Why Do I Experience Unpleasant Symptoms Soon After Taking Stimulants?

Did you experience clinically significant maladaptive behavioral or psychological changes (e.g., euphoria or affective blunting; changes in sociability; hypervigilance; interpersonal sensitivity; anxiety, tension, or anger; stereotyped behaviors; impaired judgment) that developed during, or shortly after, use of a stimulant?

Did you experience tachycardia (heartbeats that are too slow) or bradycardia (heartbeats that are too fast) during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience pupillary dilation during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience elevated or lowered blood pressure during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience perspiration or chills during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience nausea or vomiting during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Was there evidence of weight loss during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience psychomotor agitation or retardation during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience muscular weakness, respiratory depression, chest pain, or cardiac arrhythmias during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Did you experience confusion, seizures, dyskinesias (uncontrollable muscle movements), dystonias (muscles tighten involuntarily), or coma during, or shortly after stimulant use?

Based on your answers, it is very unlikely that you experienced stimulant intoxication. Stimulant intoxication is diagnosed when you are experiencing significant behavioral and psychological changes when recently exposed to a stimulant. The harm caused by stimulants may be long-lasting in severe cases, but any amount of stimulant abuse can have negative effects for the user. Short-term effects of the drugs are usually pleasurable, including increased energy, improved attention, increased sexual desire, and a euphoric state. While these effects seem desirable, they cause damage to the user’s health. In case you struggle with stimulant abuse, it may be essential to plan a visit to your doctor.

Based on your answers, you may have been displaying some symptoms of intoxication. Drugs are often used to get high, however, in case of stimulants this is not always the case. Prescription stimulants are most of the time taken to be able to focus or stay awake. This is also the reason that stimulant abusers usually don’t realize that they are having a problem, because their goal is to function better at work for example, not to get high or intoxicated. Toxic levels of stimulant excitation can cause seizures, heart attack, or even fatal overheating. If you think that your stimulant use is becoming a problem, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for the right advises and feedback.

Unfortunately, you have been displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have stimulant intoxication. It is highly recommended to plan a visit to your doctor. A stimulant intoxication can occur whether you are using for the first time or chronically. People can respond differently to the same amount of drug. Symptoms can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening. Most people that experience a stimulant intoxication arrive at the hospital extremely agitated. The person will receive fluids to prevent dehydration. Drug abuse is a serious problem that needs professional attention and treatment.