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Amphetamine-type Stimulants: Novel Insights into their Actions and use Patterns.

Miguel I Paz-Ramos, Silvia L. Cruz, Valeria Violante-Soria

Revista de investigacion clinica; organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion 2023 DOI: 10.24875/ric.23000110 (opens in new tab)

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Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Topics MDMA
Keywords Cathinones Drug adulteration Fentanyl Psychostimulants
Key findings The review surveys the pharmacology and clinical effects of amphetamine-type stimulants, covering their history, regulation, cardiovascular and neurological harms, immune-system interactions, and mechanisms of action. It highlights a North American syndemic of ATS and opioid use, focusing on the increasing adulteration of methamphetamine with fentanyl.

Abstract

This review focuses on the effects and mechanisms of action of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and their adverse effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems. ATS include amphetamine (AMPH), methamphetamine (METH, "crystalmeth," or "ice"), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy," or "Molly"), MDMA derivatives (e.g., methylenedioxyamphetamine [MDA] and methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine [MDEA]), khat, and synthetic cathinones. The first section of this paper presents an overview of the historical aspects of ATS use, their initial clinical use, and regulations. The second part reviews the acute and chronic impact and the most salient clinical effects of ATS on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, skin, and mouth. The chemical structure, pharmacokinetics, and classic and non-canonical pharmacological actions are covered in the third section, briefly explaining the mechanisms involved. In addition, the interactions of ATS with the central and peripheral immune systems are reviewed. The last section presents data about the syndemic of ATS and opioid use in the North American region, focusing on the increasing adulteration of METH with fentanyl.

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