Am I Struggling with a Dexedrine Addiction? When to Consider Treatment
Dexedrine belongs to the amphetamine class of drugs, commonly used to treat conditions involving sleep disorders, ADHD and weight problems. Like most all amphetamine-based drugs, Dexedrine stimulates chemical activities throughout the brain and central nervous system and speeds up bodily processes. This drug also comes with a high risk for abuse and addiction.
If you’re struggling with Dexedrine addiction you’ve likely noticed certain changes in your physical and emotional health that warrant cause for concern. Understanding how this drug changes the way the brain works can help in determining whether you need Dexedrine addiction treatment.
Dexedrine’s Effects
Dexedrine’s ability to enhance mental focus, concentration and increase energy levels accounts for its popularity as a drug of abuse, especially among college students. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Dexedrine’s effects develop out of its ability to stimulate neurotransmitter production rates. In effect, changes in dopamine, norepinephrine and 5HT not only produce the desired effects of the drug, but also interfere with the body’s major systems, including:
- Respiratory functions
- The cardiovascular system
- Body temperature
- Movement and coordination
- Cognitive functions
- Emotions
With frequent drug use, the chemical balance needed to regulate the body’s functions as normal becomes highly unstable. Before long, the brain reaches a point where it needs Dexedrine to carry out its regulatory functions.
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Signs of Dexedrine Addiction
Taking Larger Amounts
Dexedrine withdrawal can cause feelings of anxiousness.
As a powerful stimulant drug, Dexedrine causes gradual damage to the cells that produce neurotransmitter chemicals. As damage increases, larger doses of the drug must be ingested in order to experience the drug’s desired effects, according to the University of Maryland. This cycle will continue for as long as a person keeps taking the drug and remains a driving force that fuels Dexedrine addiction.
Withdrawal Effects
If you’re experiencing withdrawal episodes on a frequent basis, the Dexedrine addiction process is well underway. Withdrawal episodes reflect the degree of brain dysfunction that’s developed in response to Dexedrine’s damaging effects. Withdrawal symptoms typically take the form of:
- Tremors or jitteriness
- Depression
- Feelings of anxiousness
- Violent outbursts
- Fatigue
- Extreme agitation
- Insomnia
Bingeing & Crashing
With regular drug use, needing to take increasingly larger doses soon turns into bingeing behavior where multiple doses must be ingested at once to experience the desired effects of the drug. This practice puts an incredible strain on the brain and body’s systems to the point where a person will require a long period of rest to recover, also known as “crashing.” In effect, this degree of drug abuse indicates a full-blown Dexedrine addiction is at work.
Lifestyle Effects
Once Dexedrine addiction takes hold, a person’s lifestyle undergoes considerable change to accommodate the dire need for the drug in his or her life. Lifestyle effects tend to be destructive in nature and may take the form of:
- Severe mood swings
- Poor work/school performance
- Financial difficulties
- Decline in personal grooming and hygiene
- Legal problems
- Loss of interest in fun activities
- Isolative behaviors
- Relationship conflicts
Treatment Considerations
Considering the high potential for abuse and addiction that comes with Dexedrine addiction, it’s never too soon to seek out needed treatment help once drug abuse patterns start to emerge. If you suspect you or someone you know may be struggling with Dexedrine addiction and need help finding treatment that meets your needs, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-481-6320Who Answers? to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
