Dexedrine is a psychostimulant medication prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Like other stimulant medications, Dexedrine acts on the central nervous system and increases the number of neurotransmitters in the brain. Boosting two of these neurotransmitters—dopamine and norepinephrine—helps improve a person’s focus and concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

Dexedrine is a brand name for a drug that is composed completely of dextroamphetamine. It is available in tablets and as capsules called Dexedrine Spansule. Dexedrine tablets are short-acting and are effective for about four to six hours.1 They are usually taken two or three times per day.

Dexedrine Spansule is extended-release, and so is typically effective for eight to 12 hours.2 When a capsule is taken, a first dose is released promptly, and the remaining medication is released gradually. It is taken once per day.

History

Dextroamphetamine is one of the oldest stimulant medications. Here is a quick look at its history:

• 1930s: In the mid-1930s, an American pharmaceutical company called Smith, Kline & French first marketed a product called Buy Dexedrine 5mg Online
• 1960s: The United States passed a law that required all drugs on the market to be effective and safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began the Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (DESI) program, which evaluated all the drugs that were available before 1962.4 During the DESI process, Dexedrine was approved for narcolepsy and “hyperkinetic disorder of childhood.” This was a name for the condition we now call ADHD.
• In 1976, Dexedrine Spansule was approved.5 It was available before this date but had not been formally approved under the modern FDA approval standards.
• 1990s: In the early 1990s, several companies were making dextroamphetamine.

Forms and Doses

Short-acting Dexedrine tablets are available in 5-milligram (mg) and 10-mg dosages. Dexedrine Spansule is available in 5-mg, 10-mg, and 15-mg capsules.2 Both are approved by the FDA for people six years of age and older.

Your doctor will work closely with you to find the right therapeutic dose for you or your child. Typically, the lowest dose is tried first. The dose is gradually increased by 5 mg at a time until the dose is found that helps the ADHD symptoms. The dose could range from 5 mg to 40 mg.

Dexedrine is a brand-name drug. The generic version of Dexedrine is called dextroamphetamine.1 Both short-acting tablets and Dexedrine Spansule capsules are available in generic versions. However, some people report that the generic version is not as effective, or they have side effects they did not have with Dexedrine.

Does Dexedrine Slow a Child’s Growth?

In the 1970s, there were concerns that taking a stimulant medication might slow or stunt a child’s growth. Because Dexedrine was a popular ADHD medication at that time, people often make a connection between Dexedrine and children’s growth issues. instagram

In his book Taking Charge of ADHD, Russell Barkley, PhD, explains that the risk of slow or stunted growth because of stimulant medication is much less than it was thought to be in the 1970s.6

When it was believed ADHD stimulant medication could affect growth, parents were advised to give their children “medication holidays.” This meant children would take their medication as prescribed during the school year but would have a break during school holidays and possibly on weekends.