Explain how amphetamines work in the brain.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There is only a slight difference between how amphetamines work and dopamine and norepinephrine in their molecular structure. The acute effects of amphetamine, in either d-amphetamine or methamphetamine form, closely resemble those of cocaine. However, amphetamine effects extend over a longer period of time. For intervals of eight to twenty-four hours, there are signs of increased sympathetic autonomic activity such as faster breathing and heart rate as well as hyperthermia (increased body temperature) and elevated blood pressure.
Users experience feelings of euphoria and invincibility, decreased appetite, and an extraordinary boost in alertness and energy. Adverse and potentially lethal bodily changes include convulsions, chest pains, and stroke. 
Heavy methamphetamine abusers may experience formication hallucinations similar to those endured by cocaine abusers. They may become obsessed with the delusion that parasites or insects have lodged in their skin and so attempt to scratch, cut, or burn their skin in an effort to remove them. It is also likely that they will engage in compulsive or repetitive behaviors that are fixated upon ordinarily trivial aspects of life.
Compulsive jaw movements and teeth grinding can cause significant dental damage over time. The most serious societal consequence of methamphetamine abuse is the appearance of paranoia, wildly bizarre delusions, hallucinations, tendencies toward violence, and intense mood swings. Because the symptoms have been observed with the chronic abuse of amphetamines of any type, they are referred to collectively as amphetamine psychosis.