1 Overview

Amphetamine is a synthetic stimulant used to suppress appetite, control weight, treat narcolepsy and also ADHD. It is a commonly abused drug, usually bought on the street very impure or mixed with other drugs. Amphetamine can be snorted, taken orally, smoked, or injected.

When the drug is snorted, smoked or injected, the effects can be felt within a few minutes, but the duration is usually lessened compared to oral administration. When taken orally, the effects of the drug tend to feel "smoother" and are generally longer-lasting.

Amphetamine was introduced in most of the world in the form of the pharmaceutical Benzedrine from the late 1920s. It was banned except for prescribed use in the late 1950s.

It is also used recreationally and for performance enhancement. These uses are illegal in most countries.

Chronic amphetamine use can cause severe psychological dependence. Long-term use can result in extreme exhaustion and malnutrition.

2 Effects

The behavioral effects of amphetamine itself comes from its action on the monoamine transporter DAT ( dopamine transporter) which leads to an increase in the amount of dopamine in the synaptic cleft. Other amphetamines may have other modes of action.

2.1 Physiological Effects

Short term: Decreased hunger and weight loss, increased stamina and physical energy, involuntary bodily movements, increased sweat production, hyperactivity, nausea, itchy, blotchy and greasy skin, headache.

Long term: Changed sleep patterns, poor skin condition, lowered immune system effectiveness, erectile dysfunction, heart problems, stroke, liver, kidney and lung damage. When snorted, amphetamine can lead to a deterioration of the lining of the nostrils.

2.2 Psychological Effects

Short term: Euphoria, increased concentration, rapid talking, increased confidence, nystagmus (eye wiggles), hallucinations, loss of REM sleep (dreaming) the following night.

Long term: Insomnia, mental states resembling schizophrenia, aggressiveness, addition with accompanying withdrawl symptoms, irritability. Chronic use can lead to amphetamine psychosis which causes delusions and paranoia.

3 Medical use

Like Ritalin, amphetamine is one of the standard treatments of ADHD. Its effects on ADHD is improved impulse control, improved concentration, decreased sensory overstimulation and decreased irritability. This results in an overall calming effect.

When used within the recommended doses, side effects like loss of appetite appear only initially.

Amphetamines are also a standard treatment for narcolepsy.

Medical use for weight loss is still approved in some countries, but is regarded as obsolete in the United States.

4 Performance enhancing use

Amphetamine is usually not used by athletes whose sport involves extreme cardiovascular workout, as methamphetamine and amphetamine put a great deal of stress on the heart.

The United States Air Force uses amphetamines ( Adderall) as stimulants for pilots, calling them "go pills".

5 The law

Amphetamine and methamphetamine are Schedule II control drugs, classified as a CNS (Central Nervous System) Stimulant, in the United States. A Schedule II drug is classified as one that: has a high potential for abuse, has a currently accepted medical use and is used under severe restrictions, and has a high possibility of severe psychological and physiological dependence.

In the United Kingdom, amphetamines are regarded as Class B drugs. The maximum penalty for possession is three months imprisonment and a £2,500 fine.

6 See Also

• Phenethylamines
• Stimulants
• Methamphetamine
• Methcathinone
• Uncle Fester (author)
• Clandestine chemistry
• Cathinone
• Ephedrine

7 External links

• USAF use of amphetamines
• Erowid's Amphetamines page
• Good Drugs Guide
• Lycaeum's Amphetamines page

Schedule II controlled substances Sympathomimetic amines Phenethylamines Entheogens Stimulants Amphetamines Psychoactive drugs

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