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. Due to concerns over their side effects, however, amphetamines are increasingly being replaced by modafinil, a medication that promotes wakefulness. Amphetamines reverse some of these symptoms and have been shown to improve brain development and nerve growth in children with ADHD. In the past, it has been used to treat narcolepsy and to help with weight loss, but this is less common now. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Do amphetamines cause withdrawal symptoms?

This act mandates a comprehensive behavioral, educational and medical evaluation of children suspected of having an educational disability. A physician visit is not required, but the school district is obligated to provide any diagnostic services that are needed at no cost to parents 12. Over the next 2 years, ADHD diagnoses tripled, from one to three million.

Continuing Education Activity

• The mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity remain speculative, however; and some evidence suggests marked species differences in vulnerability to stimulant-induced neurotoxicity (see 65 for a review).
• Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.
• Phenytoin, fosphenytoin, and valproic acid should be avoided due to their ineffectiveness in aborting toxicologic seizures.
• Growth deficits in predicted height and weight were noted in continuously, but not inconsistently medicated patients.
• However, some studies show that any reduction in growth speed may be caught up by a “growth rebound” once the drug has stopped being taken.
• Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect.
• Immediate-release formulations may be preferred initially to establish an optimal daily dose, with conversion to an extended-release formulation thereafter.

According to the 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, meth/amphetamine use has significantly declined since 2001. People who crush and inject a tablet may have blockages in their small blood vessels, as some of the components do not break down. Amphetamine can produce many side effects, ranging from mild to severe. According to the authors, side effects were minimal, and no drug dependency was seen. From the 1930s, amphetamine was used to treat affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia. Under the name Benzedrine, amphetamines were first used to treat obesity in the 1930s, due to their appetite-suppressing capabilities.

What Is the Difference Between Amphetamine and Methamphetamine?

For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Dosage for amphetamines ranges based on brand and reason for taking the drug. The average amphetamine dosage is 5 to 40 milligrams (mg), one to three times per day, divided at four to six-hour intervals. Stimulants increase the activity of your central nervous system or the part of your brain that sends messages to nerves to tell them how to complete their jobs. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

Potential Adverse Effects of Amphetamine Treatment on Brain and Behavior: A Review

Amphetamine activates receptors in the brain and increases the activity of a number of neurotransmitters, especially norepinephrine and dopamine. Amphetamines are stimulant drugs that are used to treat certain medical conditions but are also subject to abuse. Find out how amphetamine addiction develops, the signs to look for if a loved one has an addiction problem, and treatment options available for…

Other Medical Problems

Just as dextroamphetamine has more central and less peripheral action than levoamphetamine, methamphetamine, which is equipotent to dextroamphetamine in producing behavioral stimulant effects 9, has even fewer peripheral effects than dextroamphetamine 5. Amphetamines are prescription medications or illegal substances that are also known as stimulants, as they speed up your metabolism and increase your alertness. When legally prescribed, they are typically used to how long do amphetamines stay in urine treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Today, only dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate and mixed salts amphetamine are made for medical use.

• These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
• According to the DSM-5 criteria, a diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD) requires meeting at least 2 of the specified criteria within a 12-month period.
• Events in the early 1990’s likely influenced the utilization of amphetamine as a prescribed treatment.
• In the 1990s, longer acting forms of amphetamine were developed using capsules of mixed d- and l- salts in both immediate release pellets and enteric-coated, delayed-release beads.

Explore stimulants on the Drug Wheel

• People with a history of drug abuse or addiction should not use amphetamines.
• When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below.
• Although the relevance of these data to the consequences of low dose, prescription use of amphetamines in humans is not entirely clear, the potential for similar damage following prolonged low dose exposure merits some consideration.
• These include arousal, hyperactivity, stereotypic perseverative movements, psychomotor depression, cognitive impairment, hallucinatory-like behaviors, and chronic self-administration.
• Amphetamines include the drug amphetamine and its many variants such as methamphetamine (speed or crystal meth) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy, or Adam).
• Effects peak about 4−7 h after ingestion of extended-release doses, and last about 12 h, depending on the endpoint and dose.

If you or a loved one is struggling with amphetamine addiction, American Addiction Centers (AAC) is here to help. We have trusted facilities across the country and are a leading provider of addiction treatment programs. You can contact one of our admissions navigators 24/7 free of charge at to check your health insurance coverage, get help finding treatment, and get started on the road to amphetamine addiction recovery.

Amphetamines are controlled substances in the USA with the C-II designation. Addiction means that cravings and compulsive use of the drug become very important to a person. If drug use is stopped, the person usually goes through withdrawal, also called “the crash.” Symptoms of withdrawal can include fatigue, restless sleep, irritability, intense hunger, depression, suicidal behaviour and fits of violence.