Generic Name: amphetamine (am FEH ta mean)Brand Names:
Amphetamine is a stimulant and an appetite suppressant. It stimulates the central nervous system (nerves and brain) by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the body. This increases heart rate and blood pressure and decreases appetite, among other effects.
Amphetamine is used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD).
Amphetamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
have heart disease or high blood pressure;
have arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
have hyperthyroidism;
have glaucoma;
have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days; or
have a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
an anxiety disorder;
Tourette's syndrome or motor or phonic tics;
epilepsy or another seizure disorder; or
diabetes.
You may not be able to take amphetamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Amphetamine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take amphetamine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Amphetamine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take amphetamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.Take amphetamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions , ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.Do not take amphetamine in the evening because it may cause insomnia.
Do not crush, chew, or open any "once-daily" (long-acting or sustained-release) amphetamine tablets or capsules. Swallow them whole. Never take more of this medication than is prescribed for you. Too much amphetamine could be dangerous. Amphetamine is habit forming. Physical and psychological dependence and withdrawal effects may occur if it is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Talk to your doctor about stopping this medication gradually. Store amphetamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.Symptoms of an amphetamine overdose include restlessness, tremor, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, panic, aggressiveness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, an irregular heartbeat, and seizures.
Do not take amphetamine late in the day. A dose taken too late in the day can cause insomnia.
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
an irregular heartbeat or very high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or
hallucinations, abnormal behavior, or confusion.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take amphetamine and talk to your doctor if you experience
restlessness or tremor;
anxiety or nervousness;
headache or dizziness;
insomnia;
dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in the mouth;
diarrhea or constipation; or
impotence or changes in sex drive.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before taking amphetamine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
insulin or another medicine to treat diabetes;
guanethidine (Ismelin) or reserpine (Diutensin-R);
doxazosin (Cardura), terazosin (Hytrin), prazosin (Minipress), or guanadrel(Hylorel);
a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), clomipramine (Anafranil), protriptyline (Vivactil), or desipramine (Norpramin)
a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine);
lithium (Lithobid, Lithonate, Eskalith, others); or
haloperidol (Haldol).
You may not be able to take amphetamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with amphetamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.