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home > drugs a-z list > dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) drug center > dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) drug - medication guide and patient information
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Dexedrine
What is narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the main symptom and is present in 100% of patients with narcolepsy. Other primary symptoms of narcolepsy include:
- loss of muscle tone (cataplexy),
- distorted perceptions (hypnagogic hallucinations), and
- inability to move or talk (sleep paralysis).
Additional symptoms include disturbed nocturnal sleep and automatic behavior (patients carry out certain actions without conscious awareness). All of the symptoms of narcolepsy may be present in various combinations and degrees of severity.
Narcolepsy usually begins in teenagers or young adults and affects both sexes equally. The first symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness, which may remain unrecognized for a long time in that it develops gradually over time. The other symptoms can follow excessive daytime sleepiness by months...
Dexedrine
PATIENT INFORMATION
Medication Guide
DEXEDRINE®
(dextroamphetamine sulfate)
SPANSULE® sustained-release capsules
Read the Medication Guide that comes with DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) before you or your child starts taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your or your s treatment with DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) .
What is the most important information I should know about DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ?
The following have been reported with use of DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) and other stimulant medicines.
1. Heart-related problems:
- Sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects
- Stroke and heart attack in adults
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Tell your doctor if you or your child have any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems.
Your doctor should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) .
Your doctor should check your or your child's blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) .
Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) .
2. Mental (Psychiatric) problems: All Patients
- new or worse behavior and thought problems
- new or worse bipolar illness
- new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility
Children and Teenagers
- new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, are suspicious) or new manic symptoms
Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.
Call your doctor right away if you or your child have any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems while taking DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) , especially seeing or hearing things that are not real, believing things that are not real, or are suspicious.
What Is DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ?
DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) is a central nervous system stimulant prescription medicine. It is used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD. DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) should be used as a part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies. DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) is also used in the treatment of a sleep disorder called narcolepsy.
DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) may harm others, and is against the law.
Tell your doctor if you or your child have (or have a family history of) ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.
Who should not take DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ?
DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) should not be taken if you or your child:
- Have heart disease or hardening of the arteries
- Have moderate to severe high blood pressure
- Have hyperthyroidism
- Have an eye problem called glaucoma
- Are very anxious, tense, or agitated
- Have a history of drug abuse
- Are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an antidepression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI
- Is sensitive to, allergic to, or had a reaction to other stimulant medicines DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) is not recommended for use in children less than 6 years old.
DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) may not be right for you or your child.
Before starting DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) tell your or your child's doctor about all health conditions (or a family history of) including:
- Heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure
- Mental problems including psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression
- Tics or Tourette's syndrome
- Thyroid problems
- Seizures or have had an abnormal brain wave test (EEG)
Tell your doctor if you or your child is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Can DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) be taken with other medicines?
Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you or your child take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Sometimes the doses of other medicines will need to be adjusted while taking DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) .
Your doctor will decide whether DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) can be taken with other medicines.
Especially tell your doctor if you or your child takes:
- Anti-depression medicines including MAOIs
- Blood pressure medicines
- Antacids
- Seizure medicines
Know the medicines that you or your child takes. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.
Do not start any new medicine while taking DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) without talking to your doctor first.
How should DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) be taken?
- Take DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) exactly as prescribed. Your doctor may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child.
- DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) comes as a capsule.
- DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) SPANSULE capsules are usually taken once a day in the morning. DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) SPANSULE is an extended release capsule. It releases medicine into your body throughout the day.
- From time to time, your doctor may stop treatment with DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) for a while to check ADHD symptoms.
- Your doctor may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) . Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking
- DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) . Treatment with DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.
- If you or your child takes too much DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) or overdoses, call your doctor or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.
What are possible side effects of DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ?
See "What is the most important information I should know about DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ?" for information on reported heart and mental problems.
Other serious side effects include:
- Slowing of growth (height and weight) in children
- Seizures, mainly in patients with a history of seizures
- Eyesight changes or blurred vision
Common side effects include:
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DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) may affect your or your child's ability to drive or do other dangerous activities.
Talk to your doctor if you or your child has side effects that are bothersome or do not go away.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should I store DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ?
- Store DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) SPANSULE capsules in a safe place at room temperature, 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C). Protect from light.
- Keep DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine)
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) to other people, even if they have the same condition. It may harm them and it is against the law.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) . If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) that was written for healthcare professionals. For more information about DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) , please contact GlaxoSmithKline (makers of DEXEDRINE (dextroamphetamine) ) at 1-888-825-5249 or visit www.gsk.com.
What are the ingredients in DEXEDRINE?
Active Ingredient: Dextroamphetamine sulfate
Inactive Ingredients:
SPANSULE Capsules: Cetyl alcohol, D&C Yellow No. 10, dibutyl sebacate, ethylcellulose, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 1 aluminum lake, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, gelatin, hypromellose, propylene glycol, povidone, silicon dioxide, sodium laurate sulfate, and sugar spheres
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Last reviewed on RxList: 11/1/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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