Dexedrine is a prescription medicine which should be used under a doctor’s supervision. The improper use of this drug may lead to drug abuse and addiction.
The side effects of Dexedrine are dose dependent. Do not exceed the dose.
More common adverse effects of Dexedrine are:
•    headaches or dizziness;
•    insomnia;
•    dry mouth;
•    diarrhea, stomach upset;
•    constipation;
•    loss of appetite and/or weight loss;
•    impotence, decreased libido or problems with achieving an orgasm.
More serious side effects require immediate medical help. They may include the following:
•    severe allergic reactions;
•    fast or pounding heartbeats;
•    fainting;
•    severe uncontrolled hypertension;
•    anxiety;
•    agitation;
•    confusion;
•    shortness of breath;
•    seizure;
•    tremor;
•    hallucinations;
•    motor tics and muscle pain;
•    others.
In case any of the mentioned serious side events happens a patient should call a doctor without delay.

•  you have severe hardening of active heart or blood vessel disease; the arteries; severe or moderate or uncontrolled high blood pressure; glaucoma; an overactive thyroid;
•  you have allergic reaction  to similar medicines or to any ingredient in this drug;
•  you take guanethidine
•  you have a history of alcoholyou have taken or take furazolidone or MAOI (a monoamine oxidase inhibitor) (eg, phenelzine) within the last fourteen days
•  you have tension, anxiety, agitation;

•have allergy to any of the ingredients of the medication or to dextroamphetamine

•have allergy to other drugs of the same class

•are in an agitated state

•have a history of drug abuse

•have hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland)

•have advanced hardening of the arteries

•have increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma)

•have moderate-to-severe high blood pressure

•have heart disease

Dexedrine should not be used at the same time as, or within fourteen days after taking,  tranylcypromine or phenelzine (MAO inhibitors) .

Narcolepsy is a complex disease of the immune and central nervous system, characterized by unexpected complex sleep disorders which are manifested in pronounced daytime sleepiness with unexpected sudden sleep attacks and weaknesses, as well as possible hallucinations while falling asleep and waking up.

The cause of narcolepsy is not well understood. According to some experts, this disease is based on the lack of orexin, the active substance of the brain that regulate the process of falling asleep and waking up. Therapy by stimulant can alleviate the symptoms of the disease, but does not help get rid of it.

Narcolepsy usually touches young people, mostly men. There are opinions that the disease is hereditary.

Symptoms:

Sudden daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep during the day, usually the first and most noticeable symptoms of narcolepsy. Drowsiness is so unbearable that patients literally fall asleep, despite the extreme reluctance to or completely unsuitable environment.

In what situations psychostimulant medication is inappropriate?

The stimulants are not effective as a primary treatment for insomnia.In addition, stimulants should not be used to facilitate the normal fatigue states. Typically, these drugs are not suitable for use as a means to control body weight and appetite suppression, due to their strength degradation over time and the risk of side effects. For weight control it is better to use treatment based on behavioral therapy but not stimulants.

Narcolepsy

Children 6-12 years: the initial dose is 5 mg / day, if necessary, increase the dose to 5 mg 1 time per week, the maximum dose is 60 mg / day.

Children more than 12 years and adults: the initial dose is 10 mg / day, if necessary, increase the dose to 10 mg 1 time per week, the maximum dose is 60 mg / day.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Children 3-6 years: the initial dose is 2.5 mg / day, one time per day in the morning. If necessary, increase the dose to 2.5 mg / day 1 time per week. The average dose is 100-500 mg / kg / day, the maximum dose is 40 mg / day.

Children more than 6 years: 5 mg 1-2 times a day, if necessary, increase the dose to 5 mg / day 1 time per week. The average dose is 100-500 mg / kg / day (5-20 mg / day), the maximum dose is 40 mg / day.

Primary obesity, adults: 5-30 mg / day in divided doses (5-10 mg 30-60 minutes before meals).

Amphetamines and substances belonging to the family of amphetamines cover a large group of drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. Best of them are known as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), methamphetamine (Methedrine) and Merida (methylphendiate hydrochloride, Ritalin).

Benzedrine was the first drug of this group synthesized in 1887, but was not allowed as a pharmacological agent until 1932. By then other amphetamine inhalers were already distributed without prescription in pharmacies as a remedy for colds and asthma treatment. At the end of 1937 there was a new drug in tablet form as a remedy for narcolepsy. It was also recommended for the treatment of depression and to increase the energy potential. Soon amphetamines got sensational fame as a means of improving the activity of the brain. Amphetamine addiction has reached the size of the epidemic in the 70′s. By this time the legal manufacture of the substance in the U.S. reached more than 10 million (5 mg) tablets. There was also a significant increase in both the legal synthesis of amphetamine laboratories and illicit production of it on the black market, which is still the main source of the banned drug trade. Attempts have been made to limit and control the prescriptions made by doctors in order to stop the addiction. Some of these limitations have led, however, to the fact that the drug was not always available to patients taking it for therapeutic purposes. Amphetamine addiction is fairly typical for professional athletes and drivers carrying goods over long distances, which use the drug to relieve fatigue and increase energy.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a very common childhood behavioral and emotional problem. A child diagnosed with ADHD is immediately noticeable on the background of others. He never for a moment sits still, is in permanent move. ADHD symptoms are observed in 3-5% of the child population.

The most famous drugs used to treat ADHD are psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine with amphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine).

Stimulants are often influencing children differently. The child may respond well to one stimulant and bad to another. Determining the appropriate treatment for your child, doctors may try various stimulants. Stimulants are used to treat ADHD for more than 50 years. Among their possible side effects are loss of appetite, stomach pain, irritability and insomnia. Currently there is no information about the long-term side effects.