Amphetamine Use Disorder

At therapeutic levels, an amphetamine produces pleasure, a shift in sex drive, enhanced alertness, and improved cognitive control, among other emotional and cognitive impacts. Improved reaction time, fatigue resistance, and muscle strength are some of the physical consequences. Amphetamine at higher amounts might impair cognition and cause a fast muscular breakdown. At the same time, severe recreational amphetamine use poses a serious risk of addiction. Amphetamine use disorder shows up in the physical body, psychological health, genetics & others. Recreational doses are typically substantially higher than therapeutic doses, which is a far higher risk of major adverse effects.

What is Amphetamine?

Amphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that alters brain and nerve molecules that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is treated with amphetamine (ADHD). Amphetamine has two enantiomers;  levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine, discovered in 1887. The racemic free base, equal amounts of the two enantiomers in their pure amine states, is called amphetamine.

Benzedrine was the first amphetamine medication, and it was used to treat a range of ailments. Presently, racemic amphetamine, Adderall, dextroamphetamine, or the inactive prodrug lisdexamfetamine are prescribed as pharmaceutical amphetamines. 

Usage Of Amphetamine

Medical Usage:

Amphetamine is used off-label for depression and chronic pain, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy (a sleep condition), and obesity. Long-term amphetamine treatment at adequately high doses has been shown to cause aberrant dopamine system development or nerve injury in various animal species. Pharmaceutical amphetamines, at therapeutic doses, appear to promote brain development and nerve growth in humans with ADHD. Long-term therapy with amphetamine reduces brain structure and function anomalies identified in patients with ADHD. According to reviews of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research, it improves function in various brain regions, including the right caudate nucleus of the basal ganglia.

Enhancing Efficiency:

1. In 2015, a systematic review and meta-analysis of high-quality medical studies found that amphetamine creates modest but unambiguous improvements in cognition, including working memory, long-term episodic memory, inhibitory control, and some aspects of attention, in normal healthy adults when used at low (therapeutic) doses. 
2. Some sportsmen use amphetamine for psychological and athletic performance enhancement, such as enhanced endurance and alertness; nevertheless, non-medical amphetamine use is forbidden at sporting events governed by collegiate, national, and worldwide anti-doping bodies. 

Amphetamine Use Disorder

Recreational amphetamine usage typically includes substantially higher doses, which have a higher risk of serious adverse pharmacological effects than therapeutic amounts. Amphetamine use disorder includes psychological, physical, and genetic issues. 

• Physical:

Hypertension or hypotension due to a vasovagal reaction, Raynaud’s phenomenon (reduced blood flow to the hands and feet), and tachycardia are all possible cardiovascular side effects (increased heart rate). Erectile dysfunction, frequent erections, and extended erections are all possible side effects in men. Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea are possible gastrointestinal side effects. 

• Psychological:

High alertness, apprehension, concentration, initiative, self-confidence, sociability, mood swings (elated mood followed by mildly depressed mood), sleeplessness or wakefulness, and decreased perception of exhaustion are the most prevalent psychological side effects of amphetamine. Anxiety, libido changes, grandiosity, impatience, repeated or compulsive behaviours, and restlessness are some of the less typical adverse effects.

• Reinforcement Disorders:

Addiction is a grave threat with heavy recreational amphetamine use, but it is unlikely to happen with long-term medical use at therapeutic doses; in fact, lifetime stimulant therapy for ADHD that begins in childhood reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders as an adult.

Excessive use of amphetamine generates gene expression changes in the mesocorticolimbic projection, which are caused by transcriptional and epigenetic processes.

Other amphetamine-type substance use disorders, such as Bipolar disorder caused by amphetamines, depressive disorder, psychotic disorder, sleep disorder, sexual dysfunction, a stimulant-related disorder, and Intoxication with amphetamines cause delirium much more. 

Conclusion

Therefore, Amphetamine must be taken to its required amount as the excess of this drug causes severe psychological, genetic, and physical disorders. Even overdose of this drug affects biochemical reactions inside the body, addictions, and various mental and behavioural signs, but it is rarely fatal with proper suggested care. We understood its contradiction, the factor of Amphetamine use disorder, other reinforcement disorders, its usage in medical and improving performances. Researchers have also experimented and understood the drug’s toxicity and psychosis when there is an overdose of Amphetamine. Also, there have been special studies in terms of drug interactions and pharmacodynamics.