Amphetamines are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. They are also called psychostimulants. They are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD and ADHD).
In addition, they treat narcolepsy, Parkinson's disease and obesity. Due to their high abuse potential, the substances are also classified as Schedule II drugs by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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Amphetamines are derived from ephedra (Ephedra sinica), a plant native to China and Mongolia. For centuries, many cultures have used ephedrine as a stimulant and to treat congestion and asthma. The plant contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
These are natural alkaloid substances or nitrogenous organic compounds that cause a physiological response in humans. These chemicals are the foundation upon which amphetamines (including methamphetamine) were created.
Nagai Nagayoshi, a Japanese chemist and pharmacologist, first isolated ephedrine in 1885. Just two years later, in 1887, Lazar Edeleanu, a Romanian chemist, synthesized amphetamine from ephedrine.
In 1929, Gordon Alles, a US biochemist, discovered that amphetamines had physiological effects. Soon after Alles' discovery, pharmaceutical companies developed amphetamine drugs. The drugs were for the treatment of congestion and asthma.
From 1933 to 1948, amphetamine could be taken to combat nasal congestion and without a prescription. Additional clinical trials found that amphetamine had positive effects on weight loss, narcolepsy and depression.
Its popularity then grew during World War II. Members of the US, Japanese, German and British military were given the drug to treat mild depression and improve alertness and stamina.
Amphetamines have since been used in the development of a variety of drugs, most notably Adderall and Ritalin. Amphetamine addiction has been a problem since the 1940s, but it increased in the 1980s with the increase in illicit methamphetamine production.
An amphetamine-based medication, such as Adderall or Ritalin, increases dopamine production in connections between the prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain. This allows the prefrontal cortex to regain control.
Certain amphetamine formulations, typically pseudoephedrine, are used in medications that treat cold symptoms. Amphetamine stimulants reduce the swelling of blood vessels in the nose. This helps open up the airways, allowing for easier breathing.
The drugs are available without a prescription but are stored behind the pharmacy counter because they can be illegally used to produce methamphetamine.
There is evidence that amphetamines can treat obesity by acting as appetite suppressants. A 2015 clinical trial published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology reported that patients who took amphetamine medications showed increased weight loss and motivation.
The mechanism was unclear, and more research is needed to determine whether amphetamines can be used for long-term weight loss.
When taken correctly, amphetamine medications can be safe and effective. But, as with any prescription medication, there are potential side effects.
Amphetamines can have a powerful effect on the body and brain, even when taken just once. According to MedlinePlus, side effects of taking amphetamines include:
Amphetamines, particularly methamphetamine, can be highly addictive.
Amphetamine can cause the brain to produce such high amounts of dopamine that the brain compensates by getting rid of dopamine receptors. Removing these receptors decreases a person's ability to experience pleasure.
This can increase depression or suicidal thoughts when the person is not using the drug. These depressing feelings can lead people to continue using the drug so that dopamine and the positive feelings it produces will return.
In 1971, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs – now the US DEA – classified all forms of amphetamines, including methamphetamine, as Schedule II drugs. The classification means that the drugs have an accepted medical use, but also a high potential for abuse.
Beginning in the 1980s, amphetamine abuse skyrocketed as illegal methamphetamine production took off. This period also saw an increase in prescriptions of amphetamine drugs for the treatment of attention deficit disorders. Abuse and medical use of amphetamines has continued to increase over the last decade.
In the US, an estimated 4.8 million people age 12 and older have abused their amphetamine-based prescriptions. About 1.7 million used methamphetamine in 2015. However, it is difficult to accurately track methamphetamine use because the drug is illegally manufactured and distributed.
Furthermore, most methamphetamines come from outside the US, where they are produced cheaply and illegally.
While the physical changes caused by amphetamines in the brain are permanent, various therapeutic treatment programs can help people overcome their addiction. The most successful treatments include addiction education, family counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy and support groups.
