Desoxyn Side Effects

Generic name: methamphetamine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 8, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Desoxyn Side Effects associated with methamphetamine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Desoxyn.

Applies to methamphetamine: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure the medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI), including isocarboxazid [Marplan®], linezolid [Zyvox®], phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], tranylcypromine [Parnate®]), within the past 14 days.

You or your child will also need to have your blood pressure and heart rate measured before starting this medicine and while you are using it. If you notice any change in your blood pressure, call your doctor right away. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious heart or blood vessel problems. This may be more likely to occur in patients who have a family history of heart disease. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting while taking this medicine.

Tell your doctor right away if you or your family notice any unusual changes in behavior, such as an increase in aggression, hostility, agitation, irritability, or suicidal thinking or behavior. Also tell your doctor if you or your child see, hear, or feel things that are not there, or have any unusual thoughts, especially if they are new or getting worse quickly.

If you have been using this medicine 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 may be:

• A strong desire or need to continue taking the medicine.
• A need to increase the dose to receive the same effects.
• Withdrawal effects after stopping the medicine such as mental depression, nausea or vomiting, stomach cramps or pain, trembling, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Symptoms of an overdose include: agitation, aggressive, blurred vision, change in consciousness, chest pain or discomfort, confusion, dark urine, diarrhea, dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse, fever, headache, inability to speak, loss of consciousness, muscle pains, stiffness, cramps, or spasms, nausea, nervousness, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, pale, clammy skin, palpitations, panic state, pounding in the ears, restlessness, seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there, seizures, shakiness in legs, arms, hands, feet, shivering, slow or fast heartbeat, slurred speech, sweating, talking or acting with excitement you cannot control, temporary blindness, thirst, trembling or shaking of hands or feet, overactive reflexes, rapid breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.

This medicine may cause some people to feel a false sense of wellbeing or to become dizzy, lightheaded, or less alert than they are normally. It may also cause blurred vision or other vision problems. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

This medicine may cause slow growth. If your child is using this medicine, the doctor will need to keep track of your child's height and weight.

This medicine may cause Raynaud's phenomenon, which is a problem with blood circulation in the fingers or toes. Tell your doctor if you have tingling or pain, a cold feeling, paleness, or skin color changes in the fingers or toes, especially when exposed to cold. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained sores or ulcers on your fingers or toes.

Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines, herbal or vitamin supplements, and medicine for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hayfever, or sinus problems.

Serious side effects of Desoxyn

Along with its needed effects, methamphetamine (the active ingredient contained in Desoxyn) 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 while taking methamphetamine:

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

Symptoms of overdose

• aggressive
• agitation
• angry
• blurred vision
• change in consciousness
• chest pain or discomfort
• confusion
• dark urine
• diarrhea
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fainting
• fast breathing
• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• fever
• headache
• inability to speak
• loss of consciousness
• muscle cramps, spasms, pain, or stiffness
• nausea
• nervousness
• overactive reflexes
• pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• pale, clammy skin
• palpitations
• pounding in the ears
• restlessness
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• seizures
• shivering
• slow or fast heartbeat
• slurred speech
• stomach cramps
• sweating
• talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
• temporary blindness
• thirst
• tremor
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe

Other side effects of Desoxyn

Some side effects of methamphetamine 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to methamphetamine: oral tablet, oral tablet extended release.

Cardiovascular adverse events

• Frequency not reported: Elevated blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitation, fatal cardiorespiratory arrest
• Postmarketing reports: Peripheral vasculopathy

Fatal cardiorespiratory arrest has been reported, mostly in the context of abuse/misuse.

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Urticaria, alopecia

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, intestinal ischemia, other gastrointestinal disturbances

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Impotence, frequent/prolonged erections

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Rhabdomyolysis, suppression of growth

Suppression of growth has been reported with long-term use of stimulants in children.

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Dizziness, tremor, headache, exacerbation of Tourette's syndrome, unpleasant taste

Psychiatric

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Psychotic episodes
• Frequency not reported: Dysphoria, overstimulation, euphoria, insomnia, restlessness, exacerbation of motor tics, exacerbation of verbal tics, changes in libido

Psychotic episodes have been rarely reported at recommended doses.

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What medications can cause a false positive for methamphetamines?

Further information

Desoxyn side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer