Amphetamine abuse

Description

Amphetamines (methamphetamines) are powerful stimulants that can provoke a sense of euphoria. It also has its street names such as “speed” and “met”. The medicine causes strong addiction and its abuse leads to loss of memory, aggression, psychotic behavior, heart damages, malnutrition and severe dental problems. Amphetamine can be taken orally, smoked, injected or inhaled. The chronic user can suffer serious psychological and health damage.

Symptoms

Excitement, increased self-esteem, higher blood pressure, talkativeness, sweating, restlessness, problems with sleeping, anxiety, grumpiness, psychotic symptoms, aggression, violence, attacks, fever, paranoia, hallucinations, severe anxiety, depression, suicide, exhaustion, malnutrition.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done. Additional lab tests are done to exclude organ damages.

Tests

Complete blood count (KKS), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).

Additional analyses

Toxicological analysis

Specialists

Addiction Disease Psychiatry, Psychiatry

Therapy

Depends on the severity of the symptoms, but it can include antipsychotics (haloperidol), benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam) and infusion. Treatment in the psycochological counseling center for addiction diseases is frequently justified option.