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- $Unique_ID{BRK03026}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{amphetamine}
- $Subject{Sulfate Lannett Amphetamine central nervous system stimulant
- increases mental alertness fatigue narcolepsy sleep desires attacks abnormal
- behavioral syndrome hyperkinetic attention deficit disorder appetite
- suppressant altering nerve impulses}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- amphetamine
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAME (Manufacturer)
-
- Amphetamine Sulfate (Lannett)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Amphetamine
-
- INGREDIENT
-
- amphetamine
-
- DOSAGE FORM
-
- Tablets (5 mg and 10 mg)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Store at room temperature in a tightly closed container.
-
- USES
-
- This medication is a central nervous system stimulant that increases
- mental alertness and decreases fatigue. It is used to treat narcolepsy (a
- disorder involving uncontrollable desires to sleep or actual sleep attacks
- that occur in a rapid and unpredictable manner) and abnormal behavioral
- syndrome in children (hyperkinetic syndrome or attention deficit disorder).
- The way this medication acts to control abnormal behavioral syndrome in
- children is not clearly understood.
- Amphetamine is also used as an appetite suppressant during the first few
- weeks of dieting (while you are trying to establish new eating habits). It is
- thought to relieve hunger by altering nerve impulses to the appetite control
- center in the brain. Its effectiveness as an appetite suppressant lasts only
- for short periods (three to 12 weeks), however.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- In order to avoid stomach upset, you can take amphetamine with food or
- with a full glass of milk or water (unless your doctor directs you to do
- otherwise).
- If this medication is being used to treat narcolepsy or abnormal
- behavioral syndrome in children, the first dose each day should be taken soon
- after awakening. Subsequent doses should be spaced at four- to six-hour
- intervals.
- If this medication has been prescribed as a diet aid, it should be taken
- one hour before each meal.
- In order to avoid difficulty in falling asleep, the last dose of this
- medication each day should be taken four to six hours before bedtime.
- If you miss a dose of this medication, take the missed dose as soon as
- possible, unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, don't
- take the missed dose at all, just return to your regular dosing schedule. Do
- not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, false
- sense of well-being, insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, nausea,
- overstimulation, restlessness, unpleasant taste in the mouth, or vomiting.
- These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.
- In order to prevent constipation while taking this medication, increase
- the amount of fiber in your diet (bran, fresh fruits and vegetables, salads,
- wholegrain cereals and breads), drink more water, and exercise more (unless
- your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- Dry mouth can be relieved by sucking on ice chips or a piece of hard
- candy or by chewing sugarless gum.
- If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down for a while; get up from a sitting or
- lying position slowly, and be careful on stairs.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- blurred vision, confusion, fatigue, headaches, impotence, mental depression,
- palpitations, rash, sweating, tightness in the chest, tremors, uncoordinated
- movements, or unusual bleeding or bruising.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- Amphetamine interacts with several other types of medications:
- 1. The concurrent use of amphetamine and a monoamine oxidase (MAO)
- inhibitor (isocarboxazid, pargyline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine) should be
- avoided, since the combination may result in convulsions, high blood pressure,
- or high fever. At least 14 days should separate the use of amphetamine and
- the use of an MAO inhibitor.
- 2. Barbiturate medications, phenothiazine tranquilizers (especially
- chlorpromazine), and tricyclic antidepressants can antagonize (act against)
- this medication.
- 3. Amphetamine can decrease the blood-pressure-lowering effects of
- antihypertensive medications (especially guanethidine) and may alter insulin
- and oral antidiabetic medication dosage requirements in diabetic patients.
- 4. The side effects of other central nervous system stimulants, such as
- caffeine, over-the-counter (nonprescription) appetite suppressants, and cough,
- cold, allergy, asthma, or sinus preparations, may be increased by amphetamine.
- 5. Acetazolamide and sodium bicarbonate can decrease the elimination and
- prolong the duration of action of the amphetamines.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- any medications, especially to amphetamine or other central nervous system
- stimulants (albuterol, dextroamphetamine, ephedrine, epinephrine,
- isoproterenol, metaproterenol, norepinephrine, phenylephrine,
- phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, terbutaline).
- * Tell your doctor if you have a history of drug abuse, or if you have
- ever had problems with agitation, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, heart or blood
- vessel disease, high blood pressure, or thyroid disease.
- * Amphetamine can mask the symptoms of extreme fatigue and can cause
- dizziness. Your ability to perform hazardous tasks, such as driving a car or
- operating potentially dangerous machinery, may be decreased. Appropriate
- caution should, therefore, be taken.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- * Amphetamine may be habit-forming when taken for long periods of time
- (both physical and psychological dependence can occur). Therefore, you should
- not increase the dose of this medication or take it for longer than 12 weeks
- unless you first consult your doctor. It is also important that you not stop
- taking this medication abruptly--fatigue, sleep disorders, mental depression,
- nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or pain can occur. Your doctor may,
- therefore, want to decrease the dose gradually in order to prevent these side
- effects.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although studies have
- not been done in humans, some of the amphetamines have caused heart, brain,
- and biliary tract abnormalities in the fetuses of animals who received large
- doses of these drugs during pregnancy. Also, tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of this drug pass into breast milk.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-