Yes, amphetamines have a high potential for abuse and addiction despite medical uses. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) categorized amphetamines as a Schedule II Substance. It’s a chronic brain disorder involving compulsive drug seeking and use despite negative consequences.
What Is Amphetamine Addiction, Tolerance, and Dependence?
- However, there are a number of medications that are FDA-approved for other illnesses that might also be useful in treating amphetamine addiction.
- Amphetamine is most often administered twice daily in immediate-release formulations (Dexedrine, DextroStat, or Adderall IR tablets), or once a day in sustained-release formulations (Dexedrine or Adderal XR capsules, Vyvanse tablets).
- Recent studies in animals have produced evidence for neuroprotection against amphetamine-mediated toxicity by several substances, including nomifensine 217, methyllycaconitine 218, coenzyme Q10 219, baicalein 220 and melatonin 221.
- Amphetamine sulphate, or speed, is also used for recreational and non-medical purposes.
- Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
- Although most adult patients also use amphetamines effectively and safely, occasional case reports indicate that prescription use can produce marked psychological adverse events, including stimulant-induced psychosis.
- You will also want to regularly meet with your healthcare provider while taking prescribed amphetamines so your provider can observe their effectiveness in reducing your symptoms and monitor your dependency on the drug.
Anyone who is taking supplements should make sure their doctor knows about this, if they may be prescribed amphetamines. The herbal supplement, St. John’s wort, and the nutritional supplement glutamic acid (L-glutamine) can interact with amphetamines. Children and teenagers who have a heart problem may be at risk of sudden death if they use amphetamines. People take it to boost libido, increase wakefulness, improve cognitive control, enhance sociability, and induce euphoria. More studies are needed to confirm whether amphetamines affect growth.
Potential adverse effects of amphetamine treatment on brain and behavior: a review
This could feel like a “rush” or a euphoric feeling that makes you happy and elevates your mood. This sensation is something that can cause addiction because people might look to feel that rush more often than they should, as prescribed by their healthcare provider. Yes, amphetamines can pass into breast milk (chest milk) at low levels if parents follow the provider-prescribed dosage. Some studies show that this does not harm the development of the baby. If you are taking amphetamines as a new parent, talk with your provider about whether or not it is safe to breastfeed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved certain amphetamines to manage and treat ADHD, obesity and narcolepsy, specifically dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine.
Amphetamine dependence, tolerance and withdrawal
Although early treatment does not increase risk for substance abuse, few studies have tracked the compliance and usage profiles of individuals who began amphetamine treatment as adults. Overall, there is concern about risk for slowed growth in young patients who are dosed continuously, and for substance abuse in patients first medicated in late adolescence or adulthood. Although most adult patients also use amphetamines effectively and safely, occasional case reports indicate that prescription use can produce marked psychological adverse events, including stimulant-induced psychosis. Assessments of central toxicity and adverse psychological effects during late adulthood and senescence of adults who receive prolonged courses of amphetamine treatment are warranted.
The drug is typically made in clandestine laboratories with relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. 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 how long do amphetamines stay in urine to persist with the treatment because of adverse effects. Those who use mixed amphetamine salts, however, were more likely to continue with the treatment. People who habitually use amphetamines rapidly develop tolerance as part of dependence. The amount ultimately used may be more than several times the original dose.
