Dexamphetamine

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Dexamphetamine, also known as dextroamphetamine or dexamfetamine is a psychostimulant.[1][2][3]

Risks and safety[edit | edit source]

Risks include the potential for addiction / substance abuse and tolerance.[1] There are many side effects, including insomnia, irritability, dizziness, constipation, diarrhea, dyskinesia, dysphoria, headaches, appetite loss, and heart palpitations.[3]

Availability[edit | edit source]

Prescription only.[1]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Dexamphetamine is a suggested drug for fatigue and alertness in ME/CFS in the Canadian Consensus Criteria.[3]

Dexamphetamine and other CNS stimulants were not recommended as a treatment in the 2021 NICE ME/CFS guideline, with the committee stating "The committee noted the very low quality of the evidence and was not confident in the effects for CNS stimulants. The committee discussed their experience of CNS stimulants and were concerned about possible harms. They noted that CNS stimulants could cause people with ME/CFS to push themselves outside of their energy limits which could have damaging effects."[4]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]