Dexedrine is another brand from the class of stimulants which is mainly used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleepiness during the day. The chemical substance of this drug is dextroamphetamine sulfate.
This drug is known by other brand and street names in the market. Other brand names for this drug are Zenzedi, Dextrostat, and ProCentra. Meanwhile, the street names of this drug are pep pills, Dex, Bennies, Dexies, Go pills, Beans, L.A. turnarounds, and Beauties.
In terms of physical appearance, this drug appears in four forms in the market: Spansule, triangular shape, diamond, and round form. Identifying this medicine in stores and pharmacies is easy because it has four identifiers: strength (milligrams), pill imprint, color, and shape.
A 5-milligram Dexedrine which is three-sided in shape has a pill imprint of “SKF E19” and orange in color. In contrast, 5-milligram Spansule type has a pill imprint of “3512 5 mg SB 5 mg” and brown in color.
A 10-milligram Dexedrine tablet can either be in round or diamond shape. The pill imprint of the round and diamond tablet is “10 MIA” and “M 10” respectively. Whereas, the color of the round and diamond tablet is peach and white respectively.
Furthermore, this drug is not suitable for intake for individuals with the following health conditions – optic nerve problems, history of psychosis and drug abuse, clogged arteries, seizures, and anxiety disorder.
Dexedrine, How They Work
This drug targets the central nervous system. It is mainly used to medicate narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Generally, it helps the patient gain more focus and mental alertness to counter the disease.
Once orally ingested, its active ingredient slowly dissolves and mixes in the blood which then runs towards the brain. Its specific action is to inhibit the reabsorption of dopamine and adrenergic in the brain.
The overall effect of this drug is enhancing and speeding up the brain messaging system of the person. Consequently, this promotes better focus and mental alertness of the individual.
Addiction and Dangers
Despite its beneficial impact, this drug also poses a great risk for abuse and addiction. The Drug Enforcement Agency classifies this drug as a Schedule II controlled substance. It means it has a high level of addictive potential similar to methamphetamine, cocaine, and methadone.
Most people easily get addicted to this substance through inhalation and injection means of taking it. These methods of ingestion provide a very quick pathway for the drug to go into the brain. In order to avoid dependence, the proper dosage must be followed by medical personnel.
Typically, the general dose for any patient runs between 5 to 60 milligrams every day. The initial recommended dosage for ages 12 years and older is 10 mg daily while between 6 to 12 years is 5 mg daily. The advised increment in dosage for ages 12 years and older is 10 mg every week while between ages 6 to 12 years is 5 mg every week.
Any person will experience an overdose with this drug if daily dosage is above 30 milligrams while severe complications can be observed for 400 to 500 mg daily intake.
In addition, specific effects either short or long-term can be felt from using this drug. In terms of short-term effects, the common effects observed are eating disorder, difficulty sleeping, agitation, irregular heart rate, abdominal cramps, frequent headaches, and foggy sight.
In terms of long-term effects, these include erectile dysfunction, mood imbalances, permanent brain damage, increased blood pressure, and being easily irritated.
In addition, this drug is not advised to be taken by pregnant women unless prescribed by the doctor for certain medical issues. The common effect of this drug on pregnant women is that the baby may be prematurely born or the baby’s weight after birth is lower than the average.
Overall, this drug is considered highly dangerous because of the irreversible damage it poses to one’s health. Specifically, it leads to serious heart problems, lung failure, and brain diseases such as schizophrenia and dementia.
Medications and Treatments
Effective and successful treatment will always start with the patient. The patient must establish willingness and acceptance for the need to undergo treatment to recover from addiction.
Early detection of an overdose of this drug is important in order to apply first aid treatment. In line with this, one needs to know the common signs of an overdose which include the following: tremors, rapid breathing,being hot-tempered, loose muscle control, and extreme reaction to stimuli.
There are simple measures to treat an overdose. First, ensure the patient does not do harm to oneself and is not exposed to negative situations which might aggravate the condition.
Second, remove the chemicals or toxins from the patient’s body through stomach lavage or oral ingestion of activated charcoal. Likewise, the patient can also undergo peritoneal or blood dialysis. Third, chlorpromazine can be prescribed to counter the effect of the stimulant.
Meanwhile, the first step to any treatment program is detoxification. This process leads to certain withdrawal effects due to the gradual or sudden cessation from taking the drug. Some of the common withdrawal symptoms include difficulty sleeping, muscle spasms, unpleasant dreams, being easily irritated, skin problems, and nervousness.
Furthermore, most treatment programs also include therapies as a means to supplement the recovery process and correct unhealthy behaviors. The three common therapies incorporated for this addiction are Reward System, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Recovery Group.
In Recovery Groups, the patient becomes a member of an anonymous group sharing the same condition. In this intervention, the social communication skills of the members are enhanced to prepare them before immersing back into society. Likewise, members also conduct community services to show one’s social responsibility skills.
In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the therapist helps the patient from identifying unpleasant thoughts which triggers the craving for the drug. Once these negative thoughts are outlined, the therapist assists the patient in formulating positive coping mechanisms for these risk factors.
Lastly, in the Reward System, the therapist will orient the patient for the specific rewards for successfully doing a positive behavior or abstinence from the drug. This intervention reinforces positive behavior with rewards to motivate the patient to change.
