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Amphetamine

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Amphetamine

  • See Also
  1. Methamphetamine
  2. MDMA
  3. Psychoactive Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinone)
  4. Stimulant Use Disorder
  5. Cocaine
  6. Chemical Dependency
  7. Substance Abuse Evaluation
  • Indications
  1. Drugs of Abuse
  2. Medical uses
    1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    2. Relieves mild depression
    3. Control appetite and Narcolepsy
  • Class
  1. Sympathomimetic, stimulant
  2. Schedule II
  • Medications
  1. Pharmaceuticals
    1. Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
    2. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
    3. Propylhexedrine
    4. Ephedrine
  2. Drugs of Abuse
    1. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy)
    2. Methamphetamine
    3. Psychoactive Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinone)
  3. Street Names
    1. Bennies
    2. Speed
    3. Pep Pills
    4. Hearts
    5. Wake-ups
    6. Uppers
  • Pharmacokinetics
  1. Amphetamine (5-250 mg): 4-12 hour duration
  2. Routes
    1. Swallowed
    2. Intravenous
    3. Smoked (ice or crystal Methamphetamine)
  • Signs
  1. Low to Moderate Dose
    1. Increased alertness
    2. Restlessness
    3. Talkativeness
    4. Irritability
    5. Insomnia
    6. Hyperactive reflexes
  2. High Dose (Toxicity)
    1. See Sympathomimetic Toxicity
    2. Stimulant effects, similar to Cocaine, longer duration >2 hours
      1. Adverse reaction also similar to Cocaine
    3. Hypertension
    4. Tachycardia
    5. Mydriasis
    6. Agitation
    7. Delirium
    8. Psychosis
    9. Hyperthermia
    10. Seizures
  3. Effects of heavy or prolonged use (may be misdiagnosed as Schizophrenia)
    1. Loss of appetite
    2. Paranoid Delusions
    3. Intense Hallucinations
    4. Toxic Psychosis
  • Management
  • Toxicity
  1. See Sympathomimetic Toxicity
  2. Stimulant Toxicity Management (similar to Cocaine Toxicity)
    1. Supportive care
    2. Benzodiazepines
  3. Ammonium chloride
    1. Acidifies urine
    2. Increases excretion
  4. Avoid Haloperidol (Haldol) in Amphetamine Overdose
    1. Lowers Seizure threshold
  • References
  1. Tagliaferro (2023) Crit Dec Emerg Med 37(1): 21-9