Desoxyn (Methamphetamine) - Oral

What Is Desoxyn?

Desoxyn (methamphetamine) is a prescription drug used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a highly controlled drug that is classified as a schedule II drug. Desoxyn belongs to a class of drugs called stimulants. It is only available with a prescription.

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:

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 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.

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 ibuprofen
• Cough 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).