In wars, these substances are used by soldiers who want to stay alert and awake.
Amphetamines are synthetic compounds that were produced with the aim of mimicking the function of adrenaline, a natural defense mechanism of our body. When we have a scare or are really in danger, the concentration of adrenaline in the blood increases and, as As a result, heart rate and blood pressure also rise, giving us more energy to run or fight. the danger.
Below are the chemical structures of adrenaline and the first compound produced as amphetamine, a benzedrine. Compare the structures and see that they are similar and, therefore, their effects are also:
Popularly, amphetamines are known as "marbles" and many people who want to stay awake use it, such as truck drivers and students who have to study long hours for exams.
However, the use and sale of amphetamines in pharmacies is controlled by a doctor's prescription, because its prolonged use can cause, in addition to chemical dependency, headaches, palpitations, chronic high blood pressure, and “amphetamine psychosis,” which is a schizophrenia-like crisis in which the person hallucinates and becomes more aggressive.
To cite just one example, the book Pharmacology, by H. P. Rang and M. M. Dale, on page 449, mentions a certain medical student who had taken too much amphetamine to study for an exam. He emerged confidently from the assessment, believing he had done very well. However, he had only written his name several times on the test sheet.
Many confuse the ecstasy with amphetamines or methamphetamines. But in reality, ecstasy is the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, which is a amphetamine derivative. Its use is also very harmful to health and can cause hyperthermia, that is, an increase in body temperature, causing the blood to clot, causing seizures and cardiac arrest. Other adverse effects of its use can also happen, such as kidney problems, hallucinations, panic attacks and toxic hepatitis.
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/quimica-das-anfetaminas.htm
