Author: Alex Thompson
Methamphetamine Oral Route Side Effects
You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. Injuries during illegal methamphetamine production or police raids include exposure to dangerous chemicals, as well as burns and explosions. All of these can cause serious, life threatening injuries and conditions. The amount of drug ingested and how quickly the person received medical attention determine their prognosis.
Meth increases the release of dopamine and, thus, enhances the person’s mood and energy levels leading to increased wakefulness and physical activity. The effects of meth on the body with short-term use include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure and a high body temperature (hyperthermia). Anyone with a methamphetamine substance use disorder is at a high risk of overdose. By recognizing the side effects and signs of meth use, you may be able to intervene and prevent a meth overdose from occurring. Prescription methamphetamine is a strong stimulant drug used to treat obesity and ADHD. The FDA warns Desoxyn has a high potential for abuse and could lead to or exacerbate cardiovascular conditions.
However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has conceived a method called MIEDAR (Motivation Incentives for Enhancing Drug Abuse Recovery). Methamphetamine can have drug-alcohol or drug-drug interactions. Doctors may also administer benzodiazepines and antipsychotics for sedation and seizure management.
How well a person does depends on the amount of drug they took and how quickly they were treated. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery. If the patient is actively having a seizure, becoming violent, or having difficulty breathing, do not delay. If the overdose involved opioids, the person may be unconscious.
Psychosis and paranoia may last up to 1 year, even with aggressive medical treatment. Skin changes and tooth loss are permanent unless the person has cosmetic surgery or dentistry to correct the problems. Further disability may occur if the person had a heart attack or a stroke.
Therapy Types Used in Meth Addiction Treatment
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Low-level exposure to methamphetamine could damage as much as 50% of dopamine-producing cells in the brain.
- Because of the drug’s potent effects, they could be a danger to you as well.
- Street meth is highly potent and often laced with fentanyl, an opioid 100 times stronger than morphine, driving an increase in fatal and non-fatal overdoses.
- Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
- We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Street meth is highly potent and often laced with fentanyl, an opioid 100 times stronger than morphine, driving an increase in fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Finally, illegal methamphetamine production could expose people to harmful chemicals, possible burns, and explosions. Depending on case severity, an overdose could lead to irreversible damage. The length of time methamphetamines stay active can be much longer than for cocaine and other stimulants.
Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
Mugshots of extremely thin, disheveled men and women arrested for meth use show the devastating effects of meth addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that causes a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria. Currently, no drugs are available to counteract the effects of methamphetamines or those caused by long-term abstinence. Too much of this drug can fatally cause a heart attack or stroke.
In chronic methamphetamine overdose, adverse health effects can happen over time. This could consist of delusional behavior and repeated infections. The street drug is usually a white crystal-like powder, called “crystal meth.” This powder can be snorted up the nose, smoked, swallowed, or dissolved and injected into a vein. The demand for meth has given rise to a market for illegal stimulants. The street version– crystal meth, ice, or crank – is made in crude meth labs from ingredients found in over-the-counter cold medicines.
Calling 911 and then helping them to breathe is key—through administration of naloxone (Narcan) and rescue breathing as instructed by 911 operators. For information about the impact of drug addiction in the United States, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website. The incentive-based approach has been shown to encourage cocaine and methamphetamine abstinence.
What to Expect at the Emergency Room
For some, once they have experienced the overwhelming rush from meth, the draw is too strong to resist, leading them down a path of substance use and illicit drug use. The constant need for intense euphoric feelings puts any meth user at a high risk of overdose. Knowing how to treat someone experiencing a meth overdose can mean the difference between life and death. A much weaker form of methamphetamine is sold as a prescription with the brand name Desoxyn. Adderall, a brand name drug containing amphetamine, is used to treat ADHD. You may have learned about methamphetamine, or meth, from your local news.
Certain mental health issues, memory loss, and insomnia can last for years, and medical complications can lead to permanent disability. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
If individual patients are awake, activated charcoal may be a treatment option. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help.