Prescription amphetamine drugs have received a bad reputation because of the way some people misuse them. Although there are certainly some negative side effects from the medications, the benefits can outweigh the negative aspects, when used in the manner intended. When monitored closely by a physician, you will be aware of the side effects and make changes as necessary to avoid harmful side effects or reactions to the medications.

Amphetamines are not new to the drug scene. Allied and Axis troops used methamphetamine to improve soldier’s performance during World War II. In the 1960s “speed” abuse was prevalent with students, athletes, and others. Smokable forms of meth were introduced in the 1980s. Presently, methamphetamine is the most widely used dangerous drug in the United States

Amphetamine drugs are very effective for helping people lose substantial amount of weight very quickly. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of these drugs for weight loss and the use of stimulants for weight loss is a controversial topic. Using anorectics for weight loss can be addictive, and only a small percentage of people maintain their weight loss long-term after they stop using the medications. It is very important for patients who use these types of drugs for weight loss to be closely monitored because of the risk of addiction and the negative side effects.

Amphetamine use for weight loss has been linked to pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac valve leaflet thickening. The FDA does not approve using stimulants as a treatment for weight loss. When you consider the options of being extremely overweight versus the risk of pulmonary hypertension and possible addiction to stimulant drugs, which is worse? It would be safer to make positive changes in your eating and exercise habits to lose weight than to risk a possible life threatening illness. As a woman who constantly struggles with weight and self-esteem issues, I can see the appeal of using these drugs as a quick-fix. However, in my opinion, the risks outweigh the benefits.

Abusing amphetamine drugs is very dangerous and results in thousands of emergency room visits every year. People who abuse these drugs indulge in very risky behavior because they feel invincible. Many abusers end up overdosing on amphetamine drugs because they build up a tolerance very quickly, so that it takes more dope every time to achieve the same high. Because they have built up a tolerance, they use more drugs more often, resulting in acute intoxication. Acute intoxication can manifest in many ways – every patient is different. “Of the estimated 113 million emergency room visits in the United States in 2006, it is estimated that 1.7 million were drug-related, with methamphetamine involved in almost 80,000 emergency room visits.

An important fact to remember when thinking about amphetamine drugs and their derivatives is that it is not only the “street” forms of these drugs that are dangerous. A person who takes an amphetamine medication such as Adderall as prescribed Attention Deficit Disorder treatments will experience some of the same effects that abusers get when they use “speed” drugs. These drugs increase the levels of dopamine in the body, and this causes the high.