Amphetamines are artificial stimulants related to adrenaline, a natural substance in the body. Amphetamines include drugs with brand names such as Dexedrine and are sometimes referred to as uppers, bennies, or speed.
Doctors use amphetamines to treat conditions such as narcolepsy (uncontrolled sleeping episodes). Amphetamine like drugs such as Ritalin are used medically to treat hyperactive children. Amphetamines were once used to treat weight problems and depression, but it is now illegal to prescribe them for these purposes.
People's reactions to low doses of amphetamines differ. Increased alertness, insomnia, shakiness, and a rise in blood sugar level can occur. The user may experience increased heart rate and level of urine output; breathing can become rapid and irregular, and the mouth can become dry. As well the user can experience diarrhea, and appetite loss.
At higher doses, these effects may be more intense. A person may also experience a great sense of well being. The user may imagine they are stronger or more intelligent. Increased energy to the point of agitation occurs. Occasionally, a user will experience panic and, in some cases depression and irritability. This panic can progress to paranoid thinking, confusion, hallucinations, and aggressiveness. Other effects include sweating, tingling in the hands, feet and head, fainting, heart pains, and passable heart problems.
Overdose can cause high fever, convulsions and coma. Stroke can also occur, causing permanent brain damage or even death.
A safe level of use of amphetamines has not been established. Infants born to mothers who abuse amphetamines have a greater risk of premature delivery and low birth rate. These infants may also have symptoms of amphetamine withdrawal which include agitation and drowsiness. Use of amphetamines during early pregnancy can also increase the risk of birth defects. As well, amphetamines can be excreted in breast milk.
Regular use can produce chronic sleeping problems, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and skin rash. Because amphetamines tend to suppress the appetite, long-term use can lead to nutritional problems.
A person who takes regular, high doses of the drug runs the risk of developing chronic psychosis, a condition similar to paranoid schizophrenia.
Tolerance is the body adapting to the presence of a drug. When tolerance to a drug increases, more of the drug is necessary to achieve the same effect. Users can develop some tolerance to amphetamines.
Users develop a dependence to the drug after chronic use, even at low doses. After stopping use of the drug, extreme fatigue is the most noticeable symptom. The sleep that follows is usually disturbed, but improves after several days. A large appetite accompanied by moderate to severe depression is typical of amphetamine withdrawal.
Some of the effects of amphetamines are so reinforcing that users will go to great lengths to obtain them. The craving for the drug can be very intense.
Because of the great likelihood of dependence, amphetamine abuse, even at low levels, is considered hazardous.