How Is Dexedrine Spansule Different from Immediate-Release Dexedrine?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a relatively common condition, and one of the primary ways doctors treat this condition, marked by difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, is with stimulant medications. One treatment option is Dexedrine Spansule, the brand name for an extended-release formulation of dextroamphetamine sulfate, which is closely related to but different from regular Dexedrine. These medications are closely controlled due to their high potential for misuse, just like other addictive prescription drugs in the United States.
Table of contents
» What Is Dexedrine?
» How Often Do You Need to Take Dexedrine Spansule vs. Immediate-Release Dexedrine?
» Which Form of Dexedrine Is Safer for Adults vs. Children?
» Which Form of Dexedrine Is Better for Managing ADHD Symptoms Throughout the Day?
» Key Takeaways on Dexedrine Spansule
» Resources
What Is Dexedrine?
Dexedrine is the brand name of dextroamphetamine sulfate, a central nervous system stimulant that is most often prescribed to treat ADHD. It’s also approved as a treatment for narcolepsy, and it has been used as an off-label treatment option after strokes have interrupted blood flow to the brain.
There are two main versions of Dexedrine available today:
- Immediate-Release Dexedrine: This standard version of dextroamphetamine sulfate, available in tablets, lasts for four to six hours. Typically, patients will take multiple doses per day, such as two or three times each day. Once ingested, the tablet releases a full dose of this medication into the body all at once, providing a more immediate, relatively short-lived effect.
- Dexedrine Spansule: Think of this as the extended-release version of Dexedrine. Patients only take it once a day, usually in the mornings. It lasts for eight to 10 hours, with the Spansule capsules containing the medication releasing the drug slowly—an initial dose right as soon as it’s taken, and gradual release of the remaining dosage over the course of several hours.
There are many differences in how these medications are taken, especially how they’re used to prevent or manage ADHD symptoms. Typically, someone taking Dexedrine Spansule will take one dose each morning because they could suffer from insomnia if they take it too late in the day, due to its extended-release formulation.
Regular Dexedrine, on the other hand, leads to more immediate relief of symptoms but also has a shorter-lived duration of being effective. Also, an entire dose of this medication must be taken all at once, while someone on immediate-release Dexedrine can cut the tablet in half to reduce their dosage. There are also differences in which formulation is approved for younger children.
How Often Do You Need to Take Dexedrine Spansule vs. Immediate-Release Dexedrine?
Dexedrine Spansule is an extended-release version of dextroamphetamine sulfate, and that means its effects to treat ADHD will last far longer than the standard, immediate-release formulation of this drug. Typically, someone who is prescribed Dexedrine Spansule will take the medication once a day—usually in the morning. The drug’s Spansule caplets have beads that are designed to carefully release the medication over time, with an initial dose released right away, and the rest of the drug slowly being administered over the course of several hours.
Patients taking this medication will typically feel the drug’s effects for eight to 10 hours. It normally takes seven to eight hours after taking the medication for it to reach its maximum concentration in the blood. Because of the long, slow nature of this formulation, patients on this drug have less flexibility in their timing of taking the medication compared to immediate-release Dexedrine.
Immediate-release Dexedrine is more, well, immediate when compared to the extended version of the drug. People prescribed this medication for ADHD will typically take two to three doses per day to treat their symptoms, with each dosage lasting about four to six hours.
Unlike the slow, gradual release of Dexedrine Spansule, this formulation will immediately deliver the full dose of medication as soon as the tablet is taken, providing a much faster onset but slower term of effect when compared to an extended-release version. It reaches a maximum concentration in the blood just three hours or so after it’s taken—more than twice as fast as extended-release versions. Patients have more flexibility with this formulation, allowing them to take it only for specific activities or needs, rather than taking it once daily. They can also split the tablet in half to take a smaller dose if desired.
Which Form of Dexedrine Is Safer for Adults vs. Children?
It’s natural to worry about severe side effects like brain damage and drug overdose—even when thinking about approved prescription medications designed to treat medical and mental health conditions. If you have a loved one who is navigating a diagnosis of ADHD, you might wonder which form of Dexedrine might be safer for them to consider. Let’s look at the age groups approved to use each version of this medication:
- 3 to 5 Years Old: Immediate-release Dexedrine is the only Food & Drug Administration-approved formulation for this young age group.
- 6 Years and Older: Both immediate-release Dexedrine and Dexedrine Spansule (extended-release Dexedrine) are approved by the FDA for patients over six.
The FDA has previously sent out a drug safety alert warning parents that kids under six who take extended-release stimulants such as Dexedrine Spansule could experience weight loss.
So, which formulation is safer for adults? Most often, doctors decide not to prescribe either one to people over the age of 18. The FDA doesn’t approve this medication to treat ADHD in adults and teens over the age of 16.
While immediate-release Dexedrine is approved to treat narcolepsy and ADHD in adults, doctors typically look for alternative treatments rather than prescribe this medication for ADHD for people who aren’t children or teenagers. Instead, other medications for adults are more commonly prescribed, including medicines containing methylphenidate, such as Ritalin or Concerta, and those with amphetamine, including Adderall and Vyvanse.
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Which Form of Dexedrine Is Better for Managing ADHD Symptoms Throughout the Day?
Dexedrine Spansule is the longer-acting form of Dexedrine, which is why it’s typically considered to be more effective in managing ADHD symptoms throughout the day. Patients who are prescribed this formulation of the drug usually take one dose each morning, getting relief from symptoms throughout most of their day. They take it in the morning because they can experience sleep difficulties and insomnia if it’s taken too late in the day.
While there are benefits in this kind of extended-release medication, it also comes at a cost. There is much less flexibility in dosing with Dexedrine Spansule compared to the shorter-lived Dexedrine, which needs to be taken multiple times each day.
Key Takeaways on Dexedrine Spansule
- Dexedrine is the brand name for dextroamphetamine, a central nervous stimulant approved to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.
- Dexedrine Spansule is an extended-release formulation that can provide relief from ADHD symptoms for as long as eight to 10 hours.
- Dexedrine is approved for children as young as three years old, while Dexedrine Spansule is only approved for those six and older.
- This medication is closely monitored due to its status as a drug with a high potential risk of misuse and addiction.
- Adults typically will be prescribed something other than Dexedrine to treat ADHD.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction to stimulants like Dexedrine, you’re not alone. Many effective prescription medications carry the risk of misuse, tolerance, and dependence, and it can be hard to overcome an addiction to a powerful drug like a stimulant.
That’s where the team at WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Treatment comes in. Our dedicated staff knows what it takes to break the chains of addiction, once and for all. We offer a full range of treatment options, including drug rehab residential programs in Florida for addiction, that have helped many others achieve long-lasting recovery. Call us at 877-855-3470 today to learn how we can help you get better.
Resources
- National Library of Medicine – Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine
- WebMD – Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Zenzedi, and Others) – Uses, Side Effects, and More
- Mayo Clinic – Dextroamphetamine (Oral Route)
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
