methamphetamine

meth-am-FET-a-meen hye-droe-KLOR-ide

Oral route(Tablet)

Methamphetamine has a high potential for abuse and it should be tried only in weight reduction programs for patients in whom alternative therapy has been ineffective. Administration for prolonged periods of time in obesity may lead to drug dependence and must be avoided .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Desoxyn

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet, Extended Release


• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: CNS Stimulant

Chemical Class: Amphetamine (class)

Uses For methamphetamine

Methamphetamine belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. methamphetamine is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methamphetamine increases attention and decreases restlessness in patients who are overactive, unable to concentrate for very long or are easily distracted, and have unstable emotions. It is also used as part of a total treatment program that also includes social, educational, and psychological treatment .

Methamphetamine is also used as a part of short-term plan, along with a low calorie diet, for weight reduction in obese patients who have not been able to lose weight on other therapies .

Methamphetamine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor .

methamphetamine is available only with a doctor's prescription. Prescriptions cannot be refilled. A new prescription must be obtained from your doctor each time you or your child needs methamphetamine .

Before Using methamphetamine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For methamphetamine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to methamphetamine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of methamphetamine in children below 12 years of age for weight loss. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of methamphetamine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving methamphetamine .

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking methamphetamine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using methamphetamine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Brofaromine


• Clorgyline


• Furazolidone


• Iproniazid


• Isocarboxazid


• Lazabemide


• Linezolid


• Moclobemide


• Nialamide


• Pargyline


• Phenelzine


• Procarbazine


• Rasagiline


• Selegiline


• Toloxatone


• Tranylcypromine

Using methamphetamine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Ritonavir

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of methamphetamine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Agitation, anxiety or tension or


• Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), severe or


• Drug abuse or dependence, history of or


• Glaucoma or


• Heart disease or


• High blood pressure, moderate or severe or


• Hyperthyroidism—methamphetamine should not be used in patients with these conditions .

• Heart problems or defects or


• High blood pressure, mild or


• Mental illness (e.g., aggressive behavior, hostility, psychosis, mania, family history of suicide, bipolar illness, depression) or


• Seizures, history of or


• Thyroid problems—Use with caution. Serious side effects may occur .

• Tourette's syndrome, history of or other tics—Children and their families should be checked by their doctor for this condition before taking methamphetamine .

Proper Use of methamphetamine

Take methamphetamine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) .

If you think methamphetamine is not working properly after you have taken it for several weeks, do not increase the dose. Instead, check with your doctor .

methamphetamine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions .

It is best not to take methamphetamine late at night because it may cause sleeplessness .

Dosing

The dose of methamphetamine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of methamphetamine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  
  • For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
    
    • Adults and children 6 years of age and older—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) one or two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
    
    
    • Children younger than 6 years of age—Dose must be determined by your doctor .
    
    
  
  
  • For obesity:
    
    • Adults, teenagers, and children 12 years of age and older—5 mg taken ½ hour (30 minutes) before each meal.
    
    
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use is not recommended .
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of methamphetamine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using methamphetamine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure methamphetamine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .

If you will be taking methamphetamine in large doses for a long time, do not stop taking it without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely .

Do not take methamphetamine within 14 days of taking an MAO inhibitor such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate®.

methamphetamine may cause some people to feel a false sense of well-being or to become dizzy, lightheaded, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to methamphetamine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) .

If you have been using methamphetamine for a long time and you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on it, check with your doctor. Some signs of dependence on amphetamines are:

• A strong desire or need to continue taking the medicine.


• A need to increase the dose to receive the effects of the medicine.


• Withdrawal effects (for example, mental depression, nausea or vomiting, stomach cramps or pain, trembling, unusual tiredness or weakness) occurring after the medicine is stopped .

methamphetamine may cause slow growth. If your child is using methamphetamine, the doctor will need to keep track of your child's height and weight to make sure that your child is growing properly .

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements .

methamphetamine Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Agitation


• delusions


• hallucinations

Incidence not known

• Blurred vision


• chest discomfort or pain


• difficulty breathing


• dizziness


• faintness


• false or unusual sense of well-being


• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse


• headache


• nervousness


• pounding in the ears


• restlessness


• shakiness in legs, arms, hands, or feet


• shortness of breath


• sleeplessness


• swelling of feet or lower legs


• trembling or shaking of hands or feet


• trouble sleeping


• troubled breathing


• twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs


• unable to sleep


• uncontrolled vocal outbursts and/or tics (uncontrolled repeated body movements)


• unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Change in consciousness


• dark-colored urine


• diarrhea


• discouragement


• feeling sad or empty


• fever


• irritability


• lack of appetite


• loss of consciousness


• loss of interest or pleasure


• mood or mental changes


• muscle cramps or spasms


• muscle pain or stiffness


• nausea


• panic state


• physical attempt to injure


• rapid breathing


• seizures


• stomach cramps


• sweating


• trouble concentrating


• trouble sleeping


• violent actions


• vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after)taste


• change in taste


• constipation


• decreased interest in sexual intercourse


• dry mouth


• hives or welts


• inability to have or keep an erection


• indigestion


• itching


• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance


• passing of gas


• redness of skin


• skin rash


• weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: methamphetamine side effects (in more detail)

The information contained in the Thomson Reuters Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.

The use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Reuters Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Reuters Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products.

More methamphetamine resources

• Methamphetamine Side Effects (in more detail)
• Methamphetamine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Methamphetamine Drug Interactions
• Methamphetamine Support Group
• 12 Reviews for Methamphetamine - Add your own review/rating

• methamphetamine Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Methamphetamine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Methamphetamine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Desoxyn Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Desoxyn Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare methamphetamine with other medications

• ADHD
• Obesity