What is the appropriate extended‑release dose for a patient currently taking Austedo (dextroamphetamine) 12 mg twice daily?

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Last updated: November 12, 2026 • View editorial policy

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Conversion from Austedo 12 mg BID to Extended-Release Formulation

Switch directly to Austedo XR 24 mg once daily, which is the bioequivalent extended-release dose for a patient currently taking Austedo 12 mg twice daily (total daily dose of 24 mg).

Direct Conversion Guidance

According to the FDA-approved prescribing information for Austedo, when switching between AUSTEDO tablets (twice daily) and AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets (once daily), you should switch to the same total daily dosage 1.

Specific Dosing Instructions:

  • Current regimen: Austedo 12 mg BID = 24 mg total daily dose
  • New ER regimen: Austedo XR 24 mg once daily
  • Administration: Take once daily, with or without food 1
  • Important: Swallow whole—do not chew, crush, or break the tablet 1

Implementation Details

The conversion is straightforward and requires no dose adjustment or titration period. Simply:

  1. Discontinue the immediate-release Austedo 12 mg BID
  2. Initiate Austedo XR 24 mg once daily the following day
  3. No tapering or bridging is required for this formulation switch

Key Advantages of Extended-Release

The once-daily dosing of Austedo XR offers practical benefits:

  • Improved medication adherence (once-daily vs twice-daily dosing generally improves compliance) 2
  • Eliminates need for midday dosing
  • Maintains the same total daily exposure with equivalent efficacy

Monitoring Considerations

After switching to the extended-release formulation:

  • Monitor for continued efficacy in controlling chorea or tardive dyskinesia symptoms
  • Assess tolerability, particularly for depression, suicidality, or unusual behavioral changes (black box warning for Huntington's disease patients) 1
  • No additional safety monitoring beyond standard Austedo precautions is required for the formulation switch itself

Important Caveat

If the patient is taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors or is a poor CYP2D6 metabolizer, the maximum total daily dose should not exceed 36 mg 1. In your patient's case at 24 mg daily, this is not a concern, but verify medication interactions before switching.

References

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.