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A plain-language summary of the cited sources below. Informational only — not medical advice.
Dexamfetamine is a stimulant medication that works by increasing the activity of certain brain chemicals — dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin — that help with attention, impulse control, and wakefulness. It does this by triggering the release of these chemicals and slowing their removal from the gaps between brain cells. In Australia, it's approved for treating narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as hyperkinetic behaviour disorders in children.
The medication stays active in the body for around 10 hours, though this varies depending on factors like urine pH. Taking it later in the day can interfere with sleep, which is why it's usually given in the morning or early afternoon.
Common side effects your family member might experience include reduced appetite and weight loss, dry mouth, an unpleasant taste, or stomach issues like diarrhoea or constipation. Overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, tremor, and headache can also occur. Some people notice a faster heartbeat or palpitations. If your family member has motor or vocal tics or Tourette's syndrome, dexamfetamine can make these worse.
Less common but serious effects include psychotic episodes (which can happen even at usual doses), heart muscle problems with long-term use, changes in heart rhythm, thoughts of suicide, psychosis or mania, aggression, or circulation problems in the fingers and toes in people who are susceptible to these issues.
Dexamfetamine should not be used if your family member has certain heart conditions (including irregular heartbeat, past heart attack, severe angina, or moderate to severe high blood pressure), an overactive thyroid, a tumour of the adrenal gland called phaeochromocytoma, glaucoma, motor tics, Tourette syndrome, severe depression, anorexia nervosa, psychotic symptoms, suicidal thoughts, a history of drug or alcohol dependence, or severe anxiety or agitation. It must not be taken alongside monoamine oxidase inhibitor medications or within 14 days of stopping them, as dangerous spikes in blood pressure can result.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Clinical criteria: Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a health practitioner who is any of: (i) a medical practitioner, (ii) a nurse practitioner who is continuing treatment with this medicine (of any strength) that was initiated by a medical practitioner as a PBS benefit. Treatment must be in accordance with the law of the relevant State or Territory.
Narcolepsy Clinical criteria: Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a health practitioner who is any of: (i) a medical practitioner, (ii) a nurse practitioner who is continuing treatment with this medicine (of any strength) that was initiated by a medical practitioner as a PBS benefit.
“Amfetamines are non-catecholamine, sympathomimetic amines with central nervous system (CNS) stimulant activity.”
“The approximate plasma half-life is 10.25 hours however; excretion of dexamfetamine is enhanced in an acid urine and slowed in an alkaline urine.”
A plain-language summary of the cited sources below. Informational only — not medical advice.
Dexamfetamine is a centrally acting sympathomimetic amine that functions as a potent full agonist at trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), a GPCR that regulates monoaminergic systems in the brain. Activation of TAAR1 increases cyclic AMP production and inhibits dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters while inducing efflux of these monoamines. Dexamfetamine enantiomers also act as substrates for the vesicular monoamine transporter VMAT2, promoting further cytosolic release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The approved indications are narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and hyperkinetic behaviour disorders in children.
The plasma half-life is approximately 10.25 hours, though pH-dependent variability yields a range of 7–34 hours; urinary acidification enhances excretion, while alkalinisation slows it. Adverse effects include anorexia and weight loss, gastrointestinal disturbances, overstimulation, restlessness, insomnia, dyskinesia, tremor, headache, palpitations, and tachycardia. Exacerbation of motor and phonic tics and Tourette syndrome may occur. Serious adverse effects include psychotic episodes at recommended doses, cardiomyopathy associated with chronic use, QTc interval prolongation, suicidality, psychosis or mania, aggression or violence, and Raynaud's phenomenon in susceptible individuals.
Contraindications include cardiac arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease including history of myocardial infarction, severe angina pectoris and ischaemic heart disease, moderate to severe hypertension, hyperthyroidism, phaeochromocytoma, glaucoma, motor tics and Tourette syndrome, anxiety, tension, agitation, severe depression, anorexia nervosa, psychotic symptoms, suicidal tendency, known drug dependence or alcohol abuse, hypersensitivity or idiosyncrasy to dexamfetamine or sympathomimetic amines, and concurrent or recent monoamine oxidase inhibitor use (within 14 days).
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Curated subset. The full adverse-effect list is in the TGA Product Information; click any citation above to open it.