Amphetamines (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor . Do not take more or less of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence).

If you think this medicine is not working properly after you have taken it for several weeks, do not increase the dose . Instead, check with your doctor.

For patients taking the short-acting form of this medicine:

• Take the last dose for each day at least 6 hours before bedtime to help prevent trouble in sleeping.

For patients taking the long-acting form of this medicine:

• Take the daily dose about 10 to 14 hours before bedtime to help prevent trouble in sleeping.
• These capsules or tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush, or chew them before swallowing.

Amphetamines may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.

Dosing - The dose of amphetamines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of amphetamines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules or tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking amphetamines .

For amphetamine
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    • Adults - At first, 5 milligrams (mg) one to three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 6 years of age and older - At first, 5 mg one or two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 3 to 6 years of age - At first, 2.5 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 3 years of age - Use is not recommended.
  • For narcolepsy:
    • Adults - At first, 5 mg one to three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 12 years of age and older - At first, 5 mg two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age - At first, 2.5 mg two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For amphetamine and dextroamphetamine
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    • Children 6 years of age and older - At first, 5 milligrams (mg) one or two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 3 to 6 years of age - At first, 2.5 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 3 years of age - Use is not recommended.
  • For narcolepsy:
    • Adults - Usually 5 to 60 mg a day, divided into two or three smaller doses.
    • Children 12 years of age and older - At first, 10 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age - At first, 5 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For dextroamphetamine
• For oral extended-release capsule dosage form:
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    • Adults - 5 to 60 milligrams (mg) a day.
    • Children 6 years of age and older - At first, 5 mg one or two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 3 to 6 years of age - At first, 2.5 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 3 years of age - Use is not recommended.
  • For narcolepsy:
    • Adults - 5 to 60 mg a day.
    • Children 12 years of age and older - At first, 10 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age - At first, 5 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 3 to 6 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Children younger than 3 years of age - Use is not recommended.
• For oral tablet dosage form:
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    • Adults - 5 to 60 mg a day.
    • Children 6 years of age and older - At first, 5 mg one or two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 3 to 6 years of age - At first, 2.5 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 3 years of age - Use is not recommended.
  • For narcolepsy:
    • Adults - 5 to 60 mg a day.
    • Children 12 years of age and older - At first, 10 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age - At first, 5 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor.

For methamphetamine
• For oral tablet dosage form:
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    • Children 6 years of age and older - At first, 5 milligrams (mg) one or two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age - Use is not recommended.
• For oral extended-release tablet dosage form:
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    • Children 6 years of age and older - 20 to 25 mg a day.
    • Children younger than 6 years of age - Use is not recommended.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:

• One dose a day - Take the missed dose as soon as possible, but not later than stated above, to prevent trouble in sleeping. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip it and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
• Two or three doses a day - If you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose, take the dose right away. However, if you do not remember until later, skip it and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.