Amphetamine psychosis is one of the possible side effects of taking amphetamines and methamphetamines or other stimulants such as designer drugs. Amphetamine psychosis can develop even after occasional use of amphetamines, but is usually the result of overdosing or prolonged use of the drug.
Amphetamine psychosisoccurs in around 80 percent of amphetamines and methamphetamine users, and in many high-speed users. Amphetamine psychosis makes the affected person aggressive and delusional, which makes them a threat to themselves and those around them.
Amphetamine psychosis: symptoms
- delusions
- hallucinations
- thinking disorder
- feeling of being bullied
- hyperactivity
- panic
Amphetamine psychosis: causes
Specialists believe that the main cause of amphetamine psychosis is the increased activity of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Besides, there are also other factors at stake, but other factors, most notably chronic sleep deprivation.
Amphetamine psychosis: treatment
Amphetamine psychosis requires hospital treatment. The patient is given neuroleptics intramuscularly or intravenously in half the doses than in non-addicted people, because people taking amphetamines are very sensitive to neuroleptics.