Stimulants - Medication List

atomoxetine (Strattera ®) benzphetamine (Didrex ®)
Caffeine (NoDoz ® , Vivarin ® ) dexmethylphenidate (Focalin ® )
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®) diethylpropion (Tenuate ® )
Methylphenidate (Concerta ®; Metadate ® ER; Metadate ® CD) Modafinil (Provigil ®)
Pemoline (Cylert ® ) phendimetrizine (Bontril SR ® , Prelu-2 ® )
phentermine (Fastin ® , Ionamin ®) sibutramine (Meridia ® )

atomoxetine  (Strattera ®)  top of page icon

Drug Category: Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor.
Indication
: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Dosing (usual): Treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents up to 70 kg body weight. Optimal doses appear to be 1.2 mg/kg daily, given once daily or in two divided doses. For children/adolescents over 70 kg body wt and adult patients, dose titration to 80 mg daily is recommended (single dose or two divided doses).

Dosing (Adults): Treatment of ADHD: Oral: Initial: 40 mg/day, increased after minimum of 3 days to ~80 mg/day; may administer as either a single daily dose or 2 evenly divided doses in morning and late afternoon/early evening. May increase to 100 mg in 2-4 additional weeks to achieve optimal response. Dosage adjustment in patients receiving strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (eg, paroxetine, fluoxetine, quinidine): Do not exceed  80 mg/day; dose adjustments should occur only after 4 weeks.

Note: Atomoxetine may be discontinued without the need for tapering dose.

Supplied:  Capsule: 10 mg, 18 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg

benzphetamine  (Didrex ®)  top of page icon

Initial: 25-50 mg po qd. Titrate to 25-50 mg po 1-3 times daily. Max dose: 50 mg tid.

[Supplied: 50 mg tablet]

Caffeine (NoDoz ® , Vivarin ® ) top of page icon

Dosing (Adults): 100-200 mg orally every 3 to 4 hours as needed

dexmethylphenidate  (Focalin ® ) top of page icon

CNS stimulant. d-threo -enantiomer of racemic methylphenidate hydrochloride. Indication: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Focalin is administered twice daily, at least 4 hours apart.
Patients new to methylphenidate: recommended starting dose for patients who are not currently taking methylphenidate, or for patients who are on stimulants other than methylphenidate: 5 mg/day (2.5 mg twice daily). Dosage may be adjusted in 2.5 to 5 mg increments to a maximum of 20 mg/day (10 mg twice daily).
In general, dosage adjustments may proceed at approximately weekly intervals. Patients currently using methylphenidate: recommended starting dose is half the dose of methylphenidate.
The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg/day (10 mg twice daily).

Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine ® ) top of page icon

Narcolepsy/ADHD: 2.5 to 10 mg orally every morning or 2 to 3 times daily. Long acting: 10-15mg orally once daily.

diethylpropion (Tenuate ® ) top of page icon

Adult (usual) Obesity: controlled release: 75 mg orally daily. Take mid-morning. Obesity: immediate release: 25 mg orally 3 times a day, 1 hr before meals. May take 1 dose mid-evening, if desired, to overcome night hunger.
Supplied: 75 mg CR, 25 mg tablet.

Methylphenidate (Concerta ®; Metadate ® ER; Metadate ® CD) top of page icon

Other:   Methylin  ® ER; Methylin ®; Ritalin-SR ®; Ritalin ® LA; Ritalin ®

Dosing (Adults):
Narcolepsy: Oral: 10 mg 2-3 times/day, up to 60 mg/day.
Depression: Oral: Initial: 2.5 mg every morning before 9 AM; dosage may be increased by 2.5-5 mg every 2-3 days as tolerated to a maximum of 20 mg/day. May be divided (eg, 7 AM and 12 noon), but should not be given after noon. Do not use sustained release product. ADHD: Oral: Refer to pediatric dosing.

Pediatric:
ADHD: Oral: Children >/= 6 years: Initial: 0.3 mg/kg/dose or 2.5-5 mg/dose given before breakfast and lunch; increase by 0.1 mg/kg/dose or by 5-10 mg/day at weekly intervals; usual dose: 0.5-1 mg/kg/day; maximum dose: 2 mg/kg/day or 90 mg/day

Extended release products:
Metadate® ER, Methylin® ER, Ritalin® SR: Duration of action is 8 hours. May be given in place of regular tablets, once the daily dose is titrated using the regular tablets and the titrated 8-hour dosage corresponds to sustained release tablet size.
Metadate® CD, Ritalin® LA: Initial: 20 mg once daily; may be adjusted in 10-20 mg increments at weekly intervals; maximum: 60 mg/day

Concerta®: Initial dose: Children not currently taking methylphenidate: 18 mg once daily in the morning.  Children currently taking methylphenidate: Note: Dosing based on current regimen and clinical judgment; suggested dosing listed below:
Patients taking methylphenidate 5 mg 2-3 times/day or 20 mg/day sustained release formulation: 18 mg once every morning.  Patients taking methylphenidate 10 mg 2-3 times/day or 40 mg/day sustained release formulation: 36 mg once every morning.
Patients taking methylphenidate 15 mg 2-3 times/day or 60 mg/day sustained release formulation: 54 mg once every morning.
Dose adjustment: May increase dose in increments of 18 mg; dose may be adjusted at weekly intervals. A dosage strength of 27 mg is available for situations in which a dosage between 18-36 mg is desired. Maximum dose should not exceed 2 mg/kg/day or 54 mg/day in children 6-12 years or 72 mg/day in children 13-17 years.

Supplied:
Capsule, extended release:  Metadate® CD: 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg.  Ritalin® LA: 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg.
Solution, oral:   Methylin®: 5 mg/5 mL (500 mL); 10 mg/5 mL (500 mL)]
Tablet: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg  (Methylin®, Ritalin®: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg)
Tablet, chewable: Methylin®: 2.5 mg; 5 mg; 10 mg.
Tablet, extended release: 20 mg.  Concerta®: 18 mg, 27 mg, 36 mg, 54 mg [osmotic controlled release].  Metadate® ER, Methylin® ER: 10 mg, 20 mg.
Tablet, sustained release (Ritalin-SR®): 20 mg

Modafinil  (Provigil ®)  top of page icon

Narcolepsy: Usual dose: 200mg orally once daily. [100, 200mg]

Pemoline  (Cylert ® ) top of page icon

Adult (usual):  Start 37.5 mg orally once daily in the morning. Usual effective dose: 56.25 to 75 mg/day. Max: 112.5 mg/day. Follow LFT's.

phendimetrizine  (Bontril SR ® ,  Prelu-2 ® ) top of page icon

Adult (usual): Obesity: sustained release forms: 105 mg orally once daily in the morning or before the morning meal. (Immediate release forms): 35 mg orally 2-3 times daily. Maximum: 70 mg 3 times daily. In some patients, one-half tablet (17.5 mg) was adequate.

[Supplied: 105 mg SR, 35 mg tablet]

phentermine (Fastin ® ,  Ionamin ®) top of page icon

Adult (usual):  8 mg orally three times daily or 15 to 37.5 mg every morning.

Supplied: 8, 15, 18.75, 30. 37.5 mg

sibutramine   (Meridia ® )  top of page icon

Anorexiant. Start -Obesity: 10 mg orally every morning. After 4 weeks may titrate up to 15 mg once daily as needed and tolerated (may be used for up to 2 years). Max: 15 mg/day.
[Supplied: 5, 10, 15 mg capsule]
top of page icon

Disclaimer

Listed dosages are for - Adult patients ONLY. PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER. GlobalRPH does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or provide medical services and therefore assumes no liability whatsoever of any kind for the information and data accessed through the Service or for any diagnosis or treatment made in reliance thereon.

David F. McAuley, Pharm.D., R.Ph.  GlobalRPh Inc.