Stimulants: Understanding the Uses and Risks

You probably drink caffeinated beverages because they make you feel more alert. And you might know that nicotine suppresses your appetite. These things happen because caffeine and nicotine fall into the category of stimulants. 

But there are other stimulants too. Examples include methamphetamine and cocaine. They also include prescription medications to treat ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy. Both legal and illegal stimulants can be misused.

So, with such a wide range of what stimulants can be, how can you tell them apart? Also, what are their uses and possible risks? Read on to learn more.

How do stimulant drugs work? 

Stimulants are drugs that speed up your body’s functions. This can cause effects such as being more mentally alert and physically active.

One way that stimulants cause these effects is by increasing the activity of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that naturally occurs in your body. It plays a role in your mood, thinking, and movement. It also reinforces rewarding behaviors. 

Stimulants also increase the activity of norepinephrine. This chemical in your body plays a role in the activity of your blood vessels, heart rate, breathing, and blood sugar levels. 

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What effects do stimulants have on the body?

Stimulants affect two of the major chemicals in your body: dopamine and norepinephrine. So there is a wide range of both short- and long-term effects that they cause. How many side effects you may experience, and how intense they are, depends on how much you take.

Short-term side effects of stimulant drugs

Some immediate effects you might notice after taking a stimulant include:

• Euphoria, which is a sense of extreme happiness or relaxation (feeling “high”)

• Loss of appetite

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

• Higher body temperature

• Disrupted sleep

• Panic, hallucinations, irritability

Long-term side effects of stimulant drugs

Some effects of stimulants you could experience if you took them over a longer period of time include:

• Irregular heart rate and increased blood pressure

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Insomnia

• Impotence (sexual problems)

• Seizures

• Heart failure

These effects may seem alarming. But prescription stimulants can be safe if you take them as directed by your medical provider. In the next section, we discuss how stimulants can help with certain medical conditions.

What are stimulant drugs used for?

People use stimulant drugs for both medical and non-medical reasons. Using them for non-medical reasons can come with greater risk, including addiction.

Medical uses

Stimulants are approved to treat:

• Obesity

• Binge eating disorder

• Sleep apnea

• ADHD

• Narcolepsy

The most common conditions that stimulants can treat are ADHD and narcolepsy.:

• ADHD is characterized by difficulties with attention, being overly active, or both.

• Narcolepsy is a condition that causes extreme sleepiness or sudden sleep during waking hours. These problems get in the way of relationships or keep the person from fulfilling responsibilities.

Stimulants make communication faster between your brain and body. So they can help with ADHD and narcolepsy by:

• Improving mental focus

• Giving you greater control over physical movement

• Increasing wakefulness and alertness

Non-medical uses

Some non-medical reasons for which people use stimulants include to get high and decrease their appetite as a way to lose weight. 

You might be surprised that stimulants reduce appetite. You might expect them to “stimulate” — or activate — appetite. However, stimulants may activate reward pathways in the brain. This could reduce hunger because the stimulant satisfies the need for reward you would get from food.

When people use stimulants for non-medical purposes, they may smoke, snort, or inject them. This causes a faster effect than swallowing a pill. People also tend to take them in larger doses than what healthcare providers prescribe. This can further increase the risk of problems such as addiction and overdose.

Overdose signs from stimulants

Signs of overdose from stimulants can include:

• Rapid breathing

• Abnormally high fever

• Tremors, convulsions, restlessness

• Overactive reflexes

• Aggression

• Confusion, panic, hallucinations

• Stomach issues, such as vomiting and abdominal cramps

Types of stimulant drugs

Let’s take a look at a few common stimulant drugs.

Amphetamines

You might be familiar with the names of some commonly prescribed amphetamines, like Adderall and Vyvanse. These are medications used to treat ADHD. 

Chronic misuse of amphetamines can lead to effects like symptoms of schizophrenia. These can include paranoia, skin picking, and hallucinations.

Amphetamines can come in the forms of pills or powder. Some common street names of amphetamines include: 

• Bennies

• Ice

• Speed

• Uppers

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine was derived from amphetamine. Also known as meth, it causes the same euphoric effects that amphetamine does. But meth is much stronger. This leads to greater effects on your brain and makes the feelings of euphoria last longer. 

Crystal meth is a form of meth that is colorless and odorless. It may produce even longer and more intense psychological effects than regular meth.

Like amphetamine, meth also comes in the forms of pills or powder. Crystal meth, on the other hand, looks like pieces of glass or shiny rock. 

Some common street names for meth include: 

• Black beauties

• Crystal

• Speed

• Tweak

• Uppers

• Poor man’s cocaine

Cocaine

Cocaine is a very powerful stimulant. It can change the structure and function of your brain if you use it regularly. 

Cocaine comes in the form of a powder. Common street names for cocaine include:

• Coke

• Crack

• Flake

Caffeine and nicotine

While caffeine and nicotine are both legal substances, they are stimulants that come with risks: 

• Caffeine: Caffeine can increase alertness, which is why many of us enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Generally, having 6 cups of coffee or fewer per day comes with a lower risk of long-term problems. And remember that different caffeinated beverages have different levels of caffeine. Caffeine is generally safe if you consume it in moderation. At the same time, chronic, heavy use of caffeine can cause problems such as gastric reflux, anxiety, and insomnia.

• Nicotine: You probably know that regular smokers are at risk for long-term health problems. However, even social smokers, or those who smoke infrequently, are also at risk. Smoking even once exposes you to many harmful chemicals.  

Do stimulants have a high risk of addiction?

Yes. This might be because they activate the brain’s reward pathways. Taking them to get high or to lose weight can lead to dependence and addiction on the drugs, which is called stimulant use disorder.

Prescription stimulants come with a risk of addiction. This is why it’s important to take them as directed by your medical provider. If you are concerned about the addictive potential of prescription stimulants, non-stimulant medication options are available.

Among stimulants, caffeine has the lowest risk of addiction. Some people can get addicted to caffeine, but they have a higher chance of successfully quitting it compared to other stimulants.

Who should be careful about taking stimulants?

The following people should be careful about taking stimulants:

• If you have a pre-existing heart condition: People with pre-existing heart conditions should avoid taking stimulants. If you do take them, you and your provider should regularly track your heart rate and blood pressure.

• If you’re an older adult: Older adults should also be careful about taking stimulants. They are already at increased risk for cardiovascular problems. And older adults who take stimulants have a greater risk of problems compared to those who do not take them. These risks include cardiovascular issues, irregular heartbeat, and stroke.

Is it safe to mix stimulant drugs with other medications?

No, this is generally not safe. It is important to be careful about mixing stimulants with over-the-counter decongestants or any cold medications that contain decongestants. This combination could lead to dangerously high blood pressure or irregular heart rhythms.

In general, stimulants should not be used with other medications. So do this only if your healthcare provider recommends it. Be sure to tell your provider about other medications you are taking — both over the counter and prescription — before starting stimulant medication.

Resources for addiction

If you are concerned about your use of stimulants or that of a loved one, help is available. There are a few ways you can search for treatment. You can start by talking to your healthcare provider. They might be able to give you referrals to therapists who work with people with substance use issues. 

Some other search methods include:

• Typing “substance use treatment services” in your internet browser for providers or treatment centers in your area

• Asking your health insurance company for a list of treatment providers covered by your plan

• Calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for help at 1-800-662-4357. They can help you locate treatment options, including ones that don’t require health insurance. You can also use their treatment services locator.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP

Mona Bapat, PhD, HSPP, has 15 years of clinical experience providing therapy. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Indiana and Illinois with treatment experience in individual, couples, family, and group therapy modalities.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, help is available. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to learn about resources in your area.