dextroamphetamine

noun

dex·​tro·​am·​phet·​amine ˈdek-(ˌ)strō-am-ˈfe-tə-ˌmēn 

-mən

: a drug consisting of the dextrorotatory form of amphetamine that is usually administered in the form of its sulfate (C₉H₁₃N)₂·H₂SO₄ chiefly in the treatment of narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Note: Dextroamphetamine is a strong stimulant of the central nervous system and is a common drug of abuse.

Examples of dextroamphetamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sarah Paquin says her 9-year-old son, Declan, takes dextroamphetamine for his ADHD. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 13 June 2025

Adderall, a prescription ADHD and narcolepsy medication, includes a mixture of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, not methamphetamine. —Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Examples include antidepressants for depression or stimulants such as Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) for ADHD.17 Neurostimulation: Neurostimulation is an option when medications or psychotherapy aren’t yielding results. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025

Patients who took 30 milligrams or more of dextroamphetamine − or 40 milligrams of Adderall − developed psychosis and mania nearly 5.3 times more often than those who did not take the medication, according to the study published Thursday in the American Journal of Psychiatry. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024

The drugs include Adderall, Vyvanse and generic amphetamines, such as dextroamphetamine. —Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024

Patients taking the highest dosages — more than 40 milligrams of Adderall, 100 mg of Vyvanse or 30 mg of dextroamphetamine — were 5.3 times more likely to develop psychosis than patients taking no stimulants. —Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024

The risk was highest in those prescribed 30 milligrams (mg) or more of dextroamphetamine — which is equivalent to 40 mg of Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) or 100 mg of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine). —Don Rauf, EverydayHealth.com, 18 Sep. 2024

The study found that those who took 40 milligrams of Adderall, 100 mg of Vyvanse or 30 mg of dextroamphetamine were 5.3 times more likely to develop psychosis than patients who didn’t take any stimulants, the outlet reported. —Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dextroamphetamine

• apolipoprotein
• dimethylaniline
• hydroxytryptamine
• metallothionein
• oxyacetylene
• phenoxybenzamine
• phosphatidylserine
• trichloroethylene
• triethanolamine
• acetylene
• adenosine
• amphetamine

Medical Definition

dextroamphetamine

noun

dex·​tro·​am·​phet·​amine ˌdek-(ˌ)strō-am-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn, -mən 

variants or chiefly British dexamphetamine

ˌdek-sam-ˈfet-ə-ˌmēn, -mən 

: a drug consisting of dextrorotatory amphetamine that is usually administered in the form of its sulfate (C₉H₁₃N)₂·H₂SO₄, chiefly in the treatment of narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Note: Trademarks for preparations containing dexamphetamine include Adderall and Dexedrine. It is a strong stimulant of the central nervous system and is a common drug of abuse.