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Dexedrine Side Effects
Although most people tolerate Dexedrine well, there are some potential side effects of the medication, such as dizziness, weight loss, and erectile dysfunction. In many cases, Dexedrine side effects are minor and may be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. However, there are some more serious side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and hallucinations.
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Dexedrine® (dextroamphetamine sulfate). However, not everyone who takes this medicine will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(The side effects discussed below are not a complete list of the side effects reported with Dexedrine. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Dexedrine side effects with you.)
Common Side Effects of Dexedrine
Dexedrine has been thoroughly studied in clinical trials, with many people being evaluated. Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and are then compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, the side effects are always documented. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Based on these studies, the most common side effects of Dexedrine include:
- Overstimulation, restlessness, or insomnia
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Unpleasant taste
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite and decreased eating
- Weight loss (see Dexedrine and Weight Loss)
- Erectile dysfunction (ED or impotence) or changes in sex drive (see Dexedrine Sexual Side Effects).
Dexedrine can also cause a temporary slowing of growth in children. This slowing of growth is usually small (less than an inch and less than two pounds), and children usually catch up to within normal limits in time.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD