Effects of amphetamines

 

The effects of any drug vary from person to person.  It depends on many factors including an individual's size, weight and health, how the drug is taken, how much is taken, whether the person is used to taking it, the person's mood and whether other drugs are taken.  The effects also depend on the environment in which the drug is used - for example, whether the person is alone, with others, or in a social setting.  The quality and purity of the drug used will also influence its effects.

Immediate effects

Soon after taking amphetamines, the following effects may be experienced:

• Speeding up of bodily functions - heart rate, breathing and blood pressure
• Dry mouth, increased sweating, enlargement of the eye's pupils and headaches 
• More energy and alertness, greater confidence and a heightened sense of well-being
• Becoming talkative, restless and excited, and having difficulty sleeping. 
• Reduced appetite
• Anxiety, panic attacks
• Irritability, hostility, aggression - sometimes people feel a sense of power and superiority over others

In greater quantities

Very high quantities of amphetamines can cause paleness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, irregular heartbeat, stomach cramps, sweating, restlessness, irregular breathing and loss of coordination.  Some users have collapsed after taking amphetamines.  High quantities can also create an 'amphetamine psychosis', characterised by paranoid delusions, hallucinations and aggressive or violent behaviour for no apparent reason.

Coming down

As the effects of amphetamines begin to wear off, a person may experience a range of symptoms including uncontrolled violence, tension, radical mood swings, depression and total exhaustion.

Long-term effects

Regular use of amphetamines may result in

• chronic sleeping problems,
• anxiety and tension,
• high blood pressure and a rapid and irregular heartbeat. 
• Malnutrition -
  Amphetamines reduce appetite, resulting in people being less likely to eat properly. 
• Psychosis -
  Frequent heavy use can cause 'amphetamine psychosis'.  Symptoms may include paranoia as well as delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behaviour.  These symptoms usually disappear a few days after the person stops using amphetamines. 
• Reduced resistance to infections -
  Regular amphetamine users often don't eat or sleep properly and are generally run down, so their resistance to infections is reduced. 
• Brain damage -
  There is some evidence that brain cells can be damaged by regular use of MDMA (ecstasy).  This damage will result in reduced memory function and possibly other impairments in thinking.