amphetamine sulfate

This medication is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ADHD. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Amphetamine belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants. It can help increase your ability to pay attention, stay focused on an activity, and control behavior problems. It may also help you to organize your tasks and improve listening skills.

This medication is also used to treat a certain sleeping disorder (narcolepsy) to help you stay awake during the day. It should not be used to treat tiredness or to hold off sleep in people who do not have a sleep disorder.

Amphetamine may also be used along with a doctor-approved, reduced-calorie diet to help significantly overweight (obese) people lose weight. It should only be used for a short time (a few weeks) in people who have not lost enough weight with other treatments (such as dieting, other drugs, group programs). It may work by decreasing your appetite.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using amphetamine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually 1 to 3 times a day. The first dose is usually taken when you wake up in the morning. If more doses are prescribed, take them as directed by your doctor, usually 4 to 6 hours apart.

If you are using this medication for weight loss, take it as directed by your doctor, usually 30 to 60 minutes before each meal.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not take this medication late in the evening because it may cause you to have trouble sleeping (insomnia).

If you suddenly stop using this medication, you may have withdrawal symptoms (such as severe tiredness, sleep problems, mental/mood changes such as depression). To help prevent withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Withdrawal is more likely if you have used amphetamine for a long time or in high doses. Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have withdrawal.

When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.

Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, nervousness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weight loss, irritability, or restlessness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of blood flow problems in the fingers or toes (such as coldness, numbness, pain, or skin color changes), unusual wounds on the fingers or toes, mental/mood/behavior changes (such as agitation, aggression, mood swings, depression, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, abnormal thoughts/behavior), uncontrolled muscle movements (such as twitching, shaking), outbursts of words/sounds, swelling ankles/feet, extreme tiredness, change in sexual ability/interest, frequent/prolonged erections (in males), vision changes (such as blurred vision).

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: fainting, severe headache, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, seizures, symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating), symptoms of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, sudden vision changes, confusion).

This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of the following symptoms: fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking amphetamine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other sympathomimetic drugs (such as dextroamphetamine or lisdexamfetamine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood circulation problems (such as Raynaud's disease), high blood pressure, glaucoma, heart problems (including irregular heartbeat/rhythm, coronary artery disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, problems with the heart structure such as valve problems), mental/mood conditions (especially anxiety, tension, agitation), personal/family history of mental/mood disorders (such as bipolar disorder, depression, psychotic disorder, suicidal thoughts), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol), personal or family history of uncontrolled muscle movements (such as motor tics, Tourette's syndrome), seizures, stroke, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially weight loss. This medication may slow down a child's growth. The doctor may recommend temporarily stopping the medication from time to time to reduce this risk. Monitor your child's weight and height. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially chest pain, trouble sleeping, or weight loss.

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Infants born to mothers who are dependent on this medication may be born too soon (premature) and have low birth weight. They may also have withdrawal symptoms. Tell your doctor right away if you notice possible mood changes, agitation, or unusual tiredness in your newborn.

This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.

Some products have ingredients that could raise your heart rate or blood pressure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen).

The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/ "ecstasy," St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.

Amphetamine is very similar to dextroamphetamine or lisdexamfetamine. Do not use medications containing dextroamphetamine or lisdexamfetamine while using amphetamine.

This medication may interfere with certain medical/laboratory tests (including blood and urine steroid levels, brain scan for Parkinson's disease), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe mental/mood changes, seizures, severe/persistent headache, severe restlessness, fast breathing.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is late in the afternoon or near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Do not share this medication with others. Sharing it is against the law.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure, pulse, height and weight in children) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.