

Stimulants can increase blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and decrease sleep and appetite (which can lead to malnutrition). It has also been used in various diet products, which have varying legal status in different countries. Ephedrine is a key ingredient in methamphetamine, which is illegal.

Methylphenidate has been approved by the U.S. It may be legally prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.

Stimulants have been abused for both “performance enhancement” and recreational purposes (i.e. Some types of amphetamines are legally prescribed by doctors to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (where a person has an uncontrollable urge to sleep). Amphetamines usually come in the form of pills. Today, while many of these drugs are prescribed by licensed health care providers, the amphetamines available on the black market are generally produced illegally.Īmphetamines are known as “uppers” and “speed,” as they speed up the messages going between the brain and the body. government to restrict access to the drug. In 1965, the potential for rapid and serious addiction prompted the U.S. They have been prescribed to soldiers for alertness in all wars since their discovery. First synthesized in the 1880s, amphetamines originally were used as nasal decongestants, weight suppressants, and to help people stay awake. There is unlikely an easy answer to this, but discussing this is likely important for the future generation of physicians.The term “amphetamine” refers to a group of chemically related stimulants. should they stop as well, potentially jeopardizing patient lives? Do we want them to stop abusing provigil? I have some medical colleagues that take provigil regularly for work. Navy seals take provigil to keep them awake and alert for multiple days on end, which for them is the difference between life and death (themselves and others they are trying to save). Not to say that is a paradigm for young medical students, but he was by no means unsuccessful, and he clearly saved many lives during his career. The grandfather of surgery (Halsted) was addicted to cocaine and morphine his whole life. would you want a doctor treating or operating on you that wasn't as mentally sharp as they could be? What if it resulted in the accidental death of a patient? Is it still wrong that they are abusing adderall?

Amphetamine abuse free#
Is adderall abuse rampant at your school? It does have some level of performance enhancement and even weight loss, unfortunately very attractive qualities for young adults in medical school.Īre we moving towards a future dystopia where your acceptance to medical school comes with a free 4 year supply of adderall as a care package? will high level professionals be implicitly required to be on adderall like medicines lifelong to perform successfully in their roles?Įven more disturbing is.
