Dexamfetamine sulfate (also spelt dexamphetamine sulphate, usually just called dexamfetamine) is a stimulant drug that is used to promote wakefulness and so reduce excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Dexamfetamine is supplied in a number of different forms, but for the treatment of narcolepsy is usually prescribed as a tablet.
Full Answer
Is amphetamine/dextroamphetamine effective for the treatment of narcolepsy?
Amphetamine / dextroamphetamine has an average rating of 8.2 out of 10 from a total of 81 ratings for the treatment of Narcolepsy. 80% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 10% reported a negative effect. Adderall (amphetamine / dextroamphetamine): “Generic Adderall is not the same.
What are the uses of dextroamphetamine oral tablet?
Dextroamphetamine oral tablet is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Decreased mental alertness warning: This drug can interfere with your concentration or make you feel less tired than you really are.
What is the mechanism of action of amphetamines in narcolepsy?
Amphetamines are exceptionally wake-promoting, and at high doses also reduce cataplexy in narcoleptic patients [ 9 ], an effect best explained by its action on adrenergic and serotoninergic synapses. Amphetamines are water-soluble (thus risk of diversion to intravenous administration) and very potent wake-promoting compounds.
What are the side effects of dextroamphetamine?
This may cause levels of dextroamphetamine to increase in your blood. This may increase your risk of extremely high blood pressure, chest pain, severe headache, and high body temperature.
What does dexamphetamine sulfate do?
This medication is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - ADHD. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Dextroamphetamine belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants.
How does Adderall help with narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy may stem from the death of a particular type of brain cell. These cells produce the chemical hypocretin, which is essential for regulating the sleeping and waking cycle. Stimulant medications, such as Adderall, boost the levels of a brain chemical called norepinephrine, which helps promote wakefulness.
How do stimulants work for narcolepsy?
Stimulants. If necessary, a GP or specialist may prescribe a type of medicine known as a stimulant, such as modafinil, dexamphetamine, methylphenidate or pitolisant. These medicines stimulate your central nervous system, which can help keep you awake during the day. They're usually taken as tablets every morning.
Which drug is used to treat a patient with narcolepsy?
Drugs that stimulate the central nervous system are the primary treatment to help people with narcolepsy stay awake during the day. Doctors often try modafinil (Provigil) or armodafinil (Nuvigil) first for narcolepsy.
Is Ritalin or Adderall better for narcolepsy?
Is Ritalin or Adderall better? Ritalin and Adderall are both effective prescription drugs to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Research has shown that Ritalin may be better for children and adolescents while Adderall may be better for adults.
Why does Adderall help me sleep better?
Why Sleepiness Can Happen With Adderall. Adderall is a stimulant that boosts your levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These are neurotransmitters in your brain that calm and relax you so you can focus better. They also affect sleep in different ways.
How does sodium oxybate work for narcolepsy?
Sodium oxybate is the only agent FDA-approved for treating cataplexy—muscle weakness common among patients with narcolepsy. Developed as an anesthetic, sodium oxybate induces deep sleep and at higher doses causes amnesia. Derived from gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), sodium oxybate's mechanism of action is unknown.
How does Ritalin help narcolepsy?
Methylphenidate hydrochloride (or just methylphenidate) is a "stimulant" that is used to promote wakefulness and to reduce excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.
How do you treat narcolepsy and ADHD?
Doctors may prescribe certain medications to treat both narcolepsy and ADHD, such as modafinil or the stimulant methylphenidate. People with ADHD may also benefit from other medications and therapy. People with narcolepsy can benefit from maintaining healthy sleep habits.
Why is modafinil a controlled substance?
PROVIGIL is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep PROVIGIL in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away PROVIGIL may harm others, and is against the law.
What is the main cause of narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is often caused by a lack of the brain chemical hypocretin (also known as orexin), which regulates wakefulness. The lack of hypocretin is thought to be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the cells that produce it or the receptors that allow it to work.
Are opioids used to treat narcolepsy?
The evidence reported suggests that codeine and other opiates may be useful for the treatment of the EDS of narcolepsy. An entirely different class of drugs with significantly fewer side effects may thus become useful for the treatment of the major symptoms of narcolepsy, EDS.
Other warnings
Decreased mental alertness warning: This drug can interfere with your concentration or make you feel less tired than you really are. Avoid driving, using heavy machinery, or doing anything else that requires you to be mentally alert until you know how it affects you.
How it works
Dextroamphetamine belongs to a class of drugs called central nervous system stimulants. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.
More common side effects
The more common side effects that can occur with dextroamphetamine include:
Serious side effects
Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Drugs that increase acid levels in urine, stomach, or intestines
Acidifying drugs can decrease the amount of dextroamphetamine your body absorbs. This could decrease the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine. Examples of these drugs include:
Drugs that increase sodium bicarbonate in urine, stomach, or intestines
Alkalizing drugs can increase the amount of dextroamphetamine your body absorbs. This could increase side effects from dextroamphetamine. Examples of these drugs include:
Serotonergic drugs
Taking these drugs with dextroamphetamine may increase your risk of serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal. If you take any of these drugs, your doctor will start you on a lowered dosage of dextroamphetamine and monitor you for signs of serotonin syndrome. Symptoms can include agitation, sweating, muscle twitches, and confusion.
What is Dexedrine?
Dexedrine has active ingredients of dextroamphetamine sulfate. It is often used in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. eHealthMe is studying from 4,107 Dexedrine users for its effectiveness, alternative drugs and more.
What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy (brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally) is found to be associated with 1,144 drugs and 602 conditions by eHealthMe.
How to use the study?
You can discuss the study with your doctor, to ensure that all drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood.
How the study uses the data?
The study is based on dextroamphetamine sulfate (the active ingredients of Dexedrine) and Dexedrine (the brand name). Other drugs that have the same active ingredients (e.g. generic drugs) are not considered. Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study neither.
Who is eHealthMe?
With medical big data and proven AI algorithms, eHealthMe provides a platform for everyone to run phase IV clinical trials. We study millions of patients and 5,000 more each day. Results of our real-world drug study have been referenced on 600+ peer-reviewed medical publications, including The Lancet, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Nature.
WARNING, DISCLAIMER, USE FOR PUBLICATION
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?
The four main symptoms of narcolepsy are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnopompic/hypnagogic hallucinations. Experienced sleep medicine clinicians understand that not all patients with narcolepsy experience all symptoms and that the manner in which any patient with narcolepsy experiences his ...
Is there a public funder for research on drug addiction?
The sensitivity of the subject, especially now, in the shadow of the current epidemic of opiate use, makes it unlikely that any public funder of research will fund a study that aims to show that any group of people are resistant to drug addiction.
Is the author biased toward narcolepsy?
The author is an advocate for people with narcolepsy and his opinion, while based on objective information found in the literature, is biased toward improving the welfare of that group.
Do doctors need individualized treatment for narcolepsy?
As more physicians become aware that there are differences regarding drugs in patients with narcolepsy and therefore individualized treatment is needed, they will become more comfortable with prescribing adequate doses of this class of drugs to this specific patient population.
Is narcolepsy rare in the US?
Narcolepsy is then considered a rare disease according to the Rare Diseases Act of 2002, which defines as rare any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans.
Is amphetamine a stimulant?
Regarding amphetamine-based stimulants, the authors of the aforementioned article in Sleep 18 state, “These medications have a long history of effective use in clinical practice but have limited information available on benefit-to-risk ratio.
Is narcolepsy a common occurrence?
Given that rarity and the fact that the disorder is not well understood even by a significant number of sleep medicine clinicians, 2 the unintentional withholding of adequate treatment from patients with narcolepsy is a common occurrence.
