Some of the symptoms resemble those of paranoid schizophrenia. Dependence - as shown by increased tolerance - results in deficits in memory and in decision-making and verbal reasoning. Chronic use of amphetamine causes neurochemical and neuroanatomical changes. Acute intoxication causes serious cardiovascular disturbances as well as behavioural problems that include agitation, confusion, paranoia, impulsivity and violence.
Analysis of amphetamine in urine is confounded because it is a metabolite of methamphetamine and certain medicinal products. A major metabolite is 1-phenyl-2-propanone, with smaller amounts of 4-hydroxyamphetamine. The plasma half-life varies from 4 to 12 hours and is dependent on the urinary pH: alkaline urine decreases the rate of elimination. After a single oral dose of 10 mg, maximum plasma levels are around 0.02 mg/L. It is rapidly absorbed after oral administration. The S-isomer has greater activity than the R-isomer. Amphetamine is less potent than methamphetamine, but in uncontrolled situations the effects are almost indistinguishable. It increases the activity of the noradrenaline and dopamine neurotransmitter systems. Later, users may feel irritable, restless, anxious, depressed and lethargic. Following oral use, the effects usually start within 30 minutes and last for many hours. It suppresses appetite and fatigue and leads to insomnia. Tablets containing amphetamine may carry logos similar to those seen on MDMA and other ecstasy tablets.Īmphetamine is a CNS stimulant that causes hypertension and tachycardia with feelings of increased confidence, sociability and energy. Illicit products mostly consist of powders. The most common salt is the sulfate ( CAS-60-13-9): a white or off-white powder soluble in water. Molecular structureĪmphetamine base is a colourless volatile oil insoluble in water. These two forms were previously called the - or l- stereoisomer and the - or d-stereoisomer, but in modern usage are defined as the R- and S-stereoisomers. The asymmetric α-carbon atom gives rise to two enantiomers. Thus, amphetamine is α-methyl phenethylamine.Īccording to IUPAC, the fully systematic name is α-methylbenzeneethanamine. ChemistryĪmphetamine ( CAS-300-62-9) is a member of the phenethylamine family, which includes a range of substances that may be stimulants, entactogens or hallucinogens.
It is under international control and closely related to methamphetamine.
Amphetamine has some limited therapeutic use, but most is manufactured in clandestine laboratories in Europe. It appears that, as in the case of methamphetamine, systematic studies of its chemistry did not come about until the early twentieth century. It is believed that amphetamine was first manufactured in the 1880s by the German chemist Leuckart, although evidence for this is lacking. Normally seen as a white powder, it acts as a stimulant of the central nervous system (CNS).
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