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Dexedrine is a prescription stimulant often used to treat ADHD. Unfortunately, many individuals also abuse the drug for its desirable side effects. This type of misuse can quickly lead to addiction, which often requires professional treatment.
Understanding Dexedrine Abuse
Dexedrine is indicated for the treatment of narcolepsy and ADHD. The drug helps to treat these issues by stimulating the brain and the body. However, this stimulation is often desirable to those who do not need it, and in many cases, Dexedrine is abused.
Dextroamphetamine, the generic version of the drug, is a Schedule II controlled substance. When abused, it can create tolerance, psychological dependence, and social disability. A person can experience addiction as a result of this abuse as well as overdose, which can lead to hallucinations, convulsions, and possible death.
Even though this is known, prescription stimulants are still abused in large amounts by those hoping to increase their school and athletic performances, increase their social skills, lose weight, or get high. These actions are extremely dangerous, as they can lead to addiction while one large dose can be deadly.
Signs and Symptoms of Dexedrine Abuse
Dexedrine abuse is usually fairly easy to recognize. Individuals on high doses of this drug will often become excitable and talkative, also experiencing an increase in heart rate and body temperature. Those taking Dexedrine in large doses will often experience the normal side effects of the drug more intensely.
These can include:
- Restlessness
- Difficulty falling asleep
- A Headache
- Uncontrollable shaking of a body part
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Changes in sexual drive or ability
People abusing Dexedrine will often be energetic, which is another reason why the drug is misused, but this energy can quickly turn to irritability, anxiety, and paranoia. In addition, people who use the drug in high doses will often crash afterward, experiencing depression and fatigue. This will worsen with the frequency of abuse as well as with dependence, which can cause an individual to consistently follow a binge-crash pattern of abusing the drug and crashing afterward.
Dexedrine Addiction
A person can become addicted to Dexedrine very quickly. As the individual abuses the drug, due to a rapid rise of dopamine in the brain, it changes the way the brain works, causing tolerance and cravings. The individual will crave more of the drug but will not be able to experience the same effects they once did with the same dose. Therefore, they will often continue to abuse higher and higher doses, leading to more and more severe effects.
In addition, long-term Dexedrine abuse can affect a person’s psychological health immensely. Extreme paranoia, hostility, violent outbursts, and hallucinations can occur, even if the person is not on the drug after abuse has become compulsive. In many cases, people in this situation will require intensive treatment in an inpatient program in order to protect them from hurting themselves or others.
Dexedrine Addiction Treatment
Without the proper treatment, it can be nearly impossible for someone to stop abusing Dexedrine once addicted to it. Withdrawal can be treated with different medications, including anti-craving agents and antidepressants, but it is very important for someone going through this process to receive professional help. We believe and evidence suggests behavioral therapies are currently the best methods for the treatment of prescription stimulant addiction because they can help patients:
- Avoid relapse by practicing better life skills
- Recognize and avoid triggers
- Learn to cope with cravings and stress
- Recognize any co-occurring mental disorders that require simultaneous treatment with their addictions
- Build confidence and self-worth, which can help avoid the issue of relapse and lead to better life satisfaction
Seek Treatment Today
Dexedrine is a beneficial medication when taken as prescribed, but those who misuse it put themselves in serious danger every day.