Drug & supplement interaction

Phenethylamine (pea) + Dextroamphetamine

Dextroamphetamine brand name: Dexedrine.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Phenethylamine (pea) has a moderate interaction with Dextroamphetamine. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with phenethylamine might increase the risk of serotonergic adverse effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Phenethylamine (pea) and Dextroamphetamine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Dextroamphetamine

Dextroamphetamine falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group Phenethylamine (pea) interacts with.

Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with phenethylamine might increase the risk of serotonergic adverse effects.
Animal research shows that phenethylamine increases levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with phenethylamine might increase the risk of additive serotonergic adverse effects, including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders. However, low-quality clinical research has used phenethylamine with selegiline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), with apparent safety.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: both PEA and dextroamphetamine nudge up the same brain chemicals (dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin). Dextroamphetamine isn't a prodrug that needs activating, so this is about stacking two stimulant-like effects rather than one blocking the other. Taken together, you could see more of dextroamphetamine's usual effects (a racing or pounding heart, higher blood pressure, jitteriness, trouble sleeping, anxiety), and in theory a small added risk of serotonin syndrome (agitation, sweating, tremor, fast heartbeat).

To be fair, this warning rests on animal and lab data, not solid human studies, so it's more of a caution than a proven danger. Still, two things pushing your heart and blood pressure the same way is worth respecting. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  2. Sabelli H, Fink P, Fawcett J, et al. Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1996;8(2):168-71.
  3. Xie Z, Miller G. Beta-phenylehtylamine alters monoamine transporter function via trace amine-associated receptor 1: implication for modulatory roles of trace amines in brain. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008;325(2):617-28.
  4. Nakamura M, Ishii A, Nakahara D. Characterization of beta-phenyltheylamine-induced monoamine release in rat nucleus accumbens: a microdialysis study. Eur J Pharmacol. 1998;349(2-3):163-9.
  5. Bailey B, Philips S, Boulton A. In vivo release of endogenous dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and some of their metabolites from rat caudate nucleus by phenylethylamine. Neurochem Res. 1987;12(2):173-8. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Phenethylamine (pea) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Phenethylamine (pea) has 186 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Dextroamphetamine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Phenethylamine (pea)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Phenethylamine (pea). Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Phenethylamine (pea) or Dextroamphetamine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Phenethylamine (pea) or Dextroamphetamine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dextroamphetamine

This page covers Phenethylamine (pea) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dextroamphetamine page lists 129 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major) and Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major).

By severity: 6 major · 100 moderate · 23 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dextroamphetamine page

“Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) is a stimulant for ADHD and narcolepsy, and I read this list with genuine wariness. Six of the 129 ingredients rate major, most of them because other stimulants, ephedra being the clearest, pile extra heart rate and blood pressure on top of what the drug already produces.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dextroamphetamine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Phenethylamine (pea) as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 208 real supplement products containing Phenethylamine (pea), each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Phenethylamine (pea). Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Dextroamphetamine too, on top of Phenethylamine (pea) — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Phenethylamine (pea) and Dextroamphetamine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Phenethylamine (pea)
Top half

#432 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Dextroamphetamine
Top 5%

#31 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Phenethylamine (pea)

What is Phenethylamine (pea)?

Phenethylamine (pea)
  • Mood support
  • Focus and concentration
  • Energy and pre-workout boost
  • Feeling of well-being
  • Athletic performance

Phenethylamine (PEA) is a natural compound made in the body and found in foods like chocolate; supplements are marketed for mood, focus, and energy. Reliable human research on the supplement is very limited, and it may raise blood pressure or heart rate, so people with heart or blood pressure problems should be cautious and check with a pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Phenethylamine (pea) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Dextroamphetamine

What Is Dextroamphetamine Used For?

Brand name: Dexedrine

Dextroamphetamine treats two conditions: ADHD and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder causing uncontrollable daytime sleepiness). It is available in multiple forms — tablets, extended-release capsules, oral solution, and a skin patch — and the approved age ranges vary by product.

Oral tablets (Zenzedi, generic) and oral solutions (Procentra, generic) are approved for ADHD in children as young as 3 years old and for narcolepsy. Extended-release capsules (Dexedrine, generic) are approved for ADHD in children ages 6 to 16 and for narcolepsy. Xelstrym, the transdermal patch, is approved only for ADHD — in adults and children ages 6 and older — and is not indicated for narcolepsy.

See full Dextroamphetamine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Phenethylamine (pea)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Phenethylamine (pea) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
186Moderate
0Minor
2,643No known interaction
Moderate

186 interactions

Showing 60 of 186 moderate interactions — see all 186 on the Phenethylamine (pea) page.

No interaction 2,643 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Phenethylamine (pea) and Dextroamphetamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Phenethylamine (pea) with Dextroamphetamine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Phenethylamine (pea) and Dextroamphetamine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Dextroamphetamine and Phenethylamine (pea)?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.