The Food and Drug Administration approved the ADHD stimulant drug Evekeo in 2014 for the management of ADD symptoms. What distinguishes it from different prescription drugs like Adderall? Who might steal it? What drawbacks are there? Learn more here.
What is Evekeo?
The FDA approved the ADHD stimulant drug Evekeo in 2014. In contrast to Adderall, which contains an equal amount of dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine (75%) and levoamphetamine (25%) (25%) respectively), Evekeo is an amphetamine sulphate. Evekeo is a short-acting, immediate-release drug. For more information, visit the Evekeo website.
What symptoms does Evekeo treat?
Anyone older than three years old can take Evekeo to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). For patients 12 years of age and older, it has also been approved for the treatment of narcolepsy and, in some circumstances, as a short-term obesity treatment.
Is Evekeo effective?
In 107 kids between the ages of six and twelve, a small study that was recently published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology demonstrated that Evekeo was superior to a placebo at reducing hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.
What doses does Evekeo come in?
Evekeo is available in 5 mg. and 10 mg. tablets. Tablets are grey or blue and are scored, so they can be easily split in half.
What dose should I take?
Between the ages of three and five, 2.5 mg per day should be the starting dose, which should be gradually increased by 2.5 mg per week until the ideal dose is reached. Patients over the age of six can begin taking 5 mg once or twice a day, depending on your doctor’s recommendations. Up until the right dosage is found, the dose can be raised by 5 mg every week.
Contraindications
Evekeo is contraindicated in patients who:
- Have a history of advanced atherosclerosis, symptoms of cardiovascular disease, moderate to severe hypertension, hyperthyroidism, or known hypersensitivity to sympathomimetic amines
- Tension or agitation
- Have a drug abuse history
- For those who are taking or have recently taken an MAOI within 14 days; hypertensive crises could result.
Warnings and Precautions
- Children and teenagers with structural cardiac abnormalities or other severe heart issues have experienced sudden death while receiving standard doses of CNS stimulants.
- Adults taking stimulant medications for ADHD at recommended dosages have been reported to experience sudden death, stroke, and myocardial infarction. The average increase in blood pressure and heart rate from stimulant medications is about 2-4 mmHg (mean increase of about 3-6 bpm). For more significant variations in heart rate and blood pressure, all patients should be watched.
- In order to determine whether a child, adolescent, or adult is a candidate for treatment with Evekeo, a thorough medical history should be taken (including a look at any family members who have experienced sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia) and a physical examination should be performed to check for cardiac disease.
- Patients who experience any heart-related symptoms while taking Evekeo, such as exertional chest pain, unexplained syncope, or other symptoms of cardiac disease, should get a quick cardiac evaluation.
- Patients with new or worsening BMD or those who already have a psychotic disorder may experience worsening symptoms from stimulants. Children and adolescents taking medications for ADHD should be watched for the appearance of, or the worsening of, aggressive behavior or hostility.
- Treatment-emergent psychotic or manic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusional thinking, or mania, can occur in children or adolescents. > Aggressive behavior or hostility is also frequently observed in children and adolescents taking medications for ADHD.
