1.

History

Amphetamine was first synthesized in Germany in 1887. Plant-derived stimulant

ephedra (ma huang) containing the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephridrine has been
used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5000 years to treat asthma and the common
[Link] was not used clinically until the 1920s following reduced availability of
ephedrine, used to treat asthma. The discovery of dextroamphetamine and
methamphetamine quickly followed. A nasal decongestant containing amphetamine was
marketed in [Link] abuse led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban
amphetamine inhalers in [Link] were widely used as stimulants during World
War II, and for diverse clinical conditions,including shock, barbiturate overdose,
encephalitis,obesity and postural hypotension. Over 10 billion tablets containing
amphetamines had been legally manufactured by 1970; the majority were used illicitly.
Following passage of the Controlled Substance Act in 1970 in the USA, amphetamine
abuse rates [Link], the 1980s witnessed an explosion in clandestine
production of ‘designer’ amphetamines, the best known being 3,4-methylenedioxy
methamphetamine(MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine.A later resurgence in
methamphetamine abuse followed production of a high-purity formulation known as
‘ice’.The 1990s rave scene brought widespread use of MDMA and methamphetamine in
Europe,North America and Australasia. Production of other drugs with similar chemical
structures, including 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP)

2. Definition

An amphetamine is a psychostimulant drug, based on the chemical formula C9H13N.

Amphetamine is contraction of alphamethyl-phenylethylamine, which has the systematic
name 1-phenylpropan-2-amine. It belongs to the phenethylamine class of molecules.
Derivatives of amphetamines, such as dextroamphetamine or the sulfate or phosphate of
amphetamine, also are considered to be amphetamines. Pure amphetamine is a pure
colorless liquid. Amphetamines are sold under several brand names.

3. Source
 Amphetamines are synthesized from ephedra which comes from the Mu-Huange plant.
The drugs are not considered natural nor are there any real “natural” amphetamines. Many
make the mistake of thinking that natural drugs are “good” drugs. Unfortunately, even
when a drug is of a natural origin it may or may not be helpful or safe to use.

Natural amphetamines do not exist because amphetamine itself is not a naturally

occurring product. It must be created, in a lab, through synthesis of other naturally and
unnaturally occurring products. Ephedra is the primary component used to synthesize
amphetamine and although ephedra is natural, there is no FDA approved use for this
substance and it is not legal in the United States.

4. Characteristic

Amphetamine and metaphetamine pills can be ingested orally, crushed and snorted,
disolved in water and injected, or smoked (inhalation of the vaporized drug). “glass” and
“ice” (pure metaphetamine,which look like clear crystalline rock) is most often smoked
(vaporized and inhaled) in glass pipe,allowing for quick absorption into the bloodstream
without the risks of injecting the drug.”crystall” the powder form of methaphetamines , is
consumed orally, injected,inhaled.

5. Types

Various medications are available in the United States which contain amphetamines.
This list of amphetamines is inclusive of many of the amphetamines or amphetamine
containing drugs that are marketed under various brand names throughout the U.S. While
amphetamines may also be marketed and sold in other countries, this particular list of
amphetamines focuses only on those which are medically or otherwise available in the
United States.

There are many different types of amphetamines:

 Dextroamphetamine – a medication used in the treatment of ADHD that is also

sometimes used to treat narcolepsy.
 Levoamphetamine – a psychostimulant known to increase wakefulness and focs
  Lisdexamfetamine – used in treatment of ADHD
 Methamphetamine
 Adderall
 Adderall XR
 Dexedrine
 ProCentra
 Dextrostat
 Ritalin
 Concerta
 Vyvanse
 Focalin
 Strattera

6. Amphetamine’s effects on the brain

When Amphetamines are used, the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine

are released from nerve endings in the brain and their reuptake is [Link] influx
causes the build up of neurotransmitters at synapses in the [Link] nerve cells in the
brain and spinal cord are activated by amphetamine , the mental focus , the ability to stay
awake and the ability to concentrate is improved , which is helpfull for those with
hyperactivity disorders or [Link] the physiological experients of using
amphetamines and cocaine is very similar, the effect of amphetamines can last several
hours whereas the efects of cocaine generally last less than 1 [Link] mixed with alcohol
or other drugs, the effects of prescription amphetamines are enhanced. The onset of effects
from injecting metaphetamines occurs immediately. When this drug is snorted , effects
occur within 3 to 5 minutes; when ingested orally , effects occur within 15 to 20 minutes.

7. Sign and Symptoms

Amphetamine is a strong stimulant that has been used medically for situations when a
person needs to be more alert, as in narcolepsy, a health problem that causes a person to
fall asleep at any time. It has also been given to pilots and soldiers to keep them awake and
alert for long hours. It does its job in these situations, but the side effects of this drug can be
dangerous and damaging.

Amphetamine can be given orally, can be snorted or given intravenously. Symptoms of

use will show up immediately if it is injected, within 3-5 minutes if it is snorted and within
15-20 minutes if it is ingested.

There is a long list of the signs that show up when this drug is used medically or when it
is abused. Many of them are typical of any stimulant use.

Signs and Symptoms of Amphetamine Abuse include:

 Increased body temperature

 Euphoria
 Increased blood pressure
 Dry mouth
 Faster breathing
 Dilated pupils
 Increased energy and alertness
 Decreased fatigue
 Decreased appetite

Before amphetamine's addictive problems were known about, this drug was used for
weight control, depression, nasal congestion, even hangovers. It was an inexpensive, long-
lasting solution to a number of problems. It has been sold as Desoxyn, Benzedrine, Adderall,
DextroStat and Dexedrine.

After World War II, civilian use of amphetamines increased, and another form of the
drug, methamphetamine - easily produced in small domestic labs - also hit the market. As
more people used these two forms of the drugs, its addictiveness and other problems began
to be obvious.

In addition to the symptoms of use listed above, less desirable symptoms of

Amphetamines became noticeable, including:
  Hostility
 Paranoia
 Aggressiveness
 Cardiovascular system failure
 Irregular heart beat
 Nausea
 Headache
 Reduction of social inhibitions
 Altered sexual behavior
 Blurred vision
 Chest pain
 Hallucinations
 Unrealistic ideas of personal ability and power
 Convulsions
 Malnutrition
 Skin disorders
 Amphetamine-caused psychosis

Some people who abused this drug would wear themselves out with amphetamine
binges where they would continually abuse the drug, not sleeping or eating for as long as a
week. Then they would collapse. By repeating this pattern, amphetamine abusers -
sometimes referred to as "speed freaks" - would suffer severe damage to their health.

8. Complication

A person who has been abusing amphetamine for a long period is likely to be
severely malnourished, and be suffering serious mental effects from the drug use. When
he stops using amphetamine, he is going to experience the symptoms of the damage
that was created. While he continued to abuse the drug, those symptoms were
concealed but will show up strongly as soon as the stimulant is gone. Thus withdrawal
can be characterized by depression, anxiety and extreme fatigue.
 Amphetamine is one of the ,ost pottent CNS stimulator. It exists as a racemic
solution, but dextroamphetamine is three to four time more potent than levoamphetamine
with regard to CNS stimulation. It is mainly administered orally or IV. Clinically amphetamine
effects are very similar to those cocaine, but amphetamine has a longger half life compare
to cocain, and the duration of amphetamine induced euphoria is four to eight times longer
than for cocain.

CNS effects : during acute intoxication with amphetamine, patient commonly

present with euphoria, restlessness, agination, and anxiety. Suicidal ideation, hallucination
and confussion are seen in 5 to 12 % of the patients with acute intoxication. In one sample
of drug users, 55 % of amphetamine user reported having atleast one adverse effect.
Seizures may occur in about 3% of the patients presenting in hospital with amphetamine
intoxication. Stroke has been reported in patient with amphetamine intoxication; it is
usually hemorragic and result from hypertension. There have also been reports of secebral
vasculitis and hemorrhage with chronic abuse of amphetamine. Chronic amphetamine
abuse may precipitate psychiatric disturbances, such as paranoia and psychosis that can
persist for weeks.

Movement disorders : chronic high-dose amphetamine use is associated with

stereotypic behavior, dyskinesias, and also with chorea, especially in patient with
preexisting bassal ganglia disorder. Amphetamine exsacebarte tics in patient who already
have them, and may induce tics, although the causation is unclear.
 Cardiovascular effects : the major effect seen during acute intoxication are
hypertension and tachicardia. Arrhytmia can occur, including ventricular fibrillation.
Myocardial ischemia and infraction have been reported: the uderlying mechanisms are
increased myocardial oxigen demand and / or coronary vasopasms. Chronic abuse has been
reported to result in cardiomyopathy. Systemic necrotizing vasculitis, resembling
periarteritis nodosal, has been associeted with chronic amphetamine abuse.

Metabolic and other effect : acute ampetamine intoxication can manifest with
sweating, tremor, muscle fasciculation, and rigidity. Hyperthermia can develop and maybe
life-threatening if nor treated promtly. The mechanisms underlying hyperthermia are
muscle hyper active and seizures. The same mechanism may also cause rabdomiolysis with
attendant renal failure. Chronic amphetamine abuse can result in weight loss of up to 20 to
30 lb and malnutrition.

Withdrawal : amphetamine withdrawal peaks in 2 to 4 days of abtinence, and can

last seversl weeks. The main symptom is depression, occasionally with suicidal idetion.