Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine, generically known as amphetamine sulfate. It is a federally controlled substance (Schedule II) because it contains amphetamine, which can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. It is used to treat narcolepsy, ADHD, and short-term exogenous obesity as part of a weight-reduction program.

What is Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet

Amphetamine sulfate tablet is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine. It is a federally controlled substance (Schedule II) because it contains amphetamine, which can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs.

Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet uses

• Narcolepsy (a sleep disorder)
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as part of a total treatment program that may include other measures
• Exogenous obesity, as a short-term (a few weeks) part of a weight-reduction program for people who have not responded to other treatment

Benefits of Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet

• May help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with ADHD
• May help as part of a short-term weight reduction program for obesity in people who have not responded to other treatments

How Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet works

Amphetamines are stimulant medicines that act on the central nervous system. The exact way they produce their mental and behavioral effects in children is not fully understood.

Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet dosage

Take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your or your child's healthcare provider, who may change the dose if needed. The first dose of the day is usually taken right after waking up. Avoid taking it late in the evening because it may cause trouble sleeping. If used for exogenous obesity, it should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before meals. You may take it with or without food.

Avoid drinking fruit juices (such as cranberry juice) or taking vitamin C at the same time, as these can reduce how much of the medicine your body absorbs. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but not late in the day; skip the dose if it is almost evening, and never take two doses at once. Do not use this medicine more often than prescribed, and never give it to anyone else.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Amphetamine Sulfate Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Nervousness
• Itching
• Stomachache
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Trouble sleeping
• Sexual problems (impotence in males)
• Dry mouth
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Unpleasant taste
• Vomiting
• Mood swing
• Increased heart rate

Serious

• Abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death
• Sudden death in people with heart defects or other serious heart disease
• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• New or worse mental (psychiatric) problems, including behavior and thought problems, bipolar illness, psychosis, or mania
• Slowing of growth (height and weight) in children
• Seizures
• Circulation problems in fingers and toes (peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud's phenomenon)
• Serotonin syndrome
• New or worsening tics or worsening Tourette's syndrome

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine has a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to addiction. Misuse can cause overdose and death, and this risk increases with higher doses or using it in unapproved ways such as snorting or injecting it.
• Sudden death has occurred in people with heart defects or other serious heart disease who take this type of medicine. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to amphetamine products, if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the past 14 days, or if you have a tumor called pheochromocytoma.
• This medicine may cause slowing of growth (height and weight) in children, who should have their height and weight checked often during treatment. Combining this medicine with certain other drugs that affect serotonin can cause a life-threatening reaction called serotonin syndrome.
• This medicine is a federally controlled substance because of its potential for theft and misuse; keep it in a safe place and never give it to anyone else, since doing so may harm them and is against the law.
• It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment, and taking it during pregnancy may raise the risk of premature birth or low birth weight.
• This medicine passes into breast milk, and you should not breastfeed while taking it.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before taking this medicine.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
• Do not drive, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how this medicine affects you, since it can impair your reactions.

Storage

• Store amphetamine sulfate tablets at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Store amphetamine sulfate tablets in a safe place, like a locked cabinet.
• Dispose of remaining, unused, or expired tablets through a medicine take-back program at a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) authorized collection site.
• If no take-back program is available, mix the tablets with an undesirable, nontoxic substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds to make it less appealing to children and pets, then place the mixture in a sealed container like a plastic bag and throw it away in the household trash.
• Keep amphetamine sulfate tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting.
• Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening mental symptoms, especially hearing voices, seeing or believing things that are not real, or new manic symptoms.
• Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice any unexplained wounds appearing on your fingers or toes.
• Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you develop signs of serotonin syndrome, such as agitation, hallucinations, coma, confusion, fast heartbeat, dizziness, flushing, muscle stiffness, seizures, changes in blood pressure, sweating or fever, high body temperature, loss of coordination, or nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• If you or your child take too much of this medicine, call your healthcare provider or your local poison control center, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Alternatives

• Atomoxetine
• Guanfacine ER
• Clonidine ER