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Amphetamine: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action DrugBank Online

what is amphetamines

The orally disintegrating tablet is usually taken once daily in the morning with or without food or liquid. The extended-release orally disintegrating tablet is usually taken once daily in the morning with or without food. For treatment of ADHD or narcolepsy, the immediate-release tablet is usually taken with or without food 1 to 3 times daily, 4 to 6 hours apart, with the first dose in the morning. For weight loss, the immediate-release tablet is usually taken 30 to 60 minutes before meals. Amphetamine should not be taken in the late afternoon or evening because it may cause difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

  • This medicine is used as part of a total treatment program that also includes social, educational, and psychological treatment.
  • If you or your child are taking amphetamine for ADHD, your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of amphetamine and increase your dose gradually, every 4 to 7 days, depending on the medication.
  • Prescription amphetamine drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Dexedrine, are Schedule II drugs.
  • Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually and monitor you carefully during this time.

Review Date 5/4/2024

This sensation is something that can cause addiction because people might look to feel that rush more often than they should, as prescribed by their healthcare provider. This document is a general reference and not a comprehensive list. This list describes the basic or parent chemical and does not describe the salts, isomers and salts of isomers, esters, ethers and derivatives which may also be controlled substances. Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse relative to substances listed in Schedule IV and consist primarily of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics.

  • In the past, it has been used to treat narcolepsy and to help with weight loss, but this is less common now.
  • Contingency management interventions, which provide tangible incentives in exchange for engaging in treatment and maintaining abstinence, have also been shown to be effective.
  • In a person with this condition, strong emotions can trigger a sudden loss of muscle tone, or cataplexy, which causes a person to collapse and possibly fall down.
  • There are no specific medications that counteract the effects of amphetamines or that prolong abstinence from and reduce the abuse of amphetamines.
  • People who follow the prescribed, therapeutic dose are unlikely to experience severe adverse effects.

Amphetamine may interact with other medications

what is amphetamines

Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta) are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Used under prescription, stimulants can be safe and effective. A prodrug form of dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, is also available and is marketed under how long do amphetamines stay in your system the brand name Vyvanse. There’s some evidence that amphetamines may treat obesity by acting as appetite suppressants. A 2015 clinical trial published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology reported that patients who took amphetamine medications experienced increased weight loss and motivation.

Reference notes

what is amphetamines

You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription. «The increase of dopamine, as well as the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, [can lead to] hallucinations and psychosis, similar to schizophrenia,» Franssen said. Together, those two chemicals can also have other mental effects. Federal and state laws provide penalties for possessing, using, making, selling, importing or exporting, or driving under the influence of meth/amphetamines.

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what is amphetamines