amphetamine (ămfĕt`əmēn), any one of a group of drugs that are powerful central nervous system stimulants stimulant, any substance that causes an increase in activity in various parts of the nervous system or directly increases muscle activity. Cerebral, or psychic, stimulants act on the central nervous system and provide a temporary sense of alertness and well-being as
..... Click the link for more information. . Amphetamines have stimulating effects opposite to the effects of depressants depressant, any one of various substances that diminish functional activity, usually by depressing the nervous system. Barbiturates, sedatives, alcohol, and meprobamate are all depressants. Depressants have various modes of action and effects.
..... Click the link for more information. such as alcohol, narcotics narcotic, any of a number of substances that have a depressant effect on the nervous system. The chief narcotic drugs are opium, its constituents morphine and codeine, and the morphine derivative heroin.

See also drug addiction and drug abuse.
..... Click the link for more information. , and barbiturates barbiturate , any one of a group of drugs that act as depressants on the central nervous system. High doses depress both nerve and muscle activity and inhibit oxygen consumption in the tissues. In low doses barbiturates act as sedatives, i.e.
..... Click the link for more information. . They raise the blood pressure by causing the body to release epinephrine epinephrine , hormone important to the body's metabolism, also known as adrenaline. Epinephrine, a catecholamine, together with norepinephrine, is secreted principally by the medulla of the adrenal gland.
..... Click the link for more information. , postpone the need for sleep, and can reverse, partially and temporarily, the effects of fatigue. Amphetamines enhance mental alertness and the ability to concentrate, and also cause wakefulness, euphoria, and talkativeness. Benzedrine is the trade name for the drug amphetamine; dextroamphetamine is marketed as Dexedrine. Methamphetamine, a potent stimulant marketed as Desoxyn, is the most rapidly acting amphetamine. They are available by prescription for limited uses; illegal sources include stolen or diverted supplies or clandestine laboratories.

Uses

Prescription amphetamines have been used for short periods of time in weight-control programs to suppress appetite and to treat narcolepsy. They were used as vasoconstrictors in inhalant therapy to shrink nasal mucous membranes in such conditions as nasal allergies and asthma; now such inhalants have been banned because of their toxicity. For unknown reasons, amphetamines have a paradoxically calming effect on some hyperactive children, but the use of these drugs to treat such children has been controversial.

Amphetamine Abuse

Popularly known as bennies, crank, speed, pep pills, wakeups, or uppers, amphetamines are addictive and easily abused: users can become psychologically dependent on the drugs and, developing a tolerance for them, can require increasingly large doses (see drug addiction and drug abuse drug addiction and drug abuse, chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes.
..... Click the link for more information. ). When the drugs wear off, a long period of sleep ensues, often followed by hunger and depression, which can lead to further use of amphetamines. Amphetamine addiction has been common among such diverse groups as truck drivers, students, and athletes, who have used the drugs for increased energy, alertness, or endurance. Methamphetamine, made from ephedrine ephedrine , drug derived from plants of the genus Ephedra (see Pinophyta), most commonly used to prevent mild or moderate attacks of bronchial asthma.
..... Click the link for more information. and other chemicals in clandestine laboratories in the the United States or Mexico, experienced a resurgence in use in the United States beginning the mid-1990s. Amphetamines are inhaled, taken orally, or injected; as with other injected drugs, needle sharing increases the risk of contracting the AIDS AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, fatal disease caused by a rapidly mutating retrovirus that attacks the immune system and leaves the victim vulnerable to infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders.
..... Click the link for more information. virus. One form of methamphetamine, "ice," is smoked. For law enforcement purposes in the United States, most amphetamines are grouped with such drugs as cocaine and morphine because of the similarity in their effects, medical usefulness, and high potential for abuse.

Side Effects

Amphetamines can produce severe systemic effects, including cardiac irregularities and gastric disturbances. Chronic use often results in insomnia, hyperactivity, irritability, and aggressive behavior. Addiction can result in psychosis or death from overexhaustion or cardiac arrest. Amphetamine-induced psychosis often mimics schizophrenia, with paranoia and hallucinations.

amphetamine

Organic compound, prototype of a class of synthetic amphetamine drugs (e.g., Benzedrine, Dexedrine, methamphetamine), that stimulates the central nervous system. It was first synthesized in 1887. Amphetamines cause wakefulness, euphoria, decreased fatigue, and increased ability to concentrate. Since they dull the appetite, they have been used for weight reduction. Often called “speed,” they are used (often illicitly) to stay awake. In children with attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, they have a calming effect, helping them concentrate. Undesirable effects include overstimulation, with paranoia, restlessness, insomnia, tremor, and irritability, and a deep depression when the drug wears off. This, along with rapid development of tolerance requiring increased doses, can lead to drug addiction.

amphetamine

a synthetic colourless volatile liquid used medicinally as the white crystalline sulphate, mainly for its stimulant action on the central nervous system, although it also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. It can have unpleasant or dangerous side effects and drug dependence can occur; 1-phenyl-2-aminopropane. Formula: C₆H₅CH₂CH(NH₂)CH₃

amphetamine [‚am·fed·ə‚mēn]

(pharmacology)

C₆H₅CH₂CHNHCH₃A volatile, colorless liquid used as a central nervous system stimulant.

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No references found			Ian Storr, 23, had quit his job at Eston Sports Academy when police raided his home and seized his stash of Class B drug Amphetamine. ADDICTED COACH IN THE DOCK by Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England) Interference with amphetamine/methamphetamine tests Some prescription medications contain amphetamine or methamphetamine, while the active ingredient of some prescription medication may be metabolized to amphetamine or methamphetamine, causing positive amphetamine/methamphetamine test results (see Table l). False-positive DOA testing results due to prescription medications by Dasgupta, Amitava / Medical Laboratory Observer Now Collard, 51, is back behind bars after he admitted possession with intent to supply amphetamine and firearms offences. Drugs dealer's weapons cache found in raid; RIFLE AND SILENCER AMONG ... by Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England)			Ampère law ampere meter squared ampere per meter ampere per square inch ampere per square meter Ampère rule ampere square meter per joule second Ampère theorem Ampere's Law Ampère's Law Ampere, Andre Marie Ampère, André Marie ampere-hour ampere-hour capacity ampere-hour meter ampere-minute ampere-turn amperometric titration amperometric transducer amperometry ampersand ampersand codes Ampex Ampharetidae Ampharetinae amphetamine Amphi-Atlantic Distribution of Organisms Amphi-Pacific Distribution of Organisms Amphiaraüs amphiarthrosis amphiaster Amphibia Amphibian Amphibicorisae Amphibioidei amphibiotic amphibious amphibious assault landing model amphibious assault ship amphibious command ship Amphibious Crossing Means amphibious mine Amphibious Tank amphibious tractor amphibious warfare amphiblastic cleavage amphiblastula amphibole amphibole asbestos Amphiboles amphibolic			AMPET Ampex Ampex Corporation Ampex Digital Optics Ampex Records AMPF AMPFDT AMPFEA AMPFS AMPG AMPGAIN AMPGN AMPGS AMPH amph(i)- amph- amph- Amphapod Amphapod Ampharetidae Ampharetinae Amphenol Fiber Systems International Amphenol Interconnect Products Corporation amphenone Amphet Amphet Amphet Amphetamien Amphetamien Amphetamien amphetamine Amphetamine Abuse Amphetamine Abuse Amphetamine Abuse Amphetamine adipate Amphetamine adipate Amphetamine adipate Amphetamine aspartate Amphetamine aspartate Amphetamine aspartate amphetamine poisoning Amphetamine psychosis amphetamine sulfate amphetamine sulfate amphetamine sulfate amphetamine sulphate amphetamine sulphate amphetamine sulphate Amphetamine Type Substance Amphetamine Withdrawal Questionnaire Amphetamine-Based Stimulants Amphetamine-related disorders Amphetamine-related disorders Amphetamine-related disorders Amphetamine-Stimulated Locomotor Behavior Amphetamine-Type Stimulants Amphetamines Amphetamines Amphetamines Amphetimine Amphetimine

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Uses

Amphetamine Abuse

Side Effects

amphetamine

amphetamine