Future research must address the heterogeneity of AMPH/MA dependence (e.g. coexisting conditions, severity of disorder, differences between MA and AMPH dependence) and the role of psychosocial intervention. They are legal when they are prescribed by a doctor and used to treat health problems such as obesity, narcolepsy, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although adherence was reported in most of the studies reviewed here, the methods and definitions were discordant across studies. When plasma was assessed for active study drug/metabolite, there was no measurable metabolite included in the placebo, and the control data is therefore missing. Furthermore, presence of the study drug/metabolite does not necessarily indicate adherent consumption of the study drug, and authors varied in their assessments in that regard (i.e. present or not versus present at a defined level). Studies relying on pill count or self-report lacked critical appraisal of the results.
A person’s first step toward recovery is to reach out to a friend, family member, or healthcare professional to seek help. A person may need help for different types of substances or for mental health conditions alongside substance misuse. Doctors can prescribe amphetamines to people living with ADHD, among other conditions. People may also use the drugs in an unprescribed manner, such as to stay awake for a study deadline or to suppress appetite.
Adverse effects
Importantly, we did not find any evidence that either treatment setting is superior to another for any of the outcomes we assessed. Hence, we suggest that criteria for the selection of treatment setting are based on clinical judgement and resources. Likewise, significant comorbidity (e.g. psychoses) may impact the ability to remain in ambulatory care during periods of treatment for AMPH/MA withdrawal or treatment. Other substance use and social environments will also feature when determining the best setting for clinical care [75].
Find out how amphetamine addiction develops, the signs to look for if a loved one has an addiction problem, and treatment options available for… If you or a loved one is struggling with amphetamine addiction, seek professional help. As a caregiver or family member, offer support and encourage your loved one to seek treatment. High blood pressure can cause damage to blood vessels and the heart, while elevated body temperature can cause damage to organs and tissues.
Amphetamine dependence
At Week 10 of the study there was a reduction in craving in the treatment arm, and the treatment arm demonstrated fewer positive UDS and reduced depressive symptoms at Week 10 compared with the placebo arm. Participants randomised to topiramate returned significantly fewer MA-positive UDS at Week 6, but this result was not sustained throughout the final 4 weeks of the treatment period [55]. There are no specific medications that counteract the effects of amphetamines or that prolong abstinence from and reduce the abuse of amphetamines. However, there are a number of medications that are FDA-approved for other illnesses that might also be useful in treating Amphetamine Addiction. Recent findings indicate that bupropion, the anti-depressant marketed as Wellbutrin, may reduce a methamphetamine-induced high as well as drug cravings elicited by drug-related cues.
The first randomised 79 MA/AMPH-dependent participants for 22 weeks to methylphenidate or placebo, with abstinence (measured by twice-weekly UDS, and defined as the weekly percentage of AMPH/MA-positive results) as the primary outcome [51]. In intention-to-treat analysis there were no differences in abstinence or study retention rates (defined by number of doses collected), although the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ methylphenidate arm achieved higher study retention from Week 6. The sample was heterogeneous, as participants were enrolled in both Finland, where all participants took intravenous AMPH, and New Zealand, where all participants smoked MA, but the results were analysed in aggregate. No study we reviewed directly compared outcomes between outpatient- and inpatient-treated participants.
How we reviewed this article:
In total, 55 primary outcome measures were used (inclusive of variations) 93 times (as some studies had multiple primary outcomes). The most common primary outcome measure reported was abstinence (51 times, 55%), followed by cravings (10 times, 11%). For abstinence, urine drug screens (UDS) were used 41 times (80%) and analysed or defined in 16 different ways.
- Prescription amphetamine drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Dexedrine, are Schedule II drugs.
- The broad selection of outcomes and measures render it difficult to meta-analyse or otherwise collectively synthesise the study results as reported.
- In some cases, this was due to the setting (e.g. male-only residential treatment centres), or studies conducted in specific populations (e.g. men who have sex with men), and in others the reason is not clearly stated.
- The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th Revision (ICD-10) recognises ‘stimulant dependence syndrome’ and ‘stimulant withdrawal state’ [8].
You are not able to control your use of it and you need it to get through daily life. A review published in Cochrane in 2011 suggested that adults with ADHD might benefit from short-term use of amphetamines, but that they were unlikely to persist with the treatment because of adverse effects. Those who use mixed amphetamine salts, however, were more likely to continue with the treatment.
This limits the capacity to appropriately assess the risk versus benefit of the pharmacotherapies reviewed here. We elected to include studies in this review irrespective of safety reporting, to provide a comprehensive review of the current status of research. A single study has investigated ondansetron for the treatment of MA dependence [44]. This four-arm trial assessed different doses of ondansetron (0.5 mg, 2 mg, 8 mg po OD) against placebo in measures of abstinence, use, severity of dependence, withdrawal, craving and retention in treatment. There was no observable difference in any outcome measure between doses or against placebo. The authors suggest that the nil result may be due to the short half-life of ondansetron (approximately 5 h) and suggest a sustained-release formulation or more aggressive dosing may give more efficacious results.
The etiology is unclear; however, binging can be related to tolerance in which the user may require higher and higher doses to get the same effect. This is the consequence of both down regulations of the postsynaptic receptors and depletion of presynaptic stores of neurotransmitter. There is always a high risk for amphetamine overdose due to its addiction potential. The high from amphetamines can make users feel increased amounts of energy, confidence, and sense of clarity. For these reasons, amphetamines can be very addicting both psychologically as well as physically due to the stimulating effects. This can take a detrimental toll on an individual’s body as there are long-term effects of amphetamine abuse which include damage to nerve cells, seizures, gross psychosis, strokes, and dysrhythmias.
Methamphetamine abuse may also worsen the progression of HIV and its consequences. In animal studies, methamphetamine increased viral replication; in human methamphetamine abusers, HIV caused greater neuronal injury and cognitive impairment compared with non-drug abusers. Amphetamines including methamphetamine (MA) are a global health problem and there is concern that amphetamines abuse will continue, despite awareness of multiple harms [1]. After cannabis, amphetamines are the most commonly consumed illicit substances in the world [2]. Amphetamine abuse has been also recently reported among Iranian illicit drug abusers [3].
