Amphetamines

What are amphetamines?

Amphetamines are stimulant drugs, which means they speed up the messages travelling between the brain and the body.

Some types of amphetamines are legally prescribed by doctors to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (where a person has an uncontrollable urge to sleep). Amphetamines have also been used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Other types of amphetamines such as speed are produced and sold illegally. The more potent form is crystal methamphetamine .

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What do they look like?

The appearance of amphetamines varies. These drugs may be in the form of a powder, tablets, crystals and capsules. They may be packaged in ‘foils’ (aluminium foil), plastic bags or small balloons when sold illegally.

Amphetamine powder can range in colour from white through to brown, sometimes it may have traces of grey or pink. It has a strong smell and bitter taste. Amphetamine capsules and tablets vary considerably in size and colour.

Illegally produced amphetamines can be a mix of drugs, binding agents, caffeine and sugar. new psychoactive substances may also be added.

Uses of amphetamine and side effects :

Amphetamine is a powerful stimulator of the central nervous system. It is used to treat some medical conditions, but it is also highly addictive, with a history of abuse.

Stimulants such as amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta) are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Used under prescription, stimulants can be safe and effective.

Amphetamine sulphate, or speed, is also used for recreational and non-medical purposes. It can lead to euphoria, and it suppresses the appetite, which can lead to weight loss. Used outside the medical context, stimulants can have severe adverse effects.

In this article, we will look at amphetamine’s medical uses, and its side effects.

Medical uses

Amphetamine activates receptors in the brain and increases the activity of a number of neurotransmitters, especially norepinephrine and dopamine.

Dopamine is associated with pleasure, movement, and attention.

Amphetamine has been trialed for a wide variety of conditions. Now, it is mainly used to treat ADHD, and, rarely, depression. In the past, it has been used to treat narcolepsy and to help with weight loss, but this is less common now.

– Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity, irritability, mood instability, attention difficulties, lack of organization, and impulsive behaviors.

It often appears in children, but it can continue into adulthood.

Amphetamines reverse some of these symptoms and have been shown to improve brain development and nerve growth in children with ADHD.

Long-term treatment with amphetamine-based medication in children appears to prevent unwanted changes in brain function and structure.

Scientists carrying out a review of 20 studies concluded that stimulants are probably helpful for people with ADHD.

They found that the brain structures of people who took stimulants for ADHD were more likely to resemble the brain structures of people without the condition than to resemble those with ADHD who did not use the drugs.

A review published in Cochrane in 2011 suggested that adults with ADHD might benefit from short-term use of amphetamines, but that they were unlikely to persist with the treatment because of adverse effects. Those who use mixed amphetamine salts, however, were more likely to continue with the treatment.

– Narcolepsy

A person with narcolepsy will experience excessive daytime sleepiness and irresistible sleep episodes, called “sleep attacks.”

In a person with this condition, strong emotions can trigger a sudden loss of muscle tone, or cataplexy, which causes a person to collapse and possibly fall down. It also involves frequent and unexpected bouts of sleep.

Amphetamines and amphetamine derivatives have been used in the past to treat narcolepsy.

Due to concerns over their side effects, however, amphetamines are increasingly being replaced by modafinil, a medication that promotes wakefulness.

– Obesity

Under the name Benzedrine, amphetamines were first used to treat obesity in the 1930s, due to their appetite-suppressing capabilities.

Fears of the drug’s side effects and its potential for addiction and abuse caused them to fall out of favor for this purpose. In the 1950s, reports of malnutrition, psychosis, and depression on withdrawal caused doctors to stop prescribing amphetamines for weight loss.

Currently, medical professionals do not recommend using amphetamines and their derivatives to help reduce obesity.

However, in 2015, after carrying out a small study, researchers suggested that dexamphetamine might be a safe and effective way of boosting people’s motivation for lifestyle changes that can lead to weight loss.

They proposed a 6-month use of the drug to help people who have not responded to other treatment to improve their diet and increase exercise levels. This, they say, could help curb obesity and related complications, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

– Depression

From the 1930s, amphetamine was used to treat affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia.

However, in the 1950s and 1960s, amid growing concern about its adverse effects, it was replaced by newly available antidepressants.

In rare cases, amphetamines are used alongside standard antidepressants to treat some types of depression that do not respond to other treatments, especially in people who also experience fatigue and apathy.

In a study that followed 65 patients taking amphetamines alongside normal medication, 38 “showed significant improvement, in particular with respect to energy, mood, and psychomotor activity.”

According to the authors, side effects were minimal, and no drug dependency was seen.

How should I take amphetamine?

Using amphetamine improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

This medicine may be habit-forming. Never share amphetamine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Take amphetamine with or without food, first thing in the morning. If taken too late in the day, you may have trouble sleeping.

If your doctor changes your brand, strength, or type of stimulant medicine, your dosage needs may change. Use only the brand of this medicine your doctor has prescribed.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon (not a kitchen spoon) or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

To take the orally disintegrating tablet (Adzenys XR-ODT):

– Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take it. Using dry hands open the package and peel back the foil. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.

– Use dry hands to remove the tablet and place it in your mouth.

– Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without

chewing. If desired, you may sip liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.

While using amphetamine, your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Keep track of your medicine. Amphetamine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

How long does the sensation last?

When amphetamines are injected or smoked, the initial rush only lasts a minute. In the case of some amphetamines, the stimulating effects can last up to 12 hours. Some people take amphetamines repeatedly over a period of several days to prolong the feeling of high (“high”).

What side effects may you experience with amphetamine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to amphetamine: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

– signs of heart problems – chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;

– signs of psychosis – hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia;

– signs of circulation problems – numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes (pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes;

– a seizure (convulsions);

– muscle twitches (tics); or

– changes in your vision.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Amphetamine can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common amphetamine side effects may include:

– dry mouth, unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth

– loss of appetite, weight loss;

– stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea;

– feeling restless or nervous;

– sleep problems (insomnia);

– mood changes;

– dizziness or headaches; or

– fever

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects .

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, but not late in the day. Skip the missed dose if it is almost evening. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line .

An overdose of amphetamine could be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include restlessness, tremor, muscle twitches, rapid breathing, hostility, violence, panic, muscle pain or weakness, and dark colored urine. These symptoms may be followed by depression and tiredness. Overdose may also cause seizure or coma.

What should I avoid while taking amphetamine?

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Avoid drinking fruit juices or taking vitamin C at the same time you take amphetamine. These can make your body absorb less of the medicine.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how amphetamine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

What other drugs will affect amphetamine?

Ask your doctor before using a stomach acid medicine (including Alka-Seltzer or sodium bicarbonate). Some of these medicines can change the way your body absorbs amphetamine, and may increase side effects.

Many drugs can interact with amphetamine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor if you are taking an anti-depressant or any other medication for mental illness; an antihistamine such as allergy medication; seizure drugs, or any over the counter medications. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Some products and derivatives of amphetamine:

Different types of amphetamines and amphetamine-based drugs, such as methylphenidate (eg, Ritalin), are stimulants. Stimulants accelerate the activity of the central nervous system. They act like adrenaline, a stimulating hormone naturally produced by the body. Among the many drugs with similar effects are cocaine, ecstasy and caffeine.

Amphetamine expert opinion:

Since there are no reliable biomarkers that can predict individualized response to long-acting stimulants, clinicians need to consider their distinctive pharmacokinetic properties, including the pharmacokinetic profile, rate and extent of absorption, variability, dose proportionality, bioequivalence, and potential for accumulation. Clinicians also need to understand that certain factors can contribute to increased variability in pharmacokinetics and potentially affect outcomes. Less invasive, high-throughput techniques and novel time-based scales are being developed to advance research on the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships of stimulants. Model-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic approaches can be applied to aid the development of novel formulations and individualize therapy with existing drugs.

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