Methamphetamine excites nerves in your brain and spinal cord. It stimulates brain action and causes natural substances in your body—mainly dopamine (the “feel-good” hormone)—to be released. Desoxyn also blocks the reuptake and breakdown of these substances, which changes how much of them are in your brain.
What Is Desoxyn Used For?
Desoxyn is a drug used to treat (ADHD) in people aged 6 years and older. It helps to control ADHD symptoms like short attention spans, being easily distracted, and hyperactivity.
Desoxyn should not be used to treat fatigue or to replace rest in people who do not have ADHD.
How to Take Desoxyn
Take Desoxyn once or twice daily by mouth as directed by your healthcare provider.
Take the medication at least 30 minutes before acidic foods, juices, or vitamin C to avoid a drug-food interaction.
This medicine may cause sleep problems like insomnia. Use Desoxyn early in the day. Avoid taking it late in the evening.
Follow all the instructions on your prescription carefully. Methamphetamine has a risk of abuse and misuse. If you take this drug for a long time, it can become habit-forming, which means your body may become used to and reliant on it. Misusing Desoxyn can cause serious heart problems, including sudden death.
Storage
Store Desoxyn at room temperature (68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 25 degrees Celsius) and away from light. Do not store your medication in the bathroom.
Safely store Desoxyn away from children, pets, and other people. You may want to use a lockbox to keep your medication safe.Do not pour unused or expired medication down the drain or flush them down the toilet. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about the best ways to dispose of your medicine. Check for drug disposal boxes in your area. You can visit the FDA’s website to find out where and how to discard all your unused and expired drugs.
If you travel with Desoxyn, get familiar with your final destination’s regulations. Make a copy of your Desoxyn prescription. Keep your medication in its original container from your pharmacy with your name on the label. Ask your pharmacist or provider if you have any questions about traveling with your medicine.
Off-Label Uses
Desoxyn is used off-label to treat daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy and severe obesity.
What Are the Side Effects of Desoxyn?
This is not a complete list of Desoxyn side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.
Common Side Effects
Some common side effects of methamphetamine include but are not limited to:
Dry mouth Trouble sleeping Dizziness Constipation Diarrhea Anxiety Bad taste in your mouth Nausea Hair loss Headache Weight loss Lack of appetite (especially in children which can lead to a slower growth rate and weight loss)
Severe Side Effects
Strokes, heart attacks, and sudden death have happened in children and adults taking Desoxyn, especially people with heart problems. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Get medical help immediately if you have:
Seizures Tremors Agitation Weakness on one side of the body Trouble speaking or thinking Change in balance Drooping on one side of the face Blurred eyesight Chest pain Shortness of breath Severe dizziness Passing out Burning or numbness of hands or feet Painful or cold sensation in extremities Wounds on fingers or toes Dark urine Hallucinations Unable to pass urine Muscle pain or weakness Fast, slow, or abnormal heartbeat Severe nausea Severe headache Sexual dysfunction Decreased sex drive Change in color of hands or feet (e. g. , your skin turns pale, blue, or red) Serotonin syndrome symptoms (e. g. , hallucinations, sweating a lot) Mood changes (including depression or thoughts of suicide) Signs of an allergic reaction (e. g. , rash, trouble breathing)
Abuse potential: Methamphetamine can become habit-forming. Misuse may cause severe heart issues, including sudden death.
Long-Term Side Effects
Using amphetamines for extended periods has been linked to:
Nerve damage Long-term behavioral issues and mental effects Drug addiction Heart problems or damage Parkinson’s disease
Dosage: How Much Desoxyn Should I Take?
Modifications
The following changes (modifications) should be kept in mind when using Desoxyn:
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your provider may send a report to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
The amount of medicine 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 using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets): For ADHD: Adults and children 6 years of age and older—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) 1 or 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 25 mg per day. Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Severe allergic reaction: Avoid using Desoxyn if you have a known allergy to it or its ingredients. Ask your pharmacist or provider for a complete list of the ingredients if you’re unsure.
Pregnancy: In animal studies, Desoxyn was found to negatively affect the fetus. Avoid the use of Desoxyn during pregnancy. If you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant, talk to your provider about the benefits and risks of taking Desoxyn during your pregnancy.
Breastfeeding: Amphetamines are excreted in breast milk. People taking amphetamines should be advised to avoid breastfeeding. Talk with your provider if you plan to breastfeed and weigh the benefits and risks of taking Desoxyn while you are nursing. You can also discuss the different ways to feed your baby while you are taking this medication.
Adults over 65: Clinical studies have not included enough people in this age group to see whether they respond differently to the medication than younger adults do. Older adults who have multiple medical conditions or take several medications should use caution when taking Desoxyn.
Children: The long-term effects of using Desoxyn in children have not been established. It is not for use in children under the age of 6 years.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose once you remember. If it is too close to your next dose, skip the missed dose. Go back to your regular dosing frequency. Do not take extra or “double up” the quantity of your medication.
Try to find ways to help yourself remember to routinely keep your appointments and take your medication. If you miss too many doses, Desoxyn might be less effective at treating your condition.
Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Desoxyn?
Overdosing on Desoxyn (methamphetamine) may cause serotonin syndrome, organ failure, muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), or death. Overdose symptoms may include seizures, tremors, weakness on one side of the body, and fast, slow or irregular heartbeat.
Precautions
What Are the Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Desoxyn?
Do not take Desoxyn:
If someone collapses or is not breathing after taking Desoxyn, call 911 immediately.
Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI), including isocarboxazid [Marplan®], linezolid [Zyvox®], phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], tranylcypromine [Parnate®]), within the past 14 days.
You or your child will also need to have your blood pressure and heart rate measured before starting this medicine and while you are using it. If you notice any change in your blood pressure, call your doctor right away. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.
This medicine may cause serious heart or blood vessel problems. This may be more likely to occur in patients who have a family history of heart disease. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting while taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor right away if you or your family notice any unusual changes in behavior, such as an increase in aggression, hostility, agitation, irritability, or suicidal thinking or behavior. Also tell your doctor if you or your child see, hear, or feel things that are not there, or have any unusual thoughts, especially if they are new or getting worse quickly.
If you have been using this medicine for a long time and you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor. Some signs of dependence may be:
A strong desire or need to continue taking the medicine. A need to increase the dose to receive the same effects. Withdrawal effects after stopping the medicine such as mental depression, nausea or vomiting, stomach cramps or pain, trembling, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Symptoms of an overdose include: aggressive, confusion, fever, muscle pains, stiffness, cramps, or spasms, panic state, restlessness, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, shakiness in legs, arms, hands, feet, trembling or shaking of hands or feet, overactive reflexes, rapid breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.
This medicine may cause some people to feel a false sense of wellbeing or to become dizzy, lightheaded, or less alert than they are normally. It may also cause blurred vision or other vision problems. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.
This medicine may cause slow growth. If your child is using this medicine, the doctor will need to keep track of your child’s height and weight.
This medicine may cause Raynaud’s phenomenon, which is a problem with blood circulation in the fingers or toes. Tell your doctor if you have tingling or pain, a cold feeling, paleness, or skin color changes in the fingers or toes, especially when exposed to cold. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained sores or ulcers on your fingers or toes.
Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.
Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines, herbal or vitamin supplements, and medicine for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hayfever, or sinus problems.
If you are hypersensitive to amphetamine or any part of its formulation During or within 14 days after taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), including linezolid or methylene blue
Do not take Desoxyn if you have any of these health conditions:
Moderate to severe high blood pressure Hyperthyroidism A history of drug misuse Agitation Glaucoma Heart disease Advanced arteriosclerosis
What Other Medications Interact With Desoxyn?
Combining certain medicines with methamphetamine may increase side effects or lower how well either drug works. Avoid taking Desoxyn with:
AdreView (iobenguane) Kratom Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
AdreView is a drug used to test for tumors, but amphetamines lower how well it works. This makes it more difficult for your provider to test for tumors. Do not take methamphetamine until at least seven days after each dose of AdreView.
MAOIs (a drug used to treat depression) and kratom (an herb) can make methamphetamines more powerful. They increase the risk of severe Desoxyn side effects, including very high blood pressure.
What Medications Are Similar?
Some similar medications to Desoxyn that treat ADHD include:
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) Adderall (dextroamphetamine and amphetamine) Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine)
Methamphetamine is not the “go-to” stimulant drug that most providers prescribe to treat ADHD. It is rarely prescribed because of its negative side effects. It is also more potent and addictive than other amphetamines.
Other treatment options like Vyvanse, Adderall, and Dexedrine are very effective with fewer side effects.
How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Desoxyn?
Living with ADHD can be challenging, but it is manageable. Staying healthy mentally and physically is essential.
HeadacheDry mouthWeight lossConstipationAnxietyTrouble sleepingNauseaHair lossDizzinessDiarrheaBad taste in your mouthLack of appetite
If you or your child are coping with ADHD, behavioral therapy for you and your child and organizational and social skills training can help.
Studies have shown that biofeedback can be a valuable therapy to help support the development of attention in adults and children.
There is also evidence that ADHD may have roots in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). While it’s not the root cause for everyone, addressing trauma with a licensed therapist can be essential in the healing process. Talk to your or your child’s provider about different approaches and treatment options for ADHD.
It’s important to note that several medical conditions can be mistaken for ADHD, such as low iron levels or hypothyroidism. Studies have shown that sleep disturbances over time can also increase a child’s odds of developing ADHD. Your provider will need to rule out these conditions first to make a definitive diagnosis of ADHD.
Your provider can talk to your about sleep hygiene and rule out or address any sleep disorders—for example, enlarged adenoids blocking a child’s airway during sleep, sleep apnea, or restless leg syndrome—before diagnosing ADHD. Sleep problems can also make attention symptoms of ADHD worse.
Other disorders that need to be ruled out before making an ADHD diagnosis include anxiety, depression, learning disorders (e.g., dyslexia), and vision or hearing problems.
Your provider must also check for any heart conditions before prescribing a stimulant medication for ADHD. Those medications can worsen pre-existing heart conditions or cause sudden death. Your provider will want to monitor you and your child for any heart conditions during treatment with stimulant medications.
Pay attention to your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure. Check them as often as possible and let your provider know your readings.
Ask your provider before taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications or supplements that can increase your blood pressure, including:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofenCough and cold medicine (e. g. , pseudoephedrine)Certain herbs Diet pills
Call your healthcare provider if your mood changes. Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) if you need mental health support. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact your healthcare provider right away. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).
