Amphetamine Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
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Amphetamine | |
| IUPAC name: 1-phenylpropan-2-amine | |
| CAS number ? | ATC code ? |
| Chemical formula | C9H13N |
| Molecular weight | 135.2084 |
| Bioavailability | ? |
| Metabolism | ? |
| Elimination half life | ? |
| Excretion | ? |
| Pregnancy category | ? |
| Legal status | DEA Schedule II (USA) |
| Delivery | Vaporized, Insufflated, Injected, Taken Orally |
| Indicated for: Recreational uses: Unethical uses:
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Contraindications:
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Side effects:
Atypical sensations:
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| Table of contents |
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2 Effects 3 Medical use 4 Performance enhancing use 5 The law 6 See Also 7 External links |
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.
Effects
Amphetamine's behavioral effects come from its action on the monoamine transporter DAT (dopamine transporter) which leads to an increase in the amount of dopamine in the synaptic cleft.
Binging or chronic use can can lead to amphetamine psychosis which causes delusions and paranoia.
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.
The United States Air Force uses amphetamines (Adderall) as stimulants for pilots, calling them "go pills".
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.Physiological Effects
Decreased hunger and weight loss, changed sleep patterns, involuntary bodily movements, hyperactivity, nausea, itchy, blotchy and greasy skin, lowered immune system effectiveness, heart problems, stroke, liver, kidney and lung damage. When snorted, amphetamine can attack the delicate lining of the nostrils.Psychological Effects
Increased concentration, rapid talking, hallucinations, loss of REM sleep (dreaming), delusions of power, aggressiveness, irritability and addiction.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.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 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.