Prescription Stimulants
Prescription Stimulants
Prescription Drug stimulants increase alertness, attention, and perceived energy, as well as elevating blood pressure and increasing heart rate and respiration. Stimulants have been prescribed to treat asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments. But as their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent, the medical use of stimulants began to wane. Now, stimulants are prescribed for the treatment of only a few health conditions, including narcolepsy, ADHD, and depression that has not responded to other treatments. Some of the commonly abused stimulants are as followed:
- Dexedrine® (commonly prescribed for weight loss)
- Adderol® (commonly prescribed for ADHD)
- Ritalin® (commonly prescribed for ADHD)
- Concerta® (commonly prescribed for ADHD)
- Provigil® (commonly prescribed for sleep disorders)
How Prescription Stimulants Affect the Body
Many prescription stimulants are central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. People abuse CNS stimulants for a variety of reasons, primarily their stimulating effects. They can produce feelings of euphoria, and they are often abused for the “high” they provide. CNS stimulants effects also can give people a perception of extra energy; a common example of abuse is students using them to stay up all night studying for finals. Also, due to stimulants’ tendency to increase metabolism and decrease appetite, they may be abused in order to achieve weight loss. As with other drugs of abuse, it is possible for individuals to become addicts and dependent upon many Prescription Stimulants.
Prescription Stimulant Withdrawal, Detox, Treatment, and Recovery
Withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing stimulant use include fatigue, depression, and disturbance of sleep patterns. Repeated use of some stimulants over a short period of time can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia. Further, taking high doses of a stimulant may result in a dangerously high body temperature and an irregular heartbeat, which can overdose. There is also the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures. The withdrawal and detox from prescription stimulants depends on the length and amount used by the abuser. In-patient treatment that includes cognitive-behavioral therapy may be an effective treatment for addressing stimulant addiction. Finally, recovery support groups may be helpful in conjunction with behavioral therapy.
