* The following effects are just a generalisation, everyone will have different experiences. The effects of a substance depend on a range of factors only one of which is the drug itself. A lot of the time what happens is determined by what you expect to happen.
What does it feel like to take amphetamines?
People have described what amphetamines feel like in a variety of ways. Most of these can be traced back to the increase in dopamine (euphoria), noradrenaline (stimulation) and serotonin (closeness) release.
As with most things, sometimes it is positive and sometimes it is negative.
Positive:
“I eventually had my first smoke. And I was blown away,... the euphoria...
feelings of well-being and just being invincible...
This feeling of closeness to everyone, and relating to people and talking, and having fun and dancing, and just a deep appreciation of everything in life”
Negative:
"There are positives and negatives in every situation, with a meth crash that’s not the case. I don’t believe in hell but I would describe it as a meth crash. You feel the worst you can feel and you get very paranoid and to keep yourself from completely freaking out with paranoia you have to have something on TV. It can’t be anything important or you’ll get paranoid so put on the shopping channel or something. You feel like shit for a week or so afterwards.
It raises your ego and makes you think your way cool when you’re not too."
| What are the physical effects of taking amphetamines? |
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Listen to someone describe their
experience of taking speed |
Effects related to dopamine:
- euphoric feeling
- confidence
- sociability
- cravings
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Effects related to noradrenaline
- dilated pupils
- sweating
- red face
- hyperactivity, restlessness
- talkative
- repeated activities
- jaw clenching and possible teeth grinding
- faster breathing
- itchy, picking
- nausea
- chest palpitations
- headache
- insomnia
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And afterwards:
- depression
- fatigue
- anxiety
- paranoia
- anorexia
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