood pressure. Certain antidepressants and other serotonergic medicines can add risks.
Antacids, acid-suppressing medicines, and vitamin C can change amphetamine exposure. Do not use supplements or food changes to intensify or extend the effect.
Everyday tips
Eat regularly even when you feel less hungry. Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
Use reminders and practical ADHD supports alongside medication. Extra doses should never replace sleep.
Keep your supply locked away and do not share it. Tell testing clinicians about your prescription.
Your questions answered
Should I feel different as a person?
Treatment should make it easier to manage symptoms. Feeling emotionally flat, unusually driven, or persistently irritable is a reason to review the dose.
Can I stop or take breaks?
Consult with your provider. Symptoms can return, and fatigue or low mood may follow stopping. A planned schedule works better than changing doses from day to day on your own.
Storage and safety
Keep medication in its labeled container, away from excess heat and moisture and out of reach of children and pets. Do not share it. Ask a pharmacy about disposal of unused medication.
Sources
About this information
Educational handout; does not replace your prescription or provider's recommendations.
Educational inclusion does not mean this medication or its indications are treated at this practice. Review the guide for your exact product with your prescriber or pharmacist.