Amphetamine Pills

A study done in 2018 found that there are around 16 million Americans each year using prescription stimulants. Of those who had a prescription:

• 5 million abused those medications for cognitive enhancement.
• 0.4 million developed an amphetamine use disorder.

There are around 2.5 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 that regularly take prescription stimulants such as Adderall. Almost 60% of those who misuse amphetamine pills report getting them from a friend or family member for free, and around 20% said they stole or bought them.

• In 2010, it was reported that there were around 31,000 ER visits due to amphetamine misuse.
• In 2011, there were around 114 daily ER visits of people 18-25 due to amphetamine abuse.

Amphetamines stimulate an increase in the production of dopamine within the brain. When they are suddenly stopped, there is a sharp decrease in that dopamine. Most people who stop using amphetamines will experience withdrawal symptoms. They can be quite severe, especially for individuals who abused these medications for an extended period of time and can lead to a relapse or overdose.

In general, acute amphetamine withdrawal may last for up to two weeks depending on how long those drugs were used and how much. Unfortunately, people may experience post-acute symptoms for up to a year following abstinence.

The most common amphetamine withdrawal symptoms are:

• Increased depression or anxiety
• Problems with sleeping, such as insomnia
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe fatigue
• Twitching or shaking
• Muscle aches and pains
• Appetite changes
• Cravings
• Suicidal ideation
• Emotional outburst or irritability