Side effects of prescription stimulants

 

What exactly are prescription stimulants? Well, as the name suggests, stimulants are specific kind of medications which main purpose is to increase alertness, attention, and energy in the individual! By doing this- they also work as blood pressure elevators and well as the stimulants of the heart rate and respiration frequency! For what they are being used? We should know that, in history, they are being used  to treat several different conditions such as asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other... All this would be perfect only if someone didn’t come to the idea that these medications can be perfect for abuse because of their stimulating effects! Because of this fact and the fact that patients can be addicted to them-  the medical use of stimulants began to wane.  Therefore, today, unlike in history, stimulants are prescribed for the treatment of only a few health conditions, including:

·        Narcolepsy

·        Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and

·        depression

Like any other medications, prescription stimulants can also cause several possible side effect! Because of common abuse of these medications- we should definitely know more about this problem! Most commonly used stimulants are dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta).

What should we know about the chemical structure of these stimulants? Well, most commonly used stimulants, such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta), have chemical structures similar to chemicals called monoamines, which include norepinephrine and dopamine. We all have heard about these substances because they are famous neurotransmitters in our brain and body! Why is important that they have so similar structure? Well, it’s simple- they should enhance the effects of these chemicals in the brain by acting almost identically as neurotransmitters would. Like we have already mentioned- the main effects are:

·         increased blood pressure and heart rate

·         constriction of blood vessels in our body

·          increase in blood level of glucose

·         Opening of the pathways of the respiratory system

·         sense of euphoria

 

When we talk about the effects of stimulants, we should know that they could be divided into the short-term and long-term effects!

·         short-term effects – Several studies done in the past have confirmed the fact that stimulants increase the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain! This is causing many short-term effects such as increase in blood pressure and heart rate, constriction blood vessels,  increase in breathing frequency and other. .. All these effects are short-term which means that they appear fast and disappear feast after use of stimulants! Because of all this- everyone should be aware of one important fact- there is a big risk for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.

·         long-term effects – It is important to point out that all stimulants can be addictive! This means that after a while-all users begin to use them compulsively. Like with all addictions- after some time-abusers start to take higher and higher doses which can lead to several complications, feelings of hostility or paranoia, possible cardiovascular failure (heart attack) or lethal seizures.  

 

Like we have already mentioned- addiction is not only possible, but became very big problem for a society! We already know that every addiction causes withdrawal symptoms! Most common symptoms of discontinuing stimulant use include:

·        fatigue

·        depression

·        disturbance of sleep patterns

·        feelings of hostility

·        paranoia

 

Often, patients are interested about the potential interactions between stimulants and other medications! Is it safe to use stimulants with other drugs? Well, it could be very difficult to answer this questions and that’s why- probably the best advice would be that stimulants should be combined with other medications only under a physician's supervision. There is one interesting and dangerous combination: stimulants and decongestants! Everyone should be aware of the dangers associated with mixing stimulants and medicines that contain decongestants, often used in simple colds! It is proven that combining these medications may cause extremely high blood pressure and it can lead to irregular heart rhythms.

Most of the people connect the term “abuse” with illegal drugs! This is not true! Drug abuse is the term for every use of legal or illegal drugs for a purpose other than that for which it was normally prescribed or recommended. In most cases, this happens when individual starts taking some drug without a prescription for it! The goal could be simple self-treatment or to use the simulative effects of the medication!

Several studies done recently have showed that the abuse of most common prescription stimulants is highest among 18 to 25 year olds. Not only that, one another study have showed that between 4 and 25% of college students have used or still a prescription stimulant. According to them- the purpose of their use is to help them with hard studying! Experts are also saying that students who abused stimulant medications are also abused on higher levels of cigarette smoking, heavy drinking, risky driving, and abuse of marijuana, Ecstasy (MDMA), and cocaine.

 

Almost everyone has heard about the Ritalin. Chemically- it is called methylphenidate. Like other prescription stimulants- it is normally prescribed for several conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Beside this Ritalin, there are also several other medications which contain methylphenidate and related compounds! Some of the most common are Concerta, Metadate, Methylin, Rubifen, and Focalin. Not too many people are familiar with the fact that the Ritalin and cocaine are classified in the same, Schedule II stimulant, group! Most commonly it is used by students who want to stay all night wake because of studying prior to some big exams! It came in a form of pill, but, soon, it will appear in the market in a form of skin patch! Sometimes, abusers crush up the pill and snort or inject it.

Similar to all common psychomotor stimulants, Ritalin also is causing some effect on heart and respiration (breathing) rates. Important thing to point out is that it effects are mild because it acts naturally, as a neurotransmitter dopamine. Therefore, when we talk about Ritalin effects, we talk about dopamine effects! Most common effects are:

·         increased locomotor movement

·         restlessness

·         improvement in attention

·         sense of pleasure or euphoria

 

Like all other medications, Ritalin can also cause several dangerous side effects, especially when used in large quantities or by persons with weak heart or high blood pressure! Some of the most common are:  

·         Abdominal pain

·         Weight loss  

·         Digestive problems

·         Nervousness and restlessness

·         Insomnia

·         Loss of appetite

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Dizziness and headaches

·         Severe fatigue and emotional depression  

·         Elevation in the heart rate and blood pressure

·         Skin rashes and itching

·         Toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug dependence

 

Similar to Ritalin, Adderall is also one very famous and widely used prescription psychomotor stimulant! Unfortunately, beside medically approved use, it has also been widely abused by mostly younger people, students and teenagers! When we talk about medical use of Adderall, we should know that it is normally used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy- rare sleep disorder.

Like we have mentioned- Adderall is widely abused illegally by students to enhance their ability to study for long periods. This of course leads to addiction because Adderall is classified as a Schedule II amphetamine, in the same drug class as cocaine. What are the most common Adderall effects on the person who’s using it? Well, it is proven that Adderall:

·         increases energy and alertness significantly

·         raises blood pressure, which sometimes can be extremely dangerous

·         elevates heart rate and body temperature, leading sometimes to heart failure

·          increases feelings of pleasure and euphoria, which is later replaced with depression

 

The fact is that Adderall has a high abuse and addiction potential, and therefore- it is causing several withdrawal symptoms! Some of the most common side effects of Adderall use may include:

·         Tremor

·         Anxiety or nervousness

·         Irregular heartbeat

·         High blood pressure

·         Abnormal behavior or confusion

·         Restlessness

·         Diarrhea or constipation

·         Headache

·         Dryness of the mouth and unpleasant taste in the mouth

·         Dizziness

·         Insomnia

·         Impotence or changes in sex drive