Adderall ( dextroamphetamine + amphetamine )

CAUTION:
The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine can be habit forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed by your doctor. If you take too much dextroamphetamine and amphetamine you may find that the medication no longer controls your symptoms, you may feel a need to take large amounts of the medication, and you may experience symptoms such as rash, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, irritability, hyperactivity, and unusual changes in your personality or behavior. Inform your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, use or have ever used street drugs, or have overused prescription medications.Do not discontinue taking dextroamphetamine and amphetamine without informing your doctor, especially if you have overused the medication. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually and monitor you carefully during this time.

General Information and Indications:

The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, Adderall, is used as part of a treatment program for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age). Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine tablets are also used to treat narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep). The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

Information For Users:

The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine comes as a tablet or extended-release (long acting) capsule to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken 2–3 times daily with or without food. The extended-release capsule is usually taken once daily in the morning with or without food. Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine combination should not be taken in the late afternoon or evening because it may cause difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take dextroamphetamine and amphetamine exactly as directed.

You may swallow the extended-release capsule whole, or you may open the capsule and sprinkle the entire contents on a teaspoonful of applesauce. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not store unused applesauce containing medication for future use, and do not divide the contents of one capsule into more than one dose.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine and increase your dose gradually, not more often than once every week.

Your doctor may tell you to stop taking dextroamphetamine and amphetamine from time to time to see if the medication is still needed. Follow these directions carefully.

The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine should not be used to treat extreme tiredness (fatigue) that is not caused by narcolepsy.

Special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, any other medications,or corn.
o do not take dextroamphetamine and amphetamine if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks. If you stop taking dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, you should wait at least 2 weeks before you start to take an MAO inhibitor.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), and terazosin (Hytrin); antacids; antidepressants ('mood elevators'), antihistamines; ascorbic acid (Vitamin C); beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal); chlorpromazine (Thorazine); diuretics ('water pills') such as acetazolamide (Diamox); guanethidine (Ismelin); haloperidol (Haldol); lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith); medications for high blood pressure; medications for seizures such as ethosuximide (Zarontin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); meperidine (Demerol); methenamine (Hiprex, Urex); propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvon-N,); reserpine (Serpalan); sodium bicarbonate (Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, Soda Mint); and sodium phosphate. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
o Inform your doctor what nutritional supplements you are taking, especially glutamic acid (L-glutamine).
o Inform your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had motor (repeated twitching of any parts of your body) or verbal tics (repeating of words or sounds) or Tourette's syndrome (difficult to control need to perform repeated motions or to repeat sounds or words). Also inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding an glaucoma (an eye disease); depression; anxiety, tension or agitation; mental illness; or thyroid disease.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, call your doctor. You should not breastfeed while you are taking this medication.
o you should know that this drug may make it difficult for you to perform activities that require alertness or physical coordination . Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
o you should know that dextroamphetamine and amphetamine should be used as part of a total treatment program for ADHD, which may include counseling and special education. Make sure to follow all of your doctor's and/or therapist's instructions.

Possible Adverse Effects:

Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine may cause adverse effects. Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:

o nervousness
o restlessness
o difficulty falling or staying asleep
o mood swings
o agitation
o dizziness
o tiredness
o weakness
o hand tremor, shaking hands
o headache
o changes in sex drive or ability, impotence
o dry mouth
o stomach pain
o upset stomach
o vomiting
o diarrhea
o constipation
o loss of appetite (anorexia)
o weight loss
o bad taste in mouth

Some adverse effects could be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor without delay:

o fast or pounding heartbeat
o motor tics or verbal tics
o sore throat, fever, chills, or other signs of infection
o psychosis (loss of contact with reality)
o hives (Urticaria)

The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine may cause slower growth (height and weight) in children, especially if they take it for a long time. Your child's doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Tell your child's doctor if you have concerns about your child's growth or weight gain.

Possible Symptoms of Overdose:

o restlessness
o confusion
o aggressive behavior
o feelings of panic
o hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
o fast breathing
o hand tremor, shaking hands
o fever
o dark red or cola colored urine
o muscle weakness or aching
o tirednessor weakness
o depression
o fast or irregular heartbeat
o fainting
o dizziness
o blurred vision (Impaired vision)
o upset stomach
o vomiting
o diarrhea
o seizures
o coma

Brand Name(s):

o Adderall®
o Adderall XR®