Home
Individuals and Families
Health and Wellness
Wellness Library
amphetamine

amphetamine

Pronunciation: am FET a meen

Brand: Adzenys ER, Adzenys XR-ODT, Dyanavel XR, Evekeo, Evekeo ODT

Evekeo

slide 1 of 4, Evekeo,

10 mg, round, blue, imprinted with EVK, 10

Image of Evekeo
slide 1 of 4

Amphetamine Sulfate

slide 2 of 4, Amphetamine Sulfate,

10 mg, round, blue, imprinted with 10

Image of Amphetamine Sulfate
slide 2 of 4

Evekeo

slide 3 of 4, Evekeo,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with EVK, 5

Image of Evekeo
slide 3 of 4

Amphetamine Sulfate

slide 4 of 4, Amphetamine Sulfate,

5 mg, round, white, imprinted with 5

Image of Amphetamine Sulfate
slide 4 of 4

What is the most important information I should know about amphetamine?

Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect.

Do not use amphetamine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.

Amphetamine may be habit-forming.

Call your doctor right away if you have: signs of heart problems --chest pain, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or signs of psychosis --paranoia, aggression, new behavior problems, seeing or hearing things that are not real;

What is amphetamine?

Amphetamine is a stimulant medicine that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Some brands of amphetamine are for children 6 years and older. Evekeo can be used in children as young as 3 years old.

Evekeo is also used to treat narcolepsy in adults and children at least 6 years old, or obesity in adults and children at least 12 years old who have not lost weight with diets or other treatments. Evekeo ODT is used only for ADHD.

Amphetamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amphetamine?

You should not use amphetamine if you are allergic to any stimulant medicine, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.

You may not be able to use amphetamine if you have:

  • chest pain or breathing problems caused by heart disease;
  • hardening of the arteries;
  • moderate to severe high blood pressure;
  • overactive thyroid;
  • a history of drug abuse; or
  • if you are agitated.

Tell your doctor if you also take opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with amphetamine could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in certain people. Tell your doctor if you have:

  • heart problems or a congenital heart defect;
  • high blood pressure; or
  • a family history of heart disease or sudden death.

Not approved for use by anyone younger than 3 years old.

Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has had:

  • depression, mental illness, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts or actions;
  • problems with drug or alcohol abuse;
  • motor tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome;
  • kidney disease;
  • a thyroid disorder;
  • seizures or epilepsy;
  • an abnormal brain wave test (EEG);
  • coronary artery disease (clogged arteries); or
  • blood circulation problems in the hands or feet.

Taking this medicine during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, or withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed.

How should I take amphetamine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Amphetamine may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Take with or without food.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid). Measure a dose with the supplied syringe or a dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Allow the orally disintegrating tablet to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine your doctor prescribes.

Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Keep your medicine in a place where no one can use it improperly.

Do not keep leftover amphetamine. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but not late in the day. Skip the missed dose if it is almost evening. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of amphetamine could be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, tremor, muscle twitches, rapid breathing, hostility, violence, panic, muscle pain or weakness, stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea. These symptoms may be followed by depression and tiredness. Overdose may also cause seizure or coma.

What should I avoid while taking amphetamine?

Avoid drinking alcohol.

Avoid drinking fruit juices or taking vitamin C at the same time you take amphetamine. These can make you absorb less amphetamine.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

What are the possible side effects of amphetamine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • signs of heart problems --chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;
  • signs of psychosis --hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia;
  • signs of circulation problems --numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes (pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes;
  • a seizure (convulsions);
  • muscle twitches (tics);
  • pain or burning when you urinate; or
  • changes in your vision.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Amphetamine can affect growth. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate.

Common side effects may include:

  • increased heart rate;
  • mood changes, anxiety, feeling restless or nervous;
  • trouble sleeping;
  • dry mouth, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
  • loss of appetite, weight loss;
  • painful urination;
  • sexual problems, impotence;
  • headache, dizziness;
  • fever, weakness; or
  • itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect amphetamine?

Many drugs can affect amphetamine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about amphetamine.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

© 2019 Cigna. All rights reserved
Language Assistance

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Group Universal Life (GUL) insurance plans are insured by CGLIC. Life (other than GUL), accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and disability plans are insured or administered by Life Insurance Company of North America, except in NY, where insured plans are offered by Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York (New York, NY). All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

 Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details