Methamphetamine pills: What you need to know about this ADHD drug

The name Methamphetamine may have made you a little nervous. We've mostly heard it as an illegal drug. But if a doctor has prescribed this drug for you or your child, there's a specific medical reason for it. It's a legal, controlled drug for specific conditions. So today, let's find out exactly what this drug is, what it does, and what you need to be careful about when using it.

What exactly is this drug called methamphetamine?

Simply put, this is a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This medication belongs to a class of drugs called stimulants.

Imagine a child who is in school and has a hard time sitting still, fidgeting, shifting attention quickly, and acting impulsively. This ADHD condition can disrupt their academic and daily activities. Methamphetamine works by controlling certain chemicals in the brain, increasing their ability to focus and controlling impulsive behavior. This can help the child or adult stay focused and calm.

Things to tell your doctor before starting this medication

Your doctor will need to know your complete health history before prescribing this medication. This medication may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions, or it may need to be given with great caution. Therefore, if you have any of the medical conditions listed below, you should definitely tell your doctor.

• Mental problems: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts (if you or someone in your family has had them).
• Heart disease: High blood pressure, heart disease, heart defects, narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, or stroke.
• Other diseases: Glaucoma, a condition in which pressure in the eye increases, thyroid disease, kidney or liver disease, seizures, Tourette's syndrome (a condition in which parts of the body move involuntarily).
• Circulatory problems: Conditions such as Raynaud's, which reduces blood flow to the fingers and toes.
• Addictions: If you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
• Allergies: If you have an allergy to methamphetamine or any other drug, food, or dye.
• This is a must-mention if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding .

The correct way to use the medicine

It is very important to follow your doctor's instructions exactly when using this medicine.

• Swallow the pill with a glass of water.
• Take the exact dose as prescribed by your doctor. Never take more than the prescribed amount.
• Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice.
• This medication is generally not taken close to bedtime because it can interfere with sleep.
• This medicine is given to children under 6 years of age only in very special cases, under the supervision of a specialist doctor.
• People over the age of 65 may experience greater effects from this medication, so they are prescribed a lower dose.

What to do if you overdose?

If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Do not take this lightly.

Things to keep in mind when taking medication

• Attention and driving: You may feel sleepy and have trouble concentrating when you first start taking this medication. Therefore, avoid activities that require a lot of attention, such as driving, cycling, or operating machinery, until you know exactly how this medication affects you.
• Loss of appetite: It is common to experience a loss of appetite when you first start taking the medication. To address this, try eating smaller meals several times a day instead of eating large meals at once. If this problem persists, talk to your doctor.
• Growth in children: This medicine may slow down the growth of children who take high doses of this medicine for a long time. Therefore, the doctor will regularly check the child's height and weight.
• Stopping the medication: After using this medication for a long time, your body will get used to it. This does not mean that you are "addicted" to it. If your doctor wants you to stop taking the medication, he or she will gradually reduce the dose . Otherwise, stopping it suddenly can cause serious side effects.

What are the possible side effects of the medication?

Like any drug, methamphetamine can cause some side effects. Some of these are serious, while others are common. It is important to be aware of these.

How do you store and dispose of the medicine safely?

This is a very important part. Since this medicine has the potential for abuse, it should be kept in a very secure place.

• Keep it locked up, out of the reach of children and pets.
• Protect your medicine from theft.
• It is important to dispose of expired or no longer needed medications properly. Ask your doctor if it is okay to throw these in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Sometimes there may be programs to hand them over to the pharmacy or hospital. Check with them about that as well.

Methamphetamine, ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stimulant, medication, mental health