Dexamfetamine

Dexamfetamine is a central nervous stimulant (CNS) used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dexamfetamine can also be called a dopamine and noradrenaline reputake inhibitor - this describes how it works in the brain.

Dexamfetamine stimulates centres in the brain that are under active in people with ADHD, like the bits of the brain involved with concentration. Noradrenaline and dopamine are two naturally occurring chemical messengers that have an important role in areas of the brain that control mood, thinking, feelings, emotions and perception. Dexamfetamine works by blocking these chemical messengers from being taken back up into the nerve cells in the brain after being released. Dexamfetamine also mimics the action of these two chemicals, acting as a substitute. This results in higher levels of noradrenaline and dopamine between the nerve cells and allows these chemicals to hang around for longer.

It might seem odd that you would use a stimulant as a treatment for hyperactivity, but in people with ADHD, stimulant medicines do not make them more active as they do in other people. Instead these medicines will help to improve concentration, ability to focus and help with behaviour and other activities like the ability to plan, organise time, manage emotions and make decisions. Side effects are common when you first start taking a new medicine, some of the common ones for dexamfetamine include:

• disturbed sleep

• feeling anxious or nervious

• decreased appetite leading to lack of normal weight gain and possibly weight loss

• feeling unusually happy

• feeling irritable or aggressive

• feeling confused or having a low mood

• cramps or pain in your gut

• feeling sick

• dry mouth and changes in how you taste things

• heart and blood pressure changes, including fast heart rate

• rashes or itching skin 

• muscle pain

These are only some of the most common side effects, if you would like more information please speak to your doctor.

Please do not worry about these side effects. Some people will not get any side effects at all. If you think you are getting side effects from taking dexamfetamine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it via the 'Yellow Card' system.

If you have taken more dexamfetamine than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medial help immediately - even if you do not feel any different.