Health Library

Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (By mouth)

Treats ADHD. Also treats narcolepsy.

Brand Name(s):

Adderall, Adderall XR, Mydayis

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Long Acting Capsule, Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• Extended-release capsule:
  • Take the capsule in the morning right after you wake up. You may have trouble falling asleep at night if you take it in the afternoon or evening.
  • Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
  • If you cannot swallow the capsule, you may open it and sprinkle the contents over a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing.
  • You may take the capsule with or without food, but make sure to take it the same way each time.
• Tablet: Take the tablet in the morning and early afternoon. You may have trouble falling asleep if you take it at night.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine if you are using or you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 14 days.
• Some foods and medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetazolamide, ammonium chloride, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), buspirone, chlorpromazine, ethosuximide, fentanyl, glutamic acid, guanethidine, haloperidol, hydrochlorothiazide, lithium, meperidine, methenamine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, propoxyphene, quinidine, reserpine, ritonavir, sodium acid phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, St John's wort, tramadol
  • Blood pressure medicine
  • Cold or allergy medicine
  • Medicine to treat depression (including desipramine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, protriptyline)
  • Stomach medicine (including cimetidine, esomeprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole)
  • Triptan medicine to treat migraine headache
  • Tryptophan supplement
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart or blood vessel disease (including arteriosclerosis), kidney disease, heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, or a history of heart attack, stroke, seizures, or Tourette syndrome. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of depression, mental health problems, or drug or alcohol addiction.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious heart or blood vessel problems, including heart attack and stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Unusual changes in behavior or thoughts
  • Peripheral vasculopathy (blood circulation problem), including Raynaud's phenomenon
  • Slow growth in children
  • Increased risk for seizures
  • Serotonin syndrome (when used with certain medicines)
• This medicine may make you dizzy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Anxiety, fever, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Blurred vision, lightheadedness or fainting, muscle cramps, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, sweating, trouble breathing
• Chest pain, fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Extreme energy or restlessness, confusion, agitation, unusual mood or behavior, trouble sleeping
• Numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body, pain in your lower leg
• Seizures
• Sores, coldness, numbness, color changes or unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes
• Sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry mouth, stomach pain
• Headache, dizziness
• Loss of appetite, weight loss

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024