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. Due to concerns over their side effects, however, amphetamines are increasingly being replaced by modafinil, a medication that promotes wakefulness.
Under the name Benzedrine, amphetamines were first used to treat obesity in the s, due to their appetite-suppressing capabilities. In the s, 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.
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.
From the s, amphetamine was used to treat affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD , and schizophrenia. However, in the s and s, 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.
Physical side effects include :. People who follow the prescribed, therapeutic dose are unlikely to experience severe adverse effects. There have been fears that long-term use of amphetamines for ADHD could affect brain development, prevent physical growth, and increase the risk of drug abuse later in life. However, animal studies have suggested that this is unlikely. There is evidence that amphetamine use to treat ADHD could slow growth in children.
Minor effects on the cardiovascular system, including a rise in heart rate and blood pressure , may have long-term effects. Amphetamine is used as a recreational drug. People take it to boost libido, increase wakefulness, improve cognitive control, enhance sociability, and induce euphoria.
You might experience: happiness and confidence talking more and feeling energetic large pupils and dry mouth fast heartbeat and breathing teeth grinding reduced appetite increased sex drive. If injecting drugs, there is an increased risk of: tetanus infection vein damage and blood clots. Find out more about overdose. Long-term effects Regular use of amphetamines may eventually cause: reduced appetite and extreme weight loss restless sleep dry mouth dental problems regular colds and flu anxiety and paranoia depression increased risk of stroke tolerance and dependence on amphetamines financial, work and social problems.
Symptoms include: cravings for amphetamines increased appetite confusion and irritability aches and pains exhaustion restless sleep, vivid dreams and nightmares anxiety, depression and paranoia.
Getting help If your use of amphetamines is affecting your health, family, relationships, work, school, financial or other life situations, you can find help and support. Path2Help Not sure what you are looking for? Find out more. Toronto: Addiction Research Foundation; Amphetamines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD in adults.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Ruiz P, Strain EC. Substance Abuse Handbook. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health; Preedy VR. However, it is considered misuse when they are taken not as prescribed, to get "high," or when you take some prescribed for someone else. This can lead to dependence and addiction. Dependence means you will get uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. Addiction means you continue to seek out and take these drugs despite negative consequences.
There are three commonly misused types of stimulants: dextroamphetamines e. Medical uses for these stimulant drugs are listed below:. Read more about prescription drugs and what happens to the brain and body when someone misuses them. Prescription stimulants are normally taken in pill form, but some people who misuse them to get "high" crush the tablets and snort or inject them.
This can be dangerous because ingredients in the tablets can block small blood vessels, damaging the heart and other organs. Some teens are prescribed stimulants to manage their ADHD. But if they share their medication with friends, it is considered misuse. People misuse stimulants by taking them in a way that is not intended, such as:.
Stimulants have been misused as an "academic performance enhancer," for example, to stay awake all night to cram for an exam. That's why people sometimes refer to them as "study drugs. For example, a decline in grades can be related to students skipping classes. Skipping classes can be linked to the use of a variety of drugs or mental health issues. The brain is made up of nerve cells that send messages to each other by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters.
When amphetamines were easy to get, many people used them to stay awake and to have more energy. Truck drivers, students and athletes were especially likely to abuse amphetamines. Even recently, soldiers have been given amphetamines for endurance in battle. People with eating disorders may use these drugs to try to lose weight. In a survey of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12, about two percent of students reported non-medical use of ADHD stimulant drugs in the past year.
In children who are hyperactive, however, amphetamines and related drugs, in the correct doses, can have a calming effect. Amphetamines reduce hunger and increase breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Larger doses may cause fever, sweating, headache, nausea, blurred vision, very fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of co-ordination and collapse.
The initial rush after injecting or smoking lasts only a minute. With some types of amphetamines, the stimulant effects can last up to 12 hours. Some people may use amphetamines repeatedly over a period of several days to try to stay high. When taken as prescribed, amphetamines and related drugs do not cause addiction. However, these drugs can cause addiction if they are misused. Methylphenidate is less likely to cause addiction than other amphetamines.
Regular non-medical use of amphetamines can lead to tolerance. This means that the person needs to take more and more of the drug to get the desired effect.
Regular use of amphetamines, especially when the drug is smoked or injected, can quickly cause addiction. Addiction means that cravings and compulsive use of the drug become very important to a person. People who use amphetamines often also use other drugs, such as alcohol , cannabis , or benzodiazepines , to help them relax and sleep.
0コメント