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Mixed amphetamine salts: Difference between revisions

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| uses              = <vote slug="inattention">Inattention</vote>, <vote slug="narcolepsy">Narcolepsy</vote>
| uses              = <vote slug="inattention">Inattention</vote>, <vote slug="narcolepsy">Narcolepsy</vote>
| starting_dose    = 5 mg XR
| starting_dose    = 5 mg XR
| preparations      = IR tabs 5–30 mg; XR caps 5–30 mg; Mydayis caps 12.5–50 mg
| preparations      = IR tabs 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 30 mg; XR caps 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 mg; Mydayis caps 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50 mg
| routes            = Oral
| routes            = Oral
| onset            = IR: 30–60 min; XR: 1–2 h to peak effect
| onset            = IR: 30–60 min; XR: 1–2 h to peak effect
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| seealso          = [[Dextroamphetamine]], [[Lisdexamfetamine]], [[Methylphenidate]], [[Dexmethylphenidate]], [[Modafinil]], [[Atomoxetine]], [[Methamphetamine]]
| seealso          = [[Dextroamphetamine]], [[Lisdexamfetamine]], [[Methylphenidate]], [[Dexmethylphenidate]], [[Modafinil]], [[Atomoxetine]], [[Methamphetamine]]
| references        =  
| references        =  
}}
}}<h2 id="Pharmacokinetics">Pharmacokinetics</h2><span></span>
'''Absorption:''' Excellent oral bioavailability — sources report ">75%" to "~90%". Food does not significantly affect total absorption but can delay peak concentration. '''Distribution:''' Volume of distribution ~4 L/kg; plasma protein binding less than 20%. Crosses the blood–brain barrier and placenta. '''Metabolism:''' Amphetamine is oxidized to 4-hydroxyamphetamine, α-hydroxyamphetamine, or norephedrine. Norephedrine and 4-hydroxyamphetamine are active metabolites and are further metabolized to 4-hydroxy-norephedrine. Deamination of α-hydroxyamphetamine yields phenylacetone, which is metabolized to benzoic acid and conjugated to its glucuronide and hippuric acid. '''CYP2D6''' is crucial for amphetamine metabolism; genetic polymorphism causes significant inter-patient variability in clearance. Amphetamine itself inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO), and both CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 contribute to its metabolism.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK507808/</ref> '''Elimination:''' Primarily renal — ~30–40% recovered as unchanged amphetamine, the rest as metabolites. Due to its pK<sub>a</sub> of 9.9, urinary elimination is highly pH-dependent: alkaline urine reduces ionization and decreases renal clearance, while acidic urine and high flow rates accelerate clearance via active tubular secretion. '''Half-life:''' The D-enantiomer has a half-life of 9 hours in children (6–12 y), 11 hours in adolescents (13–17 y), and 10 hours in adults. The L-enantiomer is consistently longer-lived: 11 hours in children, 13–14 hours in adolescents, 13 hours in adults.<h2 id="Pharmacodynamics">Pharmacodynamics</h2><span></span>
Amphetamine produces its effects through several converging mechanisms at monoaminergic terminals:
*'''Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonism''' — activates TAAR1 in monoaminergic neurons, triggering PKA/PKC signaling that phosphorylates the dopamine and norepinephrine transporters (DAT, NET), causing them to internalize and reverse direction.
*'''VMAT2 substrate''' — enters the presynaptic terminal, displaces dopamine and norepinephrine from vesicles into the cytoplasm.
*'''Reverse transport via DAT/NET''' — the elevated cytoplasmic monoamine pool is then ejected into the synaptic cleft via the now-reversed transporters. '''This is the primary mechanism of action — release, not reuptake inhibition.'''
*'''Weak reuptake inhibition''' at DAT and NET (secondary to release).
*'''MAO inhibition''' at higher concentrations, slowing presynaptic catabolism of monoamines.
*'''Serotonergic effects''' at high or supratherapeutic doses (relevant to overdose and serotonin syndrome risk).
 
The net result is a robust increase in synaptic dopamine and norepinephrine in prefrontal cortex, striatum, and nucleus accumbens — underlying both therapeutic (attention, executive function, wakefulness) and reinforcing (euphoria, abuse liability) effects.<h2 id="Indications">Indications</h2>
*Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents, and adults
*Narcolepsy
*Off-label: treatment-resistant depression (augmentation), excessive daytime sleepiness in shift-work disorder, cognitive symptoms in chronic illness<h2 id="Titration">Titration strategies</h2>
<span></span><titration slug="typical-adult" title="Typical Adult" author="MDElliottMD">
Start at 5 mg XR; may increase by 5 mg each day until the desired effect is reached, up to 30 mg XR to start, and up to 60 mg XR eventually if necessary, in 10 mg increments.
 
Occasionally can go higher if no notable effects (good or bad) at 60 mg — proceed with caution.
 
If not long enough acting: add a tail dose of Adderall IR at [XR dose]/2.
If too long acting (e.g. disrupting sleep): switch to IR entirely (again at half the XR dose).
</titration>