Amphetamine dependence
Encyclopedia
Amphetamine dependence refers to a state of dependence
on a drug in the amphetamine
class.
Tolerance is developed rapidly in amphetamine abuse, thereby the amount of the drug that is needed to satisfy the addiction needs to be increased at regular intervals.
Conversely, some researchers have reported observing the opposite effect in animal models: repeated amphetamine use can produce reverse tolerance
or sensitization to the psychological or locomotor-stimulating effects of the drug. Development of sensitization to amphetamine may depend on the daily dosage of amphetamine or the amount of time elapsed since the discontinuation of repeated dosing.
In rodent studies, repeated amphetamine treatment produces robust behavioral sensitization (or reverse tolerance) to some of the drug's effects. Depending on the dosing regimen, sensitization may persist for up to one year after the discontinuation of amphetamine treatment in rodents.
In humans, however, there is no systematic evidence of the development of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine after acute or chronic amphetamine treatment when the drug is used in the therapeutic dose range (i.e., is not abused). The absence of observed sensitization development in humans (compared to that observed in rodents) may be explained by different amphetamine metabolism or different mechanisms of action of amphetamine in humans versus rats.
Amphetamine does not have the potential to cause physical dependence, though withdrawal can still be hard for a user.
Many users will repeat the amphetamine cycle by taking more of the drug during the withdrawal
. This leads to a very dangerous cycle and may involve the use of other drugs to get over the withdrawal process. Users will commonly stay up for 2 or 3 days to avoid the withdrawals then dose themselves with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and in some cases opiates, to help them stay calm while they recuperate or simply to extend the positive effects of the drug. Chronic abusers of amphetamine often insufflate, smoke or inject the drug in order to experience a rush, with extra risks for infection, vein damage and overdose.
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
on a drug in the amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
class.
Tolerance is developed rapidly in amphetamine abuse, thereby the amount of the drug that is needed to satisfy the addiction needs to be increased at regular intervals.
Conversely, some researchers have reported observing the opposite effect in animal models: repeated amphetamine use can produce reverse tolerance
Reverse tolerance
Reverse tolerance or sensitization is the phenomenon of a reversal of the side-effects from a drug, or the reduction of insensitivity caused after drug tolerance has been established, or in some cases an additional increase of effects with continued use of a single drug existing alongside or not to...
or sensitization to the psychological or locomotor-stimulating effects of the drug. Development of sensitization to amphetamine may depend on the daily dosage of amphetamine or the amount of time elapsed since the discontinuation of repeated dosing.
In rodent studies, repeated amphetamine treatment produces robust behavioral sensitization (or reverse tolerance) to some of the drug's effects. Depending on the dosing regimen, sensitization may persist for up to one year after the discontinuation of amphetamine treatment in rodents.
In humans, however, there is no systematic evidence of the development of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine after acute or chronic amphetamine treatment when the drug is used in the therapeutic dose range (i.e., is not abused). The absence of observed sensitization development in humans (compared to that observed in rodents) may be explained by different amphetamine metabolism or different mechanisms of action of amphetamine in humans versus rats.
Amphetamine does not have the potential to cause physical dependence, though withdrawal can still be hard for a user.
Many users will repeat the amphetamine cycle by taking more of the drug during the withdrawal
Withdrawal
Withdrawal can refer to any sort of separation, but is most commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol...
. This leads to a very dangerous cycle and may involve the use of other drugs to get over the withdrawal process. Users will commonly stay up for 2 or 3 days to avoid the withdrawals then dose themselves with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and in some cases opiates, to help them stay calm while they recuperate or simply to extend the positive effects of the drug. Chronic abusers of amphetamine often insufflate, smoke or inject the drug in order to experience a rush, with extra risks for infection, vein damage and overdose.