Meth Side Effects
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Meth Side Effects

Meth Side EffectsWhat are meth side effects? Sometimes it is tough to tell. But, there are certain short and long term meth side effects that may indicate that you, a family member or friend is using. Methamphetamine is classified as a stimulant, making it highly addictive, even more so than heroin. The use of meth creates a buildup of dopamine, which results in a feeling of euphoria. Because meth stays in the brain longer than other stimulants like cocaine, the effects of its addiction last longer. This is one reason it is believed that meth is more addictive than cocaine or heroin. In all cases of meth use, an user may experience a loss of inhibitions and a false sense of control and confidence, which can lead to dangerous behavior. If you or your loved ones exhibit many of these meth side effects, please seek help immediately.

What are the short and long-term meth side effects?

Short-Term Meth Side Effects:

  • Physical problems, including:
    • Elevated blood pressure
    • Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature)
    • Increased respiration
    • Convulsions
    • Acute lead poisoning
    • If pregnant, birth defects to the developing fetus
  • Behavioral:
    • Withdrawal from family and friends
    • Change in friends
    • Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
    • Increased activity
    • Incessant talking
    • Irritability
    • Twitching and shaking
    • Itching
    • Decreased appetite
    • Erratic attention span
    • Repetitious behavior, such as picking at skin, pulling out hair, compulsively cleaning, rooming or disassembling and assembling objects
    • Aggression or violent behavior
    • False sense of confidence and power
    • Convulsions
    • Carelessness about appearance
    • Deceit or secretiveness
  • Psychological problems, including:
    • Insomnia (Long periods of sleeplessness [24-120 hours] or Long periods of sleep [24-48 hours] )
    • Psychosis - including hallucinations
    • Paranoia
    • Suicidal tendencies
    • Cognitive problems
    • Anxiousness

Long-Term Meth Side Effects:  

  • Physical problems, including:
    • Heart problems (including ischemia and arrhythmia)
    • Difficulties swallowing
    • Facial flushing (hyperpyrexia)
    • Irreversible, stroke producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain
    • Malnutrition and weight loss
    • Permanent neurological damage
    • Dental problems
    • Shortness of breath
    • Nasal problems or nosebleeds
    • Sores that do not heal
    • Dilated pupils
    • urns on lips or fingers
    • Track marks on arms
  • Behavioral
    • Withdrawal from family and friends
    • Change in friends
    • Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
    • Increased activity
    • Incessant talking
    • Irritability
    • Twitching and shaking
    • Itching
    • Decreased appetite
    • Erratic attention span
    • Repetitious behavior, such as picking at skin, pulling out hair, compulsively cleaning, grooming or disassembling and assembling objects
  • Psychological problems, including:
    • Insomnia (Long periods of sleeplessness [24-120 hours] or long periods of sleep [24-48 hours] )
    • Psychosis - including hallucinations
    • Paranoia
    • Suicidal tendencies
    • Cognitive problems
    • Anxiousness
    • Delusions of parasites or insects crawling under the skin.

What are the meth side effects due to complication from injection?

Users who inject meth are also at risk of infectious diseases such as HIV and/or Hepatitis transmission, as are all intravenous drug users. When the risk of contracting these infectious diseases is combined with a compromised immune system, which can result from meth usage, the results can be very severe, or even fatal. Repeated meth injections also can result in skin abscesses at the injection sites, which can lead to infection and other complications, as well.

Meth side effects due to meth production and meth labs.

Due to the array of chemicals commonly used in the production of meth, users may be exposed to toxic substances that independently can cause medical complications. Some meth manufacturers use lead acetate as a reagent in the production of meth, which can lead to acute lead poisoning. Additionally, exposure to other metals and salts that may be used in meth production can also lead to health problems; exposure to some of the chemicals can even result in cancer, respiratory problems, anemia, and birth defects. Finally, all meth side effects are compounded by its highly addictive nature. As a result, treatment is difficult, relapse is likely, and serious long-term meth side effects are probable.


Meth Side Effects
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Meth Facts

  • Methamphetamine is a long-acting stimulant.
  • The high can last from 6 to 16 hours. The initial euphoria lasts 5 to 30 minutes and produces an increased heart rate, metabolism, and blood pressure. There is an explosive release of adrenaline and the neurotransmitter dopamine. The psychological attraction of methamphetamine is that it increases or improves confidence, alertness, mood, energy, sex drive, and talkativeness.
  • Methamphetamine is highly addictive. Some people get addicted the first time they use methamphetamine, while others take longer for this to occur. Like many drugs, the euphoric effect is due to the release of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, to the reward center of the brain. Methamphetamine releases 3 to 4 times more dopamine to the reward center than cocaine.
  • More and more people are seeking drug treatment for methamphetamine. There was an 81% increase between 2000 and 2004 in the number of people seeking drug treatment for methamphetamine in California, and methamphetamine represents approximately one-third of all treatment admissions for substance abuse.
  • Females use methamphetamine more than most other drugs. Usually 2 to 3 times as many males use specific drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin) compared to females. However, with methamphetamine, as many females use methamphetamine as males. For teenage girls and women under the age of 25, nearly twice as many females as males use methamphetamine. The primary reasons women report using methamphetamine is to get high, for more energy, to improve their mood, to lose weight, and to feel more attractive.
  • The long-term physical effects of methamphetamine are detrimental. Meth destroys tissues and blood vessels, inhibiting the body’s ability to repair itself. Common signs of meth use include acne, sores taking longer to heal, poor diet, poor oral health, and teeth grinding. Skin loses its luster and elasticity, making users appear years, even decades older.
  • Meth mouth refers to severe tooth decay characterized by broken, discolored, and rotting teeth seen in some long-term meth users. Speed bumps refer to the sores on arms and other parts of the body that develop due to skin irritation from meth use and the meth user picking at them.
  • Methamphetamine increases one’s sex drive more than other drugs. Many meth users become obsessed with sex. In one survey, 67% of meth users agreed that they were obsessed with sex, compared to 40% of cocaine users and 16% of alcohol users. Women become obsessed with sex as well as men, which is different than cocaine, where the vast majority of obsessed users are men. Meth is attractive to men because it can produce a prolonged erection, especially when compared to cocaine. However, long-term use can result in impotence, just like cocaine.