what are the side affects from Dexedrine?

Answer 1

Known Side effects:

Nervousness
Insomnia.
Loss of appetite.
Addiction
High blood pressure
Rapid pulse rate
Tolerance (constant need to raise the dose)
Feelings of suspicion and paranoia.
Phonic tics
Tourette's syndrome

Answer 2

Dextroamphetamine ( Symptoms or Effects )

Pretty Common Dexedrine Side Effects include : Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, and anger.

Less Common, but Serious Dexedrine Side Effects include : Abdominal pain, headache, loss of appetite and weight loss, mood changes, increased temper outbursts, lack of coordination, tics or other unusual movements, Tourette's Syndrome, irritability, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, nervousness, skin rash, hives, blurred vision, sexual problems, or paranoia. If any of these start, SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN ASAP.

Beware of: Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, dizziness, or restlessness. SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN ASAP.

Stop taking the Dexedrine, and see your physician NOW: Abdominal pain, headache, lack of coordination, tics / unusual movements, skin rash, hives, or paranoia.

AMPHETAMINES
Brand Names: Dexedrine, Biphetamine, Desoxyn, various other preparations.

Used for: Officially, for three conditions: (1) narcolepsy, a condition in which the patient falls asleep suddenly during the day; (2) obesity, and (3) hyperactivity in children. Unofficially, it is sometimes used for chronic depression that fails to respond to all other treatments and for very ill medical patients with depression.

Do Not Use if: You haven't tried other antidepressants and psychotherapy, you have high blood pressure, you are very nervous or have severe insomnia, you have a history of addiction to drugs or alcohol, or you have Tourette's syndrome.

Tests to Take First: You should probably have an electrocardiogram to be sure nothing is wrong with your heart and your blood pressure should be recorded.

Tests to Take While You Are on It: Blood pressure and pulse should be taken every day for the first week, then once a week for a month, and then at least every month.

Usual Dose: Usually starts with 5 or 10 mg per day and can be raised, sometimes to 50 mg or higher. The higher the dose the worse will be the addiction. Amphetamines should not be taken at bedtime.

How Long Until It Works: Usually almost immediately, sometimes an hour after the first dose. The effect also wears off quickly, lasting only a few hours. Therefore the drug is usually taken in divided doses two or three times daily. After it has worked for a while the effect may wear off and the patient may require a higher dose. This is called tolerance. At this point a decision must be made either to keep raising the dose or to stop the drug because it is not working adequately.

Common Side Effects: (1) Nervousness. (2) Insomnia. (3) Loss of appetite. (4) Addiction.
Less Common Side Effects: (1) High blood pressure. (2) Rapid pulse rate. (3) Tolerance (constant need to raise the dose). (4) Feelings of suspicion and paranoia.

What to Do About Side Effects: The last dose of the drug every day should be taken several hours before bedtime to prevent insomnia. Nervousness usually goes away and appetite returns so that weight loss is rarely dangerous. Nothing can be done about the addiction except to remember not to stop taking amphetamines abruptly. If high blood pressure, rapid pulse, paranoia, or tolerance becomes a problem, the drug is usually stopped.

If It Doesn't Work: The drug should be slowly tapered. Fortunately, the withdrawal symptoms are psychological and not medical.

If It Does Work: Some people decide to stay on the drug indefinitely. A very sick medical patient may legitimately stay on it for the rest of her life.

Cost: Brand, 15 cents/5-mg pill. Generic, 3 cents/5-mg pill.

Special Comments: Amphetamines are given only in special situations by very experienced psychiatrists. They are medically safe but usually produce addiction. There is also a good chance they will provide only temporary help."


an excerpt from The People's Pharmacy
Avon Books and St. Martin's Press (1976)

Some health professionals fear that these medications may end up being over prescribed. Dr. Carl Kline, an expert in the field of learning disabilities from the University of British Columbia, has this to say,

It is my belief that if these drugs were outlawed, children would not be at all deprived of essential medication, but that doctors would be forced to make more accurate diagnoses and seek better means of handling the hyperactive behavior of a certain small percentage of their little patients.

Do these drugs make a difference in the long-term outcome of the minimal brain dysfunction?

"Until recently, the most important question concerning Ritalin or Amphetamine administration has not been asked. Do these drugs make a difference in the long-term outcome of the minimal brain dysfunction? A comprehensive examination of this subject carried out at the Montreal Children's Hospital discovered a startling fact. At the end of five years, hyperkinetic children who received drugs (either Ritalin or Chloropromazine) did not differ significantly from children who had not received. Although it appeared that hyperactive kids treated with Ritalin were initially more manageable, the degree of improvement and emotional adjustment was essentially identical at the end of five years to that seen in a group of kids who had received no medication at all.

Parents might want to consider another approach.

Answer 3

Palpitations

Tachycardia

Increased blood pressure

Central Nervous System (CNS) CNS stimulation

Psychosis

Dizziness

Insomnia

Headache

Nervousness

Irritability

Tics and other abnormal involuntary movements

Gastrointestinal Anorexia

Nausea

Vomiting

Stomachaches

Stomach cramps or pain

Dry mouth

Endocrine/
metabolic Weight loss

Growth suppression

Other Leukopenia

Skin rash or hives

Hypersensitivity reaction

Blurred vision

Jaundice

Anemia

Elevated liver enzymes

Answer 4

there are none