Generic name: dextroamphetamine [ DEX-tro-am-FET-a-meen ]
Drug class: CNS stimulants

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Jul 3, 2023.

What is Xelstrym?

Xelstrym (dextroamphetamine) is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine.

Xelstrym skin patches are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children at least 6 years old.

Xelstrym may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in adults and children 6 years of age and older with ADHD.

Xelstrym is a controlled substance as it contains dextroamphetamine. Xelstrym can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. Keep the patches in a safe place to protect them from theft. Never give Xelstrym patches to anyone else, as it may cause death or harm them.

Warnings

You should not use Xelstrym skin patches if you have glaucoma, overactive thyroid, severe agitation, moderate to severe high blood pressure, heart disease or coronary artery disease, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Dextroamphetamine may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, serious heart problems, or death.

Call your doctor right away if you have: chest pain, seeing or hearing things that are not real, decreased need for sleep, being agitated, unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Xelstrym patches if you are allergic to any stimulant medicine, or if you have:

• moderate to severe high blood pressure, heart problems or coronary artery disease (clogged arteries);

• overactive thyroid, glaucoma;

• severe anxiety, tension, or agitation (stimulant medicine can make these symptoms worse); or

• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Do not use Xelstrym if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others.

Tell your doctor if you also use opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with dextroamphetamine could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

To make sure Xelstrym is safe for you, tell your doctor if you or a family member have ever had:

• a heart defect, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease or sudden death;

• depression, mental illness, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts or actions;

• motor tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome;

• seizures or epilepsy, an abnormal brain wave test (EEG);

• contact dermatitis;

• blood circulation problems or peripheral vascular disease such as Raynaud's syndrome; or

• kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Using Xelstrym during pregnancy may increase the risk of premature birth, withdrawal symptoms or low birth weight.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of dextroamphetamine skin patch on the baby.

You should not breastfeed while using Xelstrym.

How should I use Xelstrym?

USe Xelstrym patches exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Dextroamphetamine may be habit-forming. Misuse can cause addiction, overdose, serious heart problems or death. Keep the medication where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Apply the Xelstrym patch to clean, dry, hairless skin. Press firmly into place for about 10 seconds. Leave the patch on while bathing, showering, or swimming. Apply the patch 2 hours before the effect is needed and remove the patch within 9 hours after application.

Choose a different place on your body each time you apply a new Xelstrym patch. Do not apply to the same skin twice in 7 days. Do not wear more than one patch at a time. Use only one Xelstrym patch per day. Never cut a skin patch.

Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. You may need medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine your doctor prescribes.

Store Xelstrym skin patches at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Read and carefully follow the instructions provided with this medicine about how to safely dispose of any unused portion. Do not flush Xelstrym skin patch down the toilet.

Dosing information

Pediatric Patients.
Recommended starting dose in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years: 4.5 mg /9 hours. Dosage may be adjusted in weekly increments of 4.5 mg up to a maximum recommended dose of 18 mg/9 hours.

Adults.
Recommended starting dose: 9 mg/9 hours. Dosage may be adjusted up to a maximum recommended dose of 18 mg/9 hours.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of dextroamphetamine can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, rapid breathing, hallucinations, aggressiveness, vomiting, diarrhea, uneven heartbeats, fainting, seizures, or coma.

What should I avoid while using Xelstrym?

Xelstrym may cause blurred vision and may impair your reactions. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.

Avoid external heat sources like hair dryers, heat lamps or saunas while wearing Xelstrym skin patch.

Xelstrym side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Xelstrym (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in certain people. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, or feeling short of breath.

Xelstrym may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of heart or blood circulation problems - chest pain, trouble breathing, numbness, cold feeling, or pale appearance of your fingers or toes;

• signs of mania or psychosis - seeing or hearing things that are not real, aggression, paranoia, decreased need for sleep, risk-taking behavior, being agitated or talkative;

• a seizure, muscle twitches (tics), changes in your vision, blurry vision; or

• mild skin irritation where the patch is worn.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Dextroamphetamine can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common Xelstrym side effects may include:

• dry mouth, upset stomach, loss of appetite, weight loss;

• headache, dizziness, sleep problems (insomnia), irritability, muscle twitching (tics); or

• nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure, tremors, fast heartbeats.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Xelstrym?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can interact with dextroamphetamine, especially:

• an antacid, migraine headache medicine, seizure medicine;

• fentanyl, tramadol, lithium, buspirone;

• acetazolamide, tryptophan, methenamine, vitamin c products;

• an antidepressant, a diuretic or "water pill"; or

• blood pressure medication.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with dextroamphetamine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: dextroamphetamine
Inactive ingredients: acrylic adhesives, green ink, polyester/polyurethane backing, and polyester release liner.

Manufacturer

Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Miami, FL 33186, USA.

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Xelstrym only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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