Dextroamphetamine [Dexamphetamine]

This chapter discusses dextroamphetamine (dexamphetamine), a neuropsychotropic drug. It presents the approved indications of the drug for neuropsychological disorders, usual dosage and administration, available dosage forms, storage, and compatibility, and the mechanism of action. Information on relative contraindications, clinically significant drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and overdosage is also provided. Sold under the trade name Dexedrine^®, dextroamphetamine is prescribed for narcolepsy. Dextroamphetamine appears to elicit its stimulant action primarily by increasing the release of norepinephrine from presynaptic storage vesicles in adrenergic neurons. Signs and symptoms of acute dextroamphetamine overdosage include acute, sometimes fatal, destruction of skeletal muscle (rhabdomyolysis), assaultiveness, and cardiovascular reactions (e.g., dysrhythmias, hypertension or hypotension, and circulatory collapse), confusion, and elevated body temperature (hyperpyrexia).