What do stimulants cause

The drug was used by military air, tank, and special forces during fatigue-inducing missions such as night-time bombing missions or extended combat operations from World War II through the Gulf War.

Ritalin This drug was approved for the treatment of hyperactive children in Ritalin differs from Dexedrine and Adderall because it is a Methylphenidate. It acts in a manner similar to Amphetamines; however, it is milder than Amphetamine-based drugs.

Concerta is an extended-release version of Ritalin. Desoxyn Desoxyn is a prescription Methamphetamine. Introduced in , it was the first medication prescribed for obesity. It is also used to treat ADHD. Ephedrine Ephedrine is most commonly used as an appetite Suppressant and Bronchodilator for those with asthma, but has effects similar to other Stimulants. Ephedrine is also used for temporary relief of shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing due to bronchial asthma. It is also used to prevent low blood pressure and treat obesity.

It is often available over the counter and is commonly used as an ingredient in clandestine Meth labs. These drugs all produce effects similar to those of prescription Stimulants. But while prescription Stimulants are designed as time-release drugs, illicit Stimulants produce a shorter and more intense high.

Approximately , Americans abuse prescription Stimulants every month. Many people abuse prescription Stimulants to enhance performance rather than to get high. In fact, athletes and students have a long history of abusing prescription Stimulants to outperform their peers. Stimulants produce an overabundance of dopamine, the pleasure-inducing chemical in the brain.

When the individual stops taking the medication, they experience withdrawal symptoms. This creates physical dependency on the drug and requires the individual to continue using the drug in order to feel normal.

Over time, this can develop into an addiction. Make a Call For those addicted to prescription or illicit Stimulants, these substances are the main priority in their life. An addicted person often ignores negative consequences, whether personal or health-related. Stimulants flood the brain with the pleasure-inducing chemical dopamine, which is why many people use them repeatedly.

Understanding the symptoms of a Stimulant addiction can help determine if you or someone you know has a problem. There are 11 criteria for an addiction as outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Learn about the symptoms of addiction. Learn More. The rate of emergency room visits for Stimulants has steadily increased over the years; there were 2, such incidents in and 17, in In , there were an estimated 1.

If you have an addiction to Stimulants and are ready to get help, you have made the most important step toward recovery. Beginning the recovery process can be scary, but there are countless people available to provide you with support.

After graduation, he decided to pursue his passion of writing and editing. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Stimulant drugs include legal, prescription medications as well as illicit substances. On the other hand, illegal forms of stimulants include substances like methamphetamine and cocaine. Despite the differences in legality, both legal and illicit forms of stimulants are commonly abused.

Individuals who abuse these drugs often suffer from an array of negative side-effects that can lead to addiction, and in severe cases — death. If you or a loved one is currently abusing stimulants, it is time to become aware of the associated health risks. Additionally, stimulant drugs are known to cause a heightened dopamine release.

As a result of this, individuals who are high on stimulants experience a powerful sense of well-being, increased energy, attention, and alertness.

Depending on the particular substance, stimulants are ingested orally, snorted, smoked, or intravenously injected. In extreme cases of stimulant abuse, the harm done can be long-lasting and possibly permanent. Every form of stimulant will have a differing combination of side-effects.

Common side-effects of stimulant drugs include:. Each of the mentioned effects is associated with stimulant abuse. For example, individuals who abuse stimulants are at risk of hyperthermia, cardiovascular abnormalities, and sudden death. Individuals who abuse stimulants over a long period of time will experience more frequent and severe mental and bodily health effects.

Individuals generally abuse stimulants for their euphoric and energetic effects. For example, college students typically abuse stimulants in order to maintain their studies and their social lives. In addition to imbalancing the brain, chronic stimulant use can reduce grey matter in the prefrontal cortex PFC. The PFC helps regulate planning, decision making, problem solving, and self-control. In many ways, the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that deals with higher-level cognitive functioning.

When the PFC has abnormally low levels of grey matter, the brain is less able to plan properly, solve problems, and make appropriate decisions. Although small levels of stimulants can help enhance cognitive functioning, moderate and high levels of stimulants are commonly associated with memory problems and poor decision-making ability. One study shows that Adderall can cause significant cognitive damage when students without ADHD illegally use the substance to enhance their grades and school performance.

Researchers have discovered that stimulants also interfere with dopamine transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex. The primary role of the medial prefrontal cortex is to set and achieve goals. Typically, dopamine helps regulate what the brain focuses on. But stimulants produce changes in the medial prefrontal cortex that incorrectly interpret dopamine transmissions , making stimulant users focus on consuming more stimulant drugs, making users more impulsive, and making addiction challenges more difficult to overcome.

Short-term and long-term stimulant use can have adverse effects on the body. Increased heart rates, elevated blood pressure, loss of appetite, and interrupted sleep patterns can weaken the immune system and make users more susceptible to cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory problems.

High doses of stimulants can cause convulsions, seizures, and death. According to Healthline, a study shows that the stimulant amphetamine can prematurely age the heart. The study revealed that even though their outward appearance appeared fine, their cardiovascular systems and arteries showed a higher level of aging than the arteries of tobacco smokers and methadone users.

Abusing stimulants is also commonly associated with strokes and aneurysms. Overstimulating the heart can be especially harmful to users as they age.

Once stimulants make their way through the body, they are processed by the kidneys. While some stimulants indirectly affect the kidneys, others are directly toxic to the organs. Amphetamines, for example, contain rhabdomyolysis which can flood the kidneys with toxins.

Unable to remove such a high level of toxicity, the kidneys shut down.