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Overview: Amphetamine is a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. Common side effects include trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, nervousness, and fast heartbeat. Amphetamine is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store amphetamine in a safe place to protect it from theft. Amphetamine is available as a tablet, orally disintegrating tablet (ODT), and liquid.

Uses

What is amphetamine used for?

Amphetamine is commonly used for the following conditions. 

These uses may vary depending on the specific amphetamine product prescribed. Amphetamine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does amphetamine work (mechanism of action)?

Amphetamine is part of a group of medicines called stimulants. It may work by increasing levels of natural brain chemicals, such as norepinephrine and dopamine. These chemicals play a role in attention, alertness, and wakefulness. Amphetamine may also suppress appetite.

How is amphetamine supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Adzenys XR-ODT
  • Dyanavel XR
  • Evekeo

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 2.5 mg/mL extended-release oral suspension
  • 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg extended-release oral tablets
  • 3.1 mg, 6.3 mg, 9.4 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.7 mg, 18.8 mg extended-release orally disintegrating tablets
  • 5 mg, 10 mg oral tablets

How should I store amphetamine?

Amphetamine should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry, and safe place, such as a locked cabinet.

If you are taking an amphetamine orally disintegrating tablet (ODT), do not remove the tablet from the blister pack until you are ready to take it.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of amphetamine?

The most common side effects of amphetamine are listed below. These side effects may vary depending on your age and the product you are taking. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Headache
  • Stomach pain
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Decreased or loss of appetite 
  • Unpleasant taste
  • Weight loss
  • Nervousness or restlessness
  • Fast heartbeat (see below)
  • Dizziness
  • Mood swings
  • Sexual problems
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Itching
  • Dry mouth
  • Fever
  • Anxiety or agitation
  • Feeling unusually weak or tired 
  • Kidney or bladder infection

There may be other side effects of amphetamine that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of amphetamine?

While less common, the most serious side effects of amphetamine are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Amphetamine may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking amphetamine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Risk of Misuse and Addiction. Misusing amphetamine can lead to serious side effects, such as substance use problems, overdose, or death. Misuse means using a medicine in a way other than how it was prescribed. Amphetamine can also cause physical dependence, which means your body relies on the medicine. Take amphetamine exactly as prescribed. Tell your health care provider if you feel that amphetamine is not working. Call your health care provider right away or go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following serious symptoms.

  • Sudden confusion or feeling disoriented
  • Feeling paranoid
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Seizures
  • Trouble breathing

Increased Blood Pressure and Heart Rate. Amphetamine may increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Keep all appointments with your health care provider to check your blood pressure and heart rate before starting amphetamine and during treatment. If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 mm Hg or higher, get medical attention right away. Also call your health care provider or get medical attention right away if you have chest pain or a fast or irregular heartbeat or if you faint or feel your heartbeat more than usual.

Mental Health Problems. Amphetamine may cause or worsen psychotic-like behaviors, such as hallucinations or mania. People who already have a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, may be at a higher risk of these side effects. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms or if you have been told by others you have these symptoms.

  • Hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, or otherwise perceiving things that others do not
  • Delusional thoughts, such as false beliefs that you are being controlled
  • Disorganized thoughts, such as jumping between topics or having a hard time focusing
  • Sudden decline in self-care, such as personal hygiene or academic/work performance
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Very increased energy
  • Significant trouble sleeping
  • Racing, fast-paced thoughts
  • Reckless behavior
  • Unusually grand ideas
  • Excessive happiness or irritability
  • Talking more or faster than usual

Slowed Growth in Children. Children taking amphetamine may be at a higher risk of not gaining height and weight as expected. Keep all appointments with your health care provider to check your child’s height and weight before starting and during treatment with amphetamine.

Seizures. Some people who have taken amphetamine have reported having seizures. There are many different types of seizures and some of them are not easy to recognize. Stop taking amphetamine and call your health care provider if you have any of the following signs that a seizure is happening or could happen.

  • Muscle twitching, jerking, spasms, tremors, or other uncontrolled movements
  • Stiffening of your arms and legs
  • Feeling anxious, nervous, confused, or a sense of dread
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Falling or losing consciousness

Blood Flow Problems. Amphetamine may cause blood flow problems, including a condition called Raynaud’s phenomenon, which occurs when the blood vessels in your fingers and toes overreact and lead to low blood flow. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Fingers or toes feeling numb, cool, painful, or sensitive to cold
  • Fingers or toes changing color from pale, to blue, to red
  • Unexplained wounds on fingers or toes

Serotonin Syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is when there is too much of a substance called serotonin in your body. Amphetamine may cause serotonin syndrome when it is taken alone or with other medicines that affect serotonin. This condition can be life-threatening. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of serotonin syndrome.

  • Sweating, fever, or flushing
  • Confusion
  • Feeling agitated or restless
  • Seeing or hearing unusual things
  • Dizziness
  • Fast or racing heartbeat
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Muscle twitching, stiffness, or tremor
  • Seizures

Tics. Amphetamine may cause or worsen tics, which are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that can be hard to control. Call your health care provider right away if you have any new or worsening tics.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use amphetamine?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take amphetamine.

  • Adzenys XR-ODT
  • Amphetamine
  • Dyanavel XR
  • Evekeo
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific amphetamine products they stock.

Drug Interactions. Amphetamine should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking amphetamine, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

What should I know about amphetamine before using it?

Do not take amphetamine unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share amphetamine with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep amphetamine out of the reach of children. Amphetamine is a controlled substance because it can be misused or lead to dependence. Store amphetamine in a safe, preferably locked, place to protect it from theft. It is illegal to sell or give away this medicine.

Amphetamine may affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how amphetamine affects you.

There are multiple forms of amphetamine available. They may be used to treat different conditions and are taken in different ways. Read and follow the instructions for the product you have and make sure you understand how to prepare, take, and throw it away properly. If you have any questions, talk to your health care provider.

Some amphetamine extended-release tablets may be swallowed whole, chewed, or cut. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure.

If you are taking amphetamine orally disintegrating tablets (ODT), the tablet should be put on the tongue and allowed to dissolve. Do not crush or chew the tablet.

If you are taking amphetamine liquid, use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist what measuring device to use. Shake the bottle before drawing up each dose.

If you need to dispose of unused or expired amphetamine, bring it to a medicine take-back program at an authorized collection site, such as a pharmacy or police station. If no take-back program is available, mix it with a nontoxic and unattractive substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds and place it in a container like a sealed plastic bag. Throw away the mixture in household trash. Ask your pharmacist or other health care provider if you are not sure how to throw away this medicine safely.

Keep all appointments, including for blood tests and heart checkups, before and during treatment with amphetamine. This will help your health care provider make sure it is safe for you to take amphetamine.

Amphetamine may affect the results of certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers that you are taking this medicine before any lab tests or blood tests.

What should I tell my health care provider before using amphetamine?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if amphetamine is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Substance Use Disorder. Tell your health care provider if you have ever misused alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs. Amphetamine is a controlled substance and may be misused.

Mental Health Problems. Tell your health care provider if you or anyone in your family has had mental health problems, including psychosis, bipolar disorder, mania, depression, or suicide. Amphetamine may worsen certain mental health conditions.

Heart Problems. People who have serious heart disease or heart defects may be at risk of sudden death if they take amphetamine. Tell your health care provider if you have any heart problems, including heart disease, heart defects, cardiomyopathy, or an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Also tell your health care provider if anyone in your family has heart problems.

Other Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have or have had any of the following.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how amphetamine could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your health care provider will let you know if you should take amphetamine while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking amphetamine, you can sign up for the National Pregnancy Registry for ADHD Medications by calling 866-961-2388 or at womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/adhd-medications. This registry collects safety information about the use of psychiatric medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed while you are taking amphetamine. Amphetamine passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does amphetamine interact with foods or drinks?

If you are taking amphetamine for obesity, take the medicine 30-60 minutes before meals.

Taking amphetamine with certain types of fruit juices may cause it to not work as well. Talk to your health care provider to see if you can drink fruit juices while taking amphetamine.

You should not drink alcohol while taking some amphetamine products because it may cause a faster release of your amphetamine dose. This can cause higher levels of amphetamine in your blood and increase the risk of side effects. Talk to your health care provider before drinking alcohol while taking amphetamine.

Does amphetamine interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking amphetamine.

  • A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past two weeks, which is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease
  • A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, or sertraline, which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety and depression
  • A serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), such as duloxetine or venlafaxine, which is a medicine commonly used for anxiety and depression
  • A triptan, such as eletriptan (Relpax), sumatriptan (Imitrex and others), and others, which is a medicine commonly used to treat migraines
  • Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
  • Fentanyl, meperidine, or tramadol, which are medicines used to treat certain types of pain
  • Buspirone, which is a medicine used to treat anxiety
  • A tricyclic antidepressant, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or protriptyline, even if it is not used for depression
  • Tryptophan, which is a supplement that may be used to help the body make proteins and certain brain signaling chemicals
  • St. John’s wort, which is a supplement that may be used for depression
  • Quinidine, which is a medicine used to treat malaria or control your heart rate or rhythm
  • Ritonavir (Norvir), which is a medicine commonly used to treat HIV
  • Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C
  • A beta-blocker, such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, and others), or propranolol (Inderal LA, Innopran XL), which is a medicine that may be used for certain heart conditions or to lower blood pressure
  • An alpha-blocker, such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, or terazosin, which is a medicine that may be used for high blood pressure and/or trouble peeing due to an enlarged prostate
  • Acetazolamide, which is a medicine used to treat fluid retention, glaucoma, and altitude sickness
  • A thiazide diuretic, such as chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide, or indapamide, which is a medicine commonly used to lower blood pressure
  • An antihistamine, such as chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which is a medicine commonly used to treat allergy symptoms
  • A medicine for high blood pressure
  • Chlorpromazine, which is a medicine that may be used to treat certain mental health conditions or severe nausea and vomiting
  • Haloperidol (Haldol), which is a medicine used to treat schizophrenia and certain symptoms of Tourette syndrome
  • Methenamine (Hiprex), which is a medicine used to help prevent bladder or kidney infections
  • A medicine for seizures, such as ethosuximide (Zarontin), phenobarbital, or phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek, and others)

Many other medicines may alter the blood levels of amphetamine. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with amphetamine. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much amphetamine?

If you or someone else has used too much amphetamine, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of amphetamine?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Avoid taking amphetamine in the afternoon or evening because this can make it harder to sleep at bedtime. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.