What is the difference between methamphetamine and dextroamphetamine

There are both licit and illicit types of stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, and ADHD medication Adderall. As their name implies, these drugs stimulate the body by increasing the rate at which central nervous system signals are sent and received. This translates to increased respiratory and cardiovascular function and unnaturally high levels of dopamine being released into the body which are responsible for the tell-tale markers of a stimulant high:.

While these effects might seem positive, they come at a significant cost. Stimulant use puts immense strain on the body. Even first-time use of this drug can result in a number of adverse effects that cause short and long-term health issues—as well as death. Chronic stimulant abuse will often carry psychological side effects as well such as the development of serious mental illness.

Amphetamine are primarily composed of prescription stimulants and are the weakest types of stimulants. These pharmaceutical medications are prescribed to treat conditions like ADHD, narcolepsy, and weight loss. As such, amphetamines are typically found in a tablet or capsule form for oral consumption though individuals abusing these medications may snort, smoke, or inject them. Common types of amphetamines include:.

While all legal amphetamines are prescriptions, not all prescription stimulants are amphetamines. However, the nature of how amphetamines work also means that those who take this substance without a medical need may experience a small high from the excess dopamine that is released.

The effects of amphetamines can last from as little to one minute or up to hours, depending on the substance. Abusers must then contend with the long-lasting physiological effects racing heart, tremors, blurry vision, impaired motor function which can persist for up to 12 hours. The addiction potential of medicinal amphetamines is highest for non-medical use.

However, even those with a prescription may experience addiction if they frequently take too-large doses. For the most part, legitimate use i. Methamphetamine is a kind of amphetamine. The two have similar molecular structures, similar mechanisms of how they work, and therefore have similar effects such as euphoria and increased energy.

Meth both increases the levels of dopamine and blocks its reuptake, which leads to extremely high concentrations of dopamine in the brain. However, meth is much more powerful than prescription stimulants and other amphetamines in general. This in addition to the intention with which meth is used are the greatest differences between the two substances.

Meth goes by many names and can be used in a number of methods: smoked, snorted, swallowed, or injected. It is most often smoked or injected. Although methamphetamine is a stimulant, all of which function by increasing the levels of dopamine production, it still differs from other stimulants such as cocaine. For one, meth increases dopamine production at a drastically greater rate.

Another major difference is the speed at which the substance is metabolized. Cocaine is very quickly metabolized and therefore the effects wear off rapidly. The duration of time that meth will remains active in the human body is much longer. When it comes to amphetamines vs methamphetamines on addiction potential, both carry a signficant amont of risk.

Both drugs result in an innaturally high levels of dopamine output which inherently puts users at a risk of developing tolerance and dependence not to mention the risk of overdose, and other consequences such as respiratory issues, health problems, and severe dental damage.

However, the increased potency of crystal meth also makes addiction to it even more dangerous compared to addiction to prescription amphetamines. Cocaine is the most widely abused stimulant drug 5. Although meth users make up the smallest potion of total stimulant abuse, concerning statistics have shown that meth use has increased drastically between and and that it is tied with cocaine as the largest source of addiction both are responsible for 1 million addicted users in according to SAMHSA.

Additionally, there is no knowledge just yet of how COVID has affected these numbers or the numbers of prescription amphetamine use as well. What we do know is that anyone who is struggling with stimulant abuse could benefit from professional help. But, are they the same? Amphetamines are a drug class, composed of two amphetamine, salts levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine.

These drugs typically impact the body in several ways, improving performance, boosting cognitive performance, causing euphoria, and making the user feel energetic. In prescription doses, these effects are very mild but in recreational doses are typically significantly stronger.

Higher doses also cause side-effects such as cognitive and muscle breakdown, chemical dependence leading to addiction, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Amphetamines primarily act by interacting with the norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain. This causes increased euphoria and increases in energy and stamina.

Amphetamines also affect cognition and personality by impacting sleep, sometimes keeping individuals up for days at a time. Methamphetamine is an amphetamine-class drug most commonly used as a recreational drug. Methamphetamine is composed of an equal mixture of dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine.

Dextroamphetamine is the stronger of the two drugs and is typically illegal to purchase or get with a prescription. This drug is, however, typically easy to synthesize, often using readily available ingredients. Levoamphetamine is the weaker of the two amphetamine amines and is typically used as a nasal contestant found in over-the-counter medications such as Vicks, Nyquil or Robitussin.

Taken orally, Levoamphetamine has no potential for euphoria. However, in high dosage injection, it does. Amphetamine salts isolate the neutral salts in the amines.

Here, Adderall is made up of a combination of neutral salts and active stimulants, reducing the overall active ingredients per weight of amphetamine drug. Most amphetamines also include a range of filler ingredients such as cellulose to aid with dosing and pill-size.

Adderall and Methamphetamine are largely made up of the same chemicals. However, the ratios and the active ingredients are intrinsically different. Another consideration is production.

Adderall is typically produced in a controlled lab setting with high standards of quality, chemical purity, and chemical measuring. Doses are precise, and a 5mg pill will always include 5mg of amphetamine. Methamphetamine is almost never produced in high-quality medically-controlled settings. This means that a dose of methamphetamine could be more or less active ingredient than expected. It could also contain elements of other trace chemicals, and sometimes toxic ones.

Finally, methamphetamine may not be produced in sterile lab conditions. It may be contaminated with bacteria or other health-threatening chemicals. This can be problematic, especially to an already-weakened immune system. Adderall is perfectly safe when taken according to a prescription, with a risk management strategy in place.

At prescription doses, Adderall presents very little risk of addiction and is very unlikely to cause major side-effects or health problems. Some individuals are higher-risk and should consult their doctor or seek out a risk-mitigation strategy to prevent addiction. However, Adderall is also one of the most abused amphetamine drugs. Active 8 months ago. Viewed times. Improve this question.

Chemguy Chemguy I want an intuitive explanation. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Dexedrine Dexedrine is the trade name for dextroamphetamine Methamphetamine It is a drug similar in structure but has an extra methyl group So, primary amine becomes secondary amine. Improve this answer. Nilay Ghosh Nilay Ghosh Nicolas Nicolas 1 1 silver badge 13 13 bronze badges.

Neither contain methampthetamine. Featured on Meta.