Drug Notes

Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (By mouth)

Treats ADHD. Also treats narcolepsy.

Brand Name(s):

Adderall, Adderall XR

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Long Acting Capsule, Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• Extended-release capsule:
  • Take the capsule in the morning. You may have trouble falling asleep at night if you take it in the afternoon or evening.
  • Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
  • If you cannot swallow the capsule, you may open it and sprinkle the contents over a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing.
• Tablet: Take the tablet in the morning and early afternoon. You may have trouble falling asleep if you take it at night.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAOI within the past 14 days.
• Some foods and medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetazolamide, ammonium chloride, antacids. chlorpromazine, ethosuximide, glutamic acid, guanethidine, haloperidol, hydrochlorothiazide, lithium, meperidine, methenamine, omeprazole, phenobarbital, phenytoin, reserpine, sodium acid phosphate, sodium bicarbonate
  • Blood pressure medicine
  • Tricyclic medicine to treat depression (including desipramine, protriptyline)
• Fruit juice and vitamin C can affect how your body absorbs this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart or blood vessel disease (such as arteriosclerosis), heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, a history of heart attack, stroke, or seizures, or Tourette syndrome. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of depression, mental health problems, or drug or alcohol abuse.
• This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious heart or blood vessel problems, including heart attack and stroke
  • Unusual changes in behavior or thoughts
  • Peripheral vasculopathy (a blood circulation problem)
  • Delayed growth in children
• This medicine may make you dizzy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blurred vision or vision changes
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting
• Extreme energy or restlessness, confusion, agitation, unusual behavior
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Numb, cold, pale, or painful fingers or toes
• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• Seizures

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry mouth, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain
• Headache, dizziness
• Loss of appetite, weight loss
• Trouble sleeping

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017