Dexamfetamine is a UK-licensed amphetamine-type stimulant, available as the brand Amfexa and generically. It's chemically one of the two active compounds found in Adderall, making it a direct relative rather than just a comparable alternative.

What it is and how it's used

Dexamfetamine treats ADHD by increasing dopamine and noradrenaline activity in the brain, which improves attention, focus and impulse control. In the UK, Amfexa is licensed specifically for children and adolescents aged 6–17, usually after methylphenidate hasn't been effective enough, and has a long history of clinical use in ADHD treatment, predating many newer formulations. It does not carry a UK licence for starting treatment in adults.

Medication class and mechanism

Dexamfetamine is an amphetamine-type stimulant, working by increasing the release of dopamine and noradrenaline while also blocking their reuptake — the same broad mechanism shared with other amphetamine-based medications, including Adderall (which contains dexamfetamine alongside its mirror-image isomer, levoamphetamine) and lisdexamfetamine (which converts into dexamfetamine in the body).

UK brand and formulation

Sold in the UK under the brand name Amfexa, and available generically as dexamfetamine sulfate. Unlike lisdexamfetamine's prodrug design, dexamfetamine is active as taken, giving it a shorter, more immediate action profile.

Prescription status in the UK

Dexamfetamine is a Schedule 2 Controlled Drug, available only with a valid prescription following specialist ADHD diagnosis, through both the NHS and private routes. UK treatment must be initiated and supervised by a specialist in childhood or adolescent behavioural disorders, consistent with its 6–17 licensed age range.

Common considerations

  • Because it's shorter-acting than lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine is often taken more than once a day — the exact schedule is set individually by your prescriber.
  • Its immediate-release, active-as-taken nature means effects and side effects can be more directly tied to dose timing than with a prodrug medication.
  • Appetite suppression, sleep disruption, and cardiovascular effects (raised heart rate/blood pressure) are commonly monitored, as with other amphetamine-type stimulants.
  • Some people find the more flexible multi-dose timing genuinely useful for tailoring coverage to their day; others prefer the simplicity of once-daily dosing available with Elvanse instead.

Safety and warnings

Dexamfetamine carries the same general amphetamine-class precautions as other UK stimulant medications — cardiovascular screening before starting, ongoing monitoring, and careful consideration in anyone with a relevant psychiatric or substance-use history. It is illegal to possess or supply without a valid prescription, and dose changes should only ever be made by a prescriber.

Starting treatment and titration

Dexamfetamine is started at a low dose and adjusted gradually, the same as other UK stimulant ADHD medications, with your prescriber monitoring effectiveness and side effects at review appointments over the first weeks of treatment. Because it's typically taken more than once a day, titration often involves adjusting both the total daily dose and how it's split across doses, to give consistent coverage without effects wearing off too early or interfering with sleep if taken too late.

Regular reviews during this period usually check heart rate, blood pressure, appetite and sleep, alongside how well symptoms are being managed — the same monitoring pattern used for other amphetamine-type stimulants.

How it compares to Adderall

Because dexamfetamine is a direct chemical component of Adderall, this is arguably the closest single-compound comparison available in the UK. See our full Adderall vs Dexamfetamine comparison for detail, or the ADHD medication overview for the complete UK picture.

Source: EMC — Amfexa SmPC.