Amphetamines are psychostimulants that treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injury, and the daytime drowsiness symptoms of narcolepsy. By increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, amphetamines are often referred to as uppers. A person will experience a sense of wakefulness, focus, and euphoria.
It is the stimulating properties of wakefulness and the side effect of diminished appetite that cause many people to use amphetamines illegally or beyond the recommended period of time. People find it difficult to withdraw from amphetamines because they want to experience the temporary relief that the drug produces.
Amphetamine Abuse Help
Even with short-term use of amphetamines, users may experience abusive feelings including the following:
- Tension and anxiety
- When coming down from the drug, a person can feel tired, depressed, irritable, and physically uncomfortable
- Impaired memory and concentration
- Putting a strain on the heart and the immune system
- Feelings of psychosis or paranoia
Amphetamine Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms from amphetamines can begin within hours of the last dose or up to a full day later. Depending on the amphetamine and the length of abuse, amphetamine withdrawal can last a few days or as many as three weeks. Symptoms of chronic use of amphetamine can include the following:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Cravings
- Depression
- Excessive sleeping
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Psychosis
- Short temper
- Suicidal thoughts
How to Stop Taking Amphetamines Safely
Discontinuing amphetamines is not a do-it-yourself activity. Some people attempt to lower their doses, supplement them with other tranquilizers, or even use alcohol or marijuana to minimize the effects of the drug. Unfortunately, these practices rarely work and often exacerbate the addictive experience.
For a more comfortable and successful experience, quit amphetamines under medical supervision. Depending on the amount or duration of your abuse of amphetamines, you need to determine whether an inpatient program would make the most sense for you. Don’t let denial affect your evaluation of your abuse status. In fact, if you are unsure about whether you can claim yourself as an addict or not, your best course of action would be to get addiction treatment so that you can understand how to deal with the disease.
Amphetamine Addiction Help
Finding the right detox program to meet your needs or the needs of someone you love can be an overwhelming experience. You may want help determining the most appropriate treatment for you. While recovery is difficult, it is possible and we can help, so please call our toll-free helpline today. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about amphetamine addiction and detox programs. We are here to help.
