Methamphetamine: Side effects Treatment and uses

Methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity.It is  a highly addictive and illegal psychostimulant drug that is similar to amphetamine. It is used for its powerful euphoric effects, which are similar to those of cocaine.

How it works

The pleasurable effects of methamphetamine happen when the body releases very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is the brain chemical involved in motivation, pleasure, and motor function.

As with many stimulants, methamphetamine is most often abused in a "binge and crash" pattern. Users try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug before the first dose wears off.

The drug acts on parts of the brain involved in reward, and this makes taking another dose tempting.

Some people binge for several days, avoiding food and sleep while continually using the drug until it is finished.

However, these high levels of dopamine are also thought to help make the drug more toxic to nerve terminals in the brain.

Methamphetamine is different from and more dangerous than other stimulants because a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body. This allows the drug to be present in the brain longer, extending the stimulant effects.

Side effects

People use methamphetamine because they enjoy the effects. However, it can have some dangerous side effects.

These include:

• increased distractibility
• nausea
• dry mouth and bad breath
• dilated pupils
• tremors
• muscle twitching
• memory loss
• aggressive or violent behavior
• mood disturbances
• severe dental problems
• weight loss
• skin sores from intense itching
• rapid or irregular heart rate
• increased blood pressure
• Long-term methamphetamine use can lead to:
• feelings of aggressiveness and anxiety
• confusion
• insomnia

The following symptoms of methamphetamine psychosis are also possible:

• paranoia
• aggression
• visual and auditory hallucinations
• mood disturbances
• delusions, such as the sensation of insects creeping on or under the skin
• Paranoia can result in thoughts of homicide or suicide.

Researchers have reported that up to 50 percent of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of methamphetamine.

Psychotic symptoms can last for months or years after discontinuing methamphetamine use. They can spontaneously recur.

Short-Term Effects

When methamphetamine is injected or smoked it immediately produces an intensely pleasurable sensation known as a "rush" or a "flash." It does so by releasing high levels of dopamine in the brain. Snorting methamphetamine produces a euphoric sensation, but not a rush.

Even when taken in small amounts, methamphetamine can cause increased wakefulness and physical activity. Often, people are too active to remember to eat and a decreased appetite is common.

Physically, meth can increase respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can cause hyperthermia (heat stroke) and an irregular heartbeat. There is also the potential for cardiovascular collapse.

Other effects of meth use on the central nervous system can produce symptoms like irritability, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Some users also suffer from prolonged insomnia and tremors.

Hyperthermia and convulsions can be fatal. Methamphetamine can also cause irreversible damage to the blood vessels in the brain. This may result in a stroke.

Long-Term Effects

The long-term use of methamphetamine can cause damage to the brain similar to that caused by Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and epilepsy. This brain damage lingers for months even after the user stops using.

Chronic meth use can result in:

Violent behavior

Psychotic behavior

Auditory hallucinations

Mood disturbances

Delusions and paranoia

Homicidal or suicidal thoughts

Methamphetamine abuse can produce extreme anorexia. Even over a short period of use, methamphetamine can cause drastic changes in the appearance of the user.

Methamphetamine is highly addictive and users become physically dependent upon the drug quickly. Meth, like amphetamine, produces a rapid pleasurable feeling, which is followed by feelings of depression and irritability when the drug wears off.

Users will seek and use more methamphetamine in order to get back to that state of pleasure or to just feel "normal" again. This results in a physical dependence on the drug and is a never-ending cycle for the majority of users until serious treatment is sought.

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Withdrawal

Withdrawal syndrome can occur within 24 hours of the last dose of methamphetamine. The withdrawal from a drug like meth is not easy and is filled with days or weeks of many symptoms. People who stop using methamphetamine experience

Symptoms include:

• depression and anxiety
• drug craving
• restlessness
• poor concentration
• irritability
• psychosis
• unpleasant dreams
• fatigue
• sleep problems and vivid dreams
• increased appetite
• slow movement

Symptoms vary considerably in intensity and duration. They typically last between 7 and 10 days.

Treatment for dependence

There are currently no available medications for methamphetamine addiction.

Possible strategies include behavioral approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family education, individual counseling, and motivational strategies, such as vouchers for those who do not use the drug for some time.

Extent of use

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2016, 6.5 percent of adults aged 26 years or over had used it at some time in their lives, and 5.4 percent of those aged 12 years and above.

Most methamphetamine is made in "superlabs" in California or Mexico, but it can also be made in small home laboratories, using relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients such as pseudoephedrine.

It is often mixed with other substances, including caffeine, talc, and other toxic additives.

By law, pharmacies and retail stores must keep pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products behind the counter. They also need to keep a log of consumer identification and the amount of product purchased.

Commercially, methamphetamine is available under the brand name Desoxyn, in 5-mg tablets. It has a very limited use in the treatment of obesity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is used off-label to treat narcolepsy.