Amphetamines are a collective group of drugs that include amphetamines and amphetamine derivatives such as dextroamphetamine, levoamphetamine, and methamphetamine. Amphetamines speed up the brain and are highly addictive central nervous system stimulants. The most common types of amphetamines are those legally prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder ADD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD, narcolepsy, and obesity. Other amphetamines may be used to enhance cognition or performance and many are abused for their euphoric properties.
Types of Amphetamines
Amphetamine is made up of two compounds levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine. The more potent of two is dextroamphetamine and is a common element of ADD, ADHD, and narcolepsy medications. Methamphetamine is a drug produced, illegally, in domestic and foreign labs for recreational use. It is neurotoxic and can cause many health problems including brain damage, chronic psychiatric disorders, and dental problems. Methamphetamine hydrochloride is rarely prescribed because of it health risks, but it is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) under the trade name Desoxyn.
Amphetamine Abuse
Amphetamine abuse can lead to serious health consequences, such as rapid or irregular heartbeats, anxiety, paranoia, mood disturbances, psychosis, overdose, or death. Legitimate prescriptions for amphetamines are often diverted to the street for sale and other amphetamines, such as methamphetamine and MDMA, are produced in clandestine laboratories where there is no monitoring of the chemical makeup or dosage potencies and this increases the risks from abuse. According to the National Institute On Drug Abuse “In studies of chronic methamphetamine users, severe structural and functional changes have been found in areas of the brain associated with emotion and memory, which may account for many of the emotional and cognitive problems observed in these individuals.”
List of Amphetamines
There is a wide variety of legal amphetamines produced under various name brands in the United States. The following is a list of the most common legal drugs containing amphetamines and amphetamine compounds that are prescribed for medicinal treatment purposes:
There are many different amphetamines on the market.
- Adderall
- Adderall XR
- Ritalin
- Ritalin-SR
- Dextrostat
- Dexedrine
- Dexedrine Spansule
- Zenzedi
- Concerta
- ProCentra
- Vyvanse
- Focalin
- Strattera
- Desoxyn
Many amphetamine drugs have their own street names as follows:
- Street amphetamine: uppers, bennies, black beauties, speed, eye-openers, lid poppers, pep pills, wake-ups, and white crosses
- Street dextroamphetamine: dexies
- Street methamphetamine: crank, crystal, crystal meth, meth, go-fast, speed, and zip
- Concentrated methamphetamine hydrochloride: ice, crystal, and glass
- Combinations: Amphetamines and barbiturates: goofballs
- Methamphetamine and heroin: speedballs