Centanafadine

This information from UpToDate^® Lexidrug^™ explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to treat attention deficit problems with hyperactivity.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take this drug?

For all patients taking this drug:

• If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you or a family member have any of these health problems: Blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, heart structure problems, or other heart problems.
• If you have liver disease.
• If you have an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma.
• If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson’s disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.

Children:

• If your child is younger than 6 years old or weighs less than 44 lb (20 kg). This drug is not approved for use in these children.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take this drug?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Have blood work, blood pressure, and heart rate checked as you have been told by the doctor.
• You may need to have some heart tests before starting this drug. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.
• Talk with your doctor before drinking alcohol. Do not drink alcohol for at least 2 hours after taking this drug.
• If you are allergic to tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5), talk with your doctor. Some products have tartrazine.
• If you are taking this drug and have high blood pressure, talk with your doctor before using OTC products that may raise blood pressure. These include cough or cold drugs, diet pills, stimulants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, and some natural products or aids.
• If you have bipolar disorder, manic episodes may happen while taking this drug. Call your doctor if you have signs of a manic episode.
• This drug may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Fast or abnormal heartbeat.
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
• Trouble controlling sounds, like humming, throat clearing, yelling, or making loud noises.
• Trouble controlling body movements.
• Blood flow problems to your fingers and toes may happen with this drug. Tell the doctor right away if fingers or toes are numb, cold, painful, or change color. Skin may turn pale, blue, gray, purple, or red. Tell the doctor if you get any sores or wounds on the fingers or toes.
• A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen. The risk may be greater if you also take certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache.
• Sudden deaths have happened in people with some heart problems or heart defects. Tell your doctor if you have any heart problem or defect. Tell your doctor if a family member has an abnormal heartbeat or died suddenly. Get medical help right away if you have any signs of heart problems like chest pain, abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, or severe dizziness or passing out.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Trouble sleeping.
• Headache.
• Feeling sleepy, tired, or weak.
• Dry mouth.
• Diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, or decreased appetite.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

How is this drug best taken?

Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take with or without food.
• Take this drug in the morning unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• Swallow whole. Do not chew, cut, or crush.
• If you cannot swallow this drug whole, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the entire contents into 1 tablespoon (15 mL) applesauce, yogurt, or orange juice. Take right away followed by water. Do not chew the granules. Do not save the mixture for use at a later time.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If you miss a dose by more than 4 hours, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• Do not take more than 1 dose of this drug in the same day.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else’s drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2026-08-07

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