Stimulants

Stimulants are sometimes referred to as "uppers" and can make you feel
less tired both physically and mentally. Two commonly used stimulants
are nicotine, found in tobacco products, and caffeine, an active ingredient in
coffee, tea, some soft drinks, and many non-prescription medicines.
Used in moderation, these substances tend to relieve malaise and
increase alertness. Although the use of these products has been an accepted
part of our culture, the recognition of their adverse effects has resulted in a rise of
caffeine-free products and efforts to discourage cigarette smoking.
Some stimulants can be obtained through legitimate channels; others are
manufactured for the illegal market. They are taken orally, sniffed, smoked, and
injected. Smoking, snorting, or injecting stimulants produces a sudden sensation
known as a "rush" or a "flash."
Abuse is often associated with a pattern of binge use; that is, consuming
large doses of stimulants. Heavy users may inject themselves every few hours,
continuing until they have used up their drug supply, or reached a point of
delirium, psychosis, and physical exhaustion.
During this period of heavy use, all other interests become less important
than getting "high". Tolerance can develop rapidly, and you can become
physically and mentally addicted and dependent upon the drug. Stopping
abruptly, even after a weekend binge, is commonly followed by depression,
anxiety, drug craving, and extreme fatigue ("crash").
Therapeutic levels of stimulants can produce exhilaration (a rush),
extended wakefulness, and loss of appetite. These effects are greatly intensified
when large doses of stimulants are taken.
Side Effect
Physical side effects include dizziness, tremor, headache, flushed skin,
chest pains with palpitations, excessive sweating, vomiting, and abdominal
cramps. These effects may occur as a result of taking too large a dose at one
time or taking large doses over an extended period of time.
Psychological effects include agitation, hostility, panic, aggression, and
suicidal or homicidal tendencies. Paranoia, sometimes accompanied by both
auditory and visual hallucinations, may also occur.
In overdose, unless there is medical intervention, high fever, convulsions, and
cardiovascular collapse may precede death. Because accidental death is partially
due to the effects of stimulants on the body's cardiovascular and temperature-
regulating systems, physical activities, and excessive exercise increase the
hazards of stimulant use.
In overdose, unless there is medical intervention, high fever, convulsions,
and cardiovascular collapse may precede death. Because accidental death is
partially due to the effects of stimulants on the body's cardiovascular and
temperature-regulating systems, physical activities, and excessive exercise
increase the hazards of stimulant use.

Short-term Effects
The short-term effects of stimulants include exhaustion, apathy and
depressionthe down that follows the up. It is this immediate and lasting
exhaustion that quickly leads the stimulant user to want the drug again. Soon he
is not trying to get high, he is only trying to get wellto feel any energy at all.

Long-term Effects
Stimulants can be addictive. Repeated high doses of some stimulants
over a short period can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia. Such doses may
also result in dangerously high body temperatures and an irregular heartbeat.

Types of Stimulants
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Methamphetamines
Caffeine
Diet Pills
Ritalin




Amphetamine Phenylisopropylamine
Introduction
Amphetamine is a sympathomimetic drug that acts as a powerful central
nervous system stimulant. Amphetamine use produces many effects including
increased energy, increased alertness, euphoria and decreased appetite. The
effects of amphetamine have been linked to mechanisms of action involving
numerous neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and
5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HTP).
Amphetamine is available in several pharmaceutical formulations
(Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, etc) for the treatment of certain medical
conditions including ADHD, narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome. Several
street forms of amphetamine are also common in parts of the world. Both
pharmaceutical and street forms of amphetamine have a very high potential for
abuse and carry significant risk of addiction.
Amphetamine is a racemic mixture containing equal parts of its two
enantiomers, dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine. D-amphetamine is
considered to be several times more potent than l-amphetamine. The term
amphetamine refers to the racemic mixture, while it is preferable to specify when
referring to d-amphetamine or l-amphetamine alone.

The term amphetamine is the source of some confusion, as it is often
used to refer to a broad category of analogs and derivatives of amphetamine.
Although these compounds are related to amphetamine
(especially Methamphetamine), they are separate substances. This article deals
only with the specific drug amphetamine, including its enantiomers.

History
Amphetamine was first synthesized in 1887 by
the Romanian chemist Lazr Edeleanu in Berlin. He named the compound
phenylisopropylamine. It was one of a series of compounds related to the plant
derivative ephedrine, which had been isolated from Ma-Huang that same year
by Nagayoshi Nagai. No pharmacological use was found for amphetamine until
1927, when pioneer psychopharmacologistGordon Alles resynthesized and
tested it on himself, in search of an artificial replacement for ephedrine. From
1933 or 1934 Smith, Kline and French began selling the volatile base form of the
drug as aninhaler under the trade name Benzedrine, useful as a decongestant
but readily usable for other purposes.
One of the first attempts at using amphetamine as a scientific study was
done by M. H. Nathanson, a Los Angeles physician, in 1935. He studied the
subjective effects of amphetamine in 55 hospital workers who were each given
20 mg of Benzedrine. The two most commonly reported drug effects were "a
sense of well-being and a feeling of exhilaration" and "lessened fatigue in
reaction to work".
During World War II amphetamine was extensively used to combat fatigue
and increase alertness in soldiers. After decades of reported abuse,
the FDA banned Benzedrine inhalers, and limited amphetamine to prescription
use in 1965, but non-medical use remained common. Amphetamine became a
schedule II drug in the USA under the Controlled Substances Act in 1971.
The related compound methamphetamine, in its crystallized form, was first
synthesized from ephedrine in Japan in 1920 by chemist Akira Ogata, via
reduction of ephedrine using red phosphorus andiodine. The
pharmaceutical Pervitin was a tablet of 3 mg methamphetamine that was
available in Germany from 1938 and widely used in the Wehrmacht, but by mid-
1941 it became a controlled substance, partly because of the amount of time
needed for a soldier to rest and recover after use and partly because of abuse.
For the rest of the war, military doctors continued to issue the drug, but less
frequently and with increasing discrimination.
In 1997 and 1998, researchers at Texas A&M University claimed to have
found amphetamine and methamphetamine in the foliage of two Acacia species
native to Texas, A. berlandieri and A. rigidula.
Previously, both of these compounds had been thought to be human
inventions. These findings have never been duplicated, and the analyses are
believed by many biochemists to be the result of experimental error, and as such
the validity of the report has come into question. Alexander Shulgin, one of the
most experienced biochemical investigators and the discoverer of many new
psychotropic substances, has tried to contact the Texas A&M researchers and
verify their findings. The authors of the paper have not responded; natural
amphetamine remains an unconfirmed discovery.

From it was derived
Amphetamine is a psychostimulant drug that is known to produce
increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and
appetite. Amphetamine is related to drugs such as methamphetamine and
dextroamphetamine, which are a group of potent drugs that act by increasing
levels of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine in the brain, inducing euphoria.
The group includes prescription CNS drugs commonly used to treat attention-
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. It is also used to treat symptoms
of traumatic brain injury and the daytime drowsiness symptoms of narcolepsy,
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Initially, amphetamine was more popularly used to diminish the appetite and to
control weight. Brand names of the drugs that contain amphetamine include
Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine. The drug is also used illegally as a
recreational drug and as a performance enhancer. The name amphetamine is
derived from its chemical name: alpha-methylphenethylamine. The name is also
used to refer to the class of compounds derived from amphetamine, often
referred to as the substituted amphetamines.
Recreational users of amphetamine have coined numerous nicknames for
amphetamine, some of the more common street names for amphetamine include
speed and whizz. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
reports the typical retail price of amphetamine in Europe varied between 10 and
15 a gram in half of the reporting countries.

Street names
It is important to know the different amphetamines street names.
Bennie or Bennies
Amped or Ampes
Benz or Benzies
Cartwheels
Blue Mollies or Black Mollies
Speed
Jelly Beans or Super Jellies
Hearts
Uppers
Pick me ups or Wake me ups
Wake ups
Get ups
Boot ups
Sparkles
Dexies or Dexy
Footballs
Eye poppers or Eye openers
Lid Poppers or Lid openers
Oranges
Fast lightening or lightening
More amphetamines street names include:
Coast to coast
Cross tops
Peppy
Red Pep
Black Pep
Blue Pep
Rippers
Road Dope
Snap
Truckies or Truck Drivers

Effects of Amphetamine
Main Effects
Most Common: The following is a list of the most documented effects of
amphetamine. These are the effects for which amphetamine is most well-known
and are observable in the majority of cases.
Increased energy
Euphoria
Decreased appetite
Increased concentration
Increased motivation
Rare: There is some evidence in medical literature showing that
amphetamine occasionally produces a typical or even opposite effects in some
users. The reasons for these rare cases have not been identified. While
uncommon and poorly understood, these effects include drowsiness and lowered
electrical brain activity.
Rare or Resulting from Heavy / Chronic Doses: Some of the side effects
that amphetamine can cause do not often appear under normal circumstances.
Usually, heavy and/or chronic doses of amphetamine are required to produce
these side effects.
Acne, sores or skin conditions
Exasperation or worsening of symptoms of Tourette Syndrome,
Schizophrenia or other conditions
Panic attacks
Convulsions
Psychotic episodes



Side Effects
Most Common: While amphetamine use can have many side effects,
some are far more prevalent than others. According to side effect profiles from
medical literature and clinical trials, the most common side effects of
amphetamine use are as follows.
Decreased Appetite
Dry Mouth
Headache
Weight Loss
Anxiety / Nervousness

Prevalence of Most Common Side Effects in Clinical Trials
Symptom Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
]
Group 4 Avg % Affected
Decreased Appetite 33% 34% 37% 32% 34%
Insomnia 27% 14% 26% 39% 26.5 %
Dry Mouth 35 % 5 % -- 30 % 23.3 %
Headache 26 % 13 % 27 % -- 22 %
Weight Loss 11 % 9 % 17 % 18 % 13.75 %
Anxiety / Nervousness 8 % 11 % 17 % 13 % 12.25 %


Somewhat Common: Amphetamine use also produces several side
effects that are less common than the first category. These side effects range in
frequency of occurrence, but appear often enough to be statistically significant.
Increased heart rate / blood pressure
Increased body temperature / sweating
Increased breathing rate
Agitation / irritability
Abdominal pain
Emotional liability / mood swings
Depression
Nausea
Tachycardia
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Twitching
Abnormal thought patterns
Pupil dilation
Palpitations
Constipation
Impotence / sexual side effects
Increased aggressiveness
Increase in risk taking behavior
Rash
Confusion
Rare or Resulting from Heavy / Chronic Doses: Some of the side effects
that amphetamine can cause do not often appear under normal circumstances.
Usually, heavy and/or chronic doses of amphetamine are required to produce
these side effects.
Acne, sores or skin conditions
Exasperation or worsening of symptoms of Tourette Syndrome,
Schizophrenia or other conditions
Panic attacks
Convulsions
Psychotic episodes

Signs and Symptoms of Amphetamine Abuse
Amphetamine is a strong stimulant that has been used medically for
situations when a person needs to be more alert, as in narcolepsy, a health
problem that causes a person to fall asleep at any time. It has also been given to
pilots and soldiers to keep them awake and alert for long hours. It does its job in
these situations, but the side effects of this drug can be dangerous and
damaging.
Amphetamine can be given orally, can be snorted or given intravenously.
Symptoms of use will show up immediately if it is injected, within 3-5 minutes if it
is snorted and within 15-20 minutes if it is ingested.
There is a long list of the signs that show up when this drug is used medically or
when it is abused. Many of them are typical of any stimulant use.

Signs and Symptoms of Amphetamine Abuse include:
Increased body temperature
Euphoria
Increased blood pressure
Dry mouth
Faster breathing
Dilated pupils
Increased energy and alertness
Decreased fatigue
Decreased appetite
Before amphetamine's addictive problems were known about, this drug
was used for weight control, depression, nasal congestion, even hangovers. It
was an inexpensive, long-lasting solution to a number of problems. It has been
sold as Desoxyn, Benzedrine, Adderall, DextroStat and Dexedrine.
After World War II, civilian use of amphetamines increased, and another
form of the drug, methamphetamine - easily produced in small domestic labs -
also hit the market. As more people used these two forms of the drugs, its
addictiveness and other problems began to be obvious.
In addition to the symptoms of use listed above, less desirable symptoms
of Amphetamines became noticeable, including:
Hostility
Paranoia
Aggressiveness
Cardiovascular system failure
Irregular heart beat
Nausea
Headache
Reduction of social inhibitions
Altered sexual behavior
Blurred vision
Chest pain
Hallucinations
Unrealistic ideas of personal ability and power
Convulsions
Malnutrition
Skin disorders
Amphetamine-caused psychosis
Some people who abused this drug would wear themselves out with
amphetamine binges where they would continually abuse the drug, not sleeping
or eating for as long as a week. Then they would collapse. By repeating this
pattern, amphetamine abusers - sometimes referred to as "speed freaks" - would
suffer severe damage to their health.

Who discovered Amphetamine?
Amphetamine was first synthesized by a Romanian chemist named Lazar
Edeleanu (a.k.a. Edeleano) at the University of Berlin in 1887, but was not used
clinically until Gordon A. Alles re-synthesized the drug in the 1920s for use in
medical settings to treat asthma, hayfever, and colds. In 1932, Smith, Kline, and
French Laboratories marketed the first amphetamine product, an amphetamine-
based inhaler (trade name, Benzedrine) to treat nasal congestion. During the
remaining 1930s, amphetamines were promoted by U.S. pharmaceutical
companies as treatments for ailments such as rhinitis and asthma.

Uses of Amphetamines
Prescription amphetamines have been used for short periods of time in
weight-control programs to suppress appetite and to treat narcolepsy. They were
used as vasoconstrictors in inhalant therapy to shrink nasal mucous membranes
in such conditions as nasal allergies and asthma; now such inhalants have been
banned because of their toxicity. For unknown reasons, amphetamines have a
paradoxically calming effect on some hyperactive children, but the use of these
drugs to treat such children has been controversial.

How Amphetamine work?
Amphetamines are psychostimulants. That is, they stimulate the central nervous
system and basically speed us up.
All psychostimulants cause these effects by increasing the presence of
three chemicals known as neurotransmitters. These three neurotransmitters are
Dopamine
Serotonin (also referred to as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT)
Norepinephrine (also referred to as Noradrenaline)
Although they affect all three neurotransmitters, amphetamines predominately
work on dopamine.
What are neurotransmitters?
Neurotransmitters are the brain chemicals that communicate information
throughout our brain and body. They relay signals between nerve cells, called
neurons. The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell your heart to beat, your lungs
to breathe, and your stomach to digest. It is believed that the brain contains
several hundred different types of neurotransmitters. Different neurotransmitters
serve different functions.
Dopamine
Dopamine plays a critical role in the function of the central nervous
system, including roles in behaviour, cognition, voluntary movement, sleep,
mood, attention, and learning.
Dopamine is also linked with the brain's complex system of motivation and
reward. The release of dopamine into the brain elicits a sense of reward and
pleasure. Instances where dopamine release would normally occur include
during sex, when hugging your child, or consuming a nice meal.
Serotonin
Serotonin is associated with levels of arousal, thermoregulation, mood,
appetite, sleep and pain regulatory systems. Normally an increase in serotonin
levels will cause a diminishing of appetite, sexual behaviour, aggressiveness and
pain perception, and an increase in empathy for those around you.
(MDMA has a far greater impact on serotonin release and uptake compared with
amphetamines or cocaine).
Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is associated with the bodys fight or flight response,
increasing heart rate, triggering the release of glucose from energy stores, and
moving blood flow away from the digestive system and towards the skeletal
muscles.


Amphetamines and the brain
*Please note: Accurate knowledge about psychostimulants and their
actions on the brain is the topic of much current research. Theories are
emerging, but a lot of research has been conducted on animals and using
greater than recreational doses. Below is the current best guess on what
happens in humans but this may change as we learn more
When we take amphetamines they travel to the brain and enter our nerve
cells. Within these brain nerve cells it is thought that amphetamines increase
dopamine levels in three ways:
They invade the nerve cell preceding the synapse (or gap) and push out
extra dopamine into the synapse
They then plug the transporter molecules to prevent the re-uptake of
dopamine, artificially holding the dopamine at high levels
It is possible that while amphetamines are bound to transporters they
actually cause the transporters to work in reverse, pumping even more dopamine
out into the synapse.

Essential Features of Amphetamine
The pivotal essential oil is 4-allylanisole, or methyl chavicol, or estragole
(called esdragol in the old literature). This allyl compound is found in turpentine,
anise, fennel, bay, tarragon, and basil. Its smell is light, and reminiscent of
fennel. The propenyl analogue is called anethole, or anise camphor, and it is
found in both anise and camphor. It is a waxy solid, and has a very intense smell
of anise or fennel. At low concentrations, it is sweet, as in magnolia blossoms,
where it is also found. The drinks that turn cloudy with water dilution (Pernod-like
liqueurs, and ouzo and roki), are heavy with it, since it was the natural flavoring in
the original absinthe. That drink was very popular in the last century, as an
intoxicant which produced an altered state of consciousness beyond that which
could be ascribed to alcohol alone.
The main actor here is methyleugenol, or 4-allyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzene.
This is located in almost every item in the spice cabinet. It is in citronella, bay
(which is laurel, which is myrtle), pimiento, allspice, pepper, tree-tea oil, and on
and on. It has a faint smell of cloves, and when dilute is immediately mistaken for
carnations. The propenyl analogue is, not unreasonably, methylisoeugenol, a bit
more scarce, and seems to always be that little minor peak in any essential oil
analysis. The compounds missing that methyl group on the 4-oxygen are
famous. The allyl material is eugenol, 4-allylguaiacol, and it is in cinnamon,
nutmeg, cloves, sassafras and myrrh. You taste it and it burns. You smell it and
think immediately of cloves. And its property as an anesthetic, in the form of a
clove, is well known in the folk-treatment of toothaches. Actually, flowers of clove
(the gillyflower, like the carnation) are the small, pointy things that decorate
baked hams and, when stuck into apples, make pomander balls. This anesthetic
property has recently led to a drug abuse fad, called clove cigarettes. Very
strong, very flavorful, and very corrosive things from Southeast Asia. The
eugenol that is present numbs the throat, and allows many strong cigarettes to
be smoked without pain. The propenyl analogue is isoeugenol, with a smell that
is subtle but very long lasting, used more in soaps and perfumes than in foods.
The amine addition to the methyleugenol world produces 3,4-
dimethoxyamphetamine, or 3,4-DMA. The isomer with the other methyl group
missing is chavibetol (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyallylbenzene) and is found in the
pepper leaf that is used with betel nut. A couple of positional rearrangement
isomers of methyleugenol are known in the plant world. The 2,4-isomer is called
osmorrhizole, and the conjugated form is isoosmorrhizole or nothosmyrnol; both
are found in carrot-like vegetables. They, with ammonia, would give 2,4-DMA.
And the 3,5-dimethoxyallylbenzene isomer from artemisia (a pungent herb
commonly called mugwort) and from sage, would give rise to 3,5-DMA. This is an
unexplored isomer which would be both an antidote for opium as well as a
stimulant, if the classical reputation of mugwort is transferred to the
amphetamine.
One of the most famous essential oils is safrole, or 4-allyl-1,2-
methylenedioxybenzene. This is the mainstay of sassafras oil, and it and its
conjugated isomer isosafrole have a smell that is immediately familiar: root beer!
These are among the most widely distributed essential oils, being present in
most of the spices, including the heavies such as cinnamon and nutmeg. I am
not aware of the 2,3-isomer ever having been found in nature. Adding ammonia
to either would give MDA.
The parent compound is myristicin, 5-allyl-1-methoxy-2,3-
methylenedioxybenzene, and the source of this is nutmeg (or the botanically
parallel material, mace). The nutmeg is the seed of the tree Myristica fragrans
and mace is the fibrous covering of the seed. The two spices are virtually
identical as to their chemical composition. Myristicin and the conjugated isomer
isomyristicin are also found in parsley oil, and in dill. This was the oil that was
actually shown to be converted to MMDA by the addition of ammonia by passage
through an in vitro liver preparation. So here is the major justification for the
equation between the essential oils and the Essential Amphetamines. Care must
be taken to make an exact distinction between myristicin (this essential oil) and
myristin (the fat) which is really trimyristin or glyceryl trimyristate from nutmeg
and coconut. This is the fat from myristic acid, the C-14 fatty acid, and these two
similar names are often interchanged even in the scientific literature.
This is the second of the three natural methoxy methylenedioxy
orientations. Croweacin is 2-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxyallylbenzene, and it
takes its name from the binomial for the plant Eriostemon crowei from the worlds
of rue and the citrus plants. It corresponds to the essential amphetamine MMDA-
3a. This oil is found in plants of the Family Rutaceae. My memories of this area
of botany are of Ruta graveolens, the common rue, whose small leaves smelled
to me, for all the world, like cat urine. This plant has always fascinated me
because of a most remarkable recipe that I was given by a very, very
conservative fellow-club member, one evening, after rehearsal. He told me of a
formula that had provided him with the most complete relief from arthritic pain he
had ever known. It was a native decoction he had learned of many years eariler,
when he was traveling in Mexico. One took equal quantities of three plants, Ruta
graveolens (or our common rue), Rosmarinus officinalis (better known as
rosemary), and Cannabis sativa (which is recognized in many households simply
as marijuana). Three plants all known in folklore, rue as a symbol for repentance,
rosemary as a symbol of remembrance, and pot, well, I guess it is a symbol of a
lot of things to a lot of people. Anyway, equal quantities of these three plants are
allowed to soak in a large quantity of rubbing alcohol for a few weeks. Then the
alcoholic extracts are clarified, and allowed to evaporate in the open air to a thick
sludge. This then was rubbed on the skin, where the arthritis was troublesome,
and always rubbed in the direction of the extremity
The methoxy-methylenedioxy pattern is also found in nature with the
2,4,5-orientation pattern. The allyl-2,4,5-isomer is called asaricin. It, and its
propenyl-isomer, carpacin, are from the Carpano tree which grows in the
Solomon Islands. All these plants are used in folk medicine. These two systems,
the 2,3,4- and the 2,4,5-orientations, potentially give rise, with ammonia, to
MMDA-3a and MMDA-2.
Elemicin is the well studied essential oil, 5-allyl-1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene,
primarily from the oil of elemi. It is, like myristicin, a component of the Oil of
Nutmeg, but it is also found in several of the Oils of Camphor, and in the resin of
the Pili in the Philippines. This tree is the source of the Oil of Elemi. I had found a
trace component in nutmeg many years ago that proved to be 5-
methoxyeugenol, or elemicin without the 4-methyl group; it is also present in the
magnolia plant. The aldehyde that corresponds to this is syringaldehyde, and its
prefix has been spun into many natural products. Any natural product with a
syring somewhere in it has a hydroxy between two methoxys. The amphetamine
base from elemicin or isoelemicin would be TMA, the topic of this very recipe.
There is an essential oil called asarone that is 2,4,5-trimethoxy-1-
propenylbenzene. It is the trans- or alpha-isomer, and the cis-isomer is known as
beta-asarone. It is the isomerization analogue of the much more rare 1-allyl-
2,4,5-trimethoxybenzene, gamma-asarone, or euasarone, or sekishone. Asarone
is the major component of Oil of Calamus obtained from the rhizomes of Acorus
calamus, the common Sweet Flag that grows wild on the edges of swamps
throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. It has been used as a flavoring of
liqueurs and, as almost every other plant known to man, has been used as a
medicine. In fact, in Manitoba this plant was called Rat-root by the Cree Indians
in the Lake Winnipeg area known as New Iceland, and Indian-root by the
Icelandic pioneers. It was used externally for the treatment of wounds, and
internally for most illnesses. There apparently is no report of central effects. The
corresponding propanone, acoramone (or 2,4,5-trimethoxyphenylacetone), is
also present in Oil of Calamus. The styrene that corresponds to asarone is found
in a number of plants, and is surprisingly toxic to brine shrimp. The older
literature describes an allyl-trimethoxy benzene called calamol, but it has never
been pinned down as to structure. The isolation of gamma-asarone or euasarone
from Oil of Xixin (from wild ginger) has given rise to a potential problem of
nomenclature. One of the Genus names associated with wild ginger is Asiasarum
which looks very much like the name asarone, which comes from the Genus
Acorus. And a second Genus of medical plants also called wild ginger is simply
called Asarum. There is an Asarum forbesi from central China, and it is known to
give a pleasant smell to the body. And there is Asarum seiboldi which is largely
from Korea and Manchuria. It has many medical uses, including the treatment of
deafness, epilepsy, and rheumatism. The amphetamine that would arise from
this natural treasure chest is TMA-2.
The parent allyl benzene is apiole (with a final "e") or parsley camphor,
and it is the major component of parsley seed oil. Its conjugated isomer is called
isoapiole, and they are valuable as the chemical precurors to the amination
product, DMMDA. Whereas both of these essential oils are white solids, there is
a green oily liquid that had been broadly used years ago in medicine, called
green, or liquid apiol (without the final "e"). It comes from the seeds of parsley by
ether extraction, and when the chlorophyll has been removed, it is known as
yellow apiol. With the fats removed by saponification and distillation, the old term
for the medicine was apiolin. I would assume that any of these would give rise to
white, crystalline apiole on careful distillation, but I have never tried to do it. The
commercial Oil of Parsley is so readily available.
The second of the three tetraoxygenated essential oils is 1-allyl-2,3-
dimethoxy-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene, commonly called dillapiole and it comes,
not surprisingly, from the oils of any of the several dill plants around the world. It
is a thick, almost colorless liquid, but its isomerization product, isodillapiole, is a
white crystalline product which melts sharply. This, by the theoretical addition of
ammonia, gives DMMDA-2.
The third and last of the tetra-oxygenated essential oils, is 1-allyl-2,3,4,5-
tetramethoxybenzene. This is present as a minor component in the oil of parsley,
but it is much more easily obtained by synthesis. It, and its iso-compound, and
the amination product, are discussed under the last of theTen Essential
Amphetamines, TA.

Procedure in manufacturing
Synthesis of amphetamines is a relatively simple process, assuming you
have access to the right precursors and equipment, and a decent understanding
of chemistry. Interestingly, it is actually easier to make methamphetamine than
regular amphetamine (at least using clandestine methods), which is largely
responsible for its popularity on the street in certain countries. There are many
commonly used methods of synthesis, the most popular of which is probably the
reduction of (psuedo) ephedrine using Hydroiodic Acid and Red Phosphorous
(HI/RP reduction). Amphetamine can be made by further reducing
methamphetamine to lose its second methyl group but most people would
consider this a waste of good meth. The most popular method for synthesis of
amphetamine is reductive amination of Phenyl-2-Propanone (P2P). The use of
this method is also a bit puzzling because methamphetamine can also be made
from P2P using the same reaction with different reagents.
The exact details of these reactions are beyond the scope of this
document, mostly since there is already a wealth of good information on
Rhodium. Please keep in mind that amphetamines are controlled substances in
most countries and synthesis of such could land you in serious trouble.
Furthermore, possession of information detailing how to synthesis
methamphetamines (with or without the glassware or reagents) may be illegal in
certain jurisdictions.

Ways of Administration
Oral
Description: Oral administration of amphetamine is the only route used in
the therapeutic setting, but is also very common as a method of recreational use.
The effects from an oral dose of amphetamine appear within 15 to 60 minutes,
peak within 2 to 3 hours and begin to decline shortly after. Amphetamine
preparations with a timed release mechanism usually release half of the drug
right away, resulting in the same onset and peak times. The second half of the
amphetamine is released about 4 hours later, which delays the decline in effects
by about 3 to 4 hours compared to immediate release forms.
Method: Oral administration of amphetamine often requires no
preparation, making it the easiest option in many cases. Amphetamine powder
can be taken orally by parachuting, mixing with a liquid or putting it into capsules.
In some areas of the world a white paste form of amphetamine is common, which
can be swallowed alone or mixed with liquid to mask the taste. Pharmaceutical
amphetamine preparations require no preparation for oral administration since
this is their intended route. However, it is common for users to modify extended
release forms of amphetamine to receive the full dose at once. This is done by
removing the amphetamine-containing beads from the capsule and crushing
them to destroy the mechanism that causes the extended release. The most
common tool for crushing the beads is a mortar and pestle but other improvised
tools can be used, such as a simple plastic bag and hammer. The amphetamine
is then ingested by parachuting or putting it back into the capsule, resulting in the
entire dose being absorbed at once, producing identical effects to any immediate
release form.
Notes / Warnings: The oral route of administering amphetamine is
generally the safest available method. Many of the common impurities in street
amphetamine will be dealt with by the first-pass effect. However, some impurities
may still cause ill effects when taken orally. While oral administration of
amphetamine is the safest method, it also produces a less intense (though longer
lasting) effect. Several factors also affect the pharmacokinetics of an oral
amphetamine dose. See the section on pharmacokinetics for a full discussion of
these factors.

Insufflation
Description: Intranasal administration (or snorting) of amphetamine is not
used in the therapeutic setting. However, snorting amphetamine is the second
most reported route of administration. Insufflation involves inhaling amphetamine
into the nose where it is absorbed rapidly through the mucous membrane. This
method has not been well studied due to its lack of therapeutic value. Anecdotal
evidence and user reports show that snorting amphetamine increases its
bioavailability, resulting in a more intense effect. When insufflated, the effects of
amphetamine appear within minutes and have a shorter duration of effect.
Method: Insufflation of amphetamine requires that it be in the form of a
fine powder. Street forms of amphetamine that are already in powdered form
typically require little to no additional preparation before snorting. Amphetamine
paste can be dried out, resulting in a solid form that can be snorted.
Pharmaceutical preparations of amphetamine can also be snorted, but require
varying amounts of preparation first. Instant release tablets are crushed into a
fine powder. Extended release amphetamine preparations require that the beads
be removed from the capsule and crushed in to a fine powder. This can be done
using a mortar and pestle or an improvised tool such as a simple plastic bag and
hammer. Once the amphetamine tablets or beads have been crushed into a
powder, it is either snorted directly or occasionally purified first to remove binders
and other ingredients. Some specific brand names of amphetamine are easier to
snort due to differences in tablet size, even when comparing within the same
dosage. For instance, CorePharma LLC produces amphetamine salt
combinations in dosages of both 10mg and 20mg, with both tablets being
approximately the same physical size. Meanwhile, a 20mg amphetamine salt
combo produced by Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a smaller physical size
compared to both dosages produced by CorePharma. This smaller size results in
less material to snort.
Notes / Warnings: Snorting amphetamine is generally safer than injecting
it or administering it rectally. However, ill effects can result from impurities,
improper preparation or improper technique. Street forms of amphetamine can
contain impurities that can have different negative effects, ranging from irritation
to significant nasal membrane damage. Pharmaceutical amphetamine
preparations typically contain binders, dyes or other ingredients that can cause
irritation and/or contribute to an unpleasant drip. The extended release versions
of amphetamine are often much more difficult to prepare for insufflation, so
instant release tablets are usually preferred. While snorting amphetamine
produces a more rapid and intense high, this results in a shorter duration of effect
and causes a more dramatic comedown.
Injection
Description: Injection of amphetamine is also not used in the therapeutic setting,
but in recreational settings, or occasionally during tests with animals. The
practice of injecting amphetamine remains somewhat common in some parts of
the world mainly due to the intense and almost immediate rush it gives
users. Injected doses of amphetamine are usually administered intravenously or
subcutaneously, and are circulated rapidly through the bloodstream. Injecting
amphetamine has the highest bioavailability and produces a very rapid and
intense effect. When injected, the effects of amphetamine appear almost
immediately and are typically short-lived. While injection of amphetamine is the
most effective method, it is also the most complicated and dangerous, and thus
not recommended.
Method: Keep in mind the dangers of injecting amphetamine, this is a
basic overview of the methods and is not meant to be used as a step-by-step
guide. Amphetamine powders or pastes are usually the easiest to prepare for
injection. Instant release pharmaceutical forms of amphetamine are crushed into
a very fine powder. Extended release amphetamine medications are generally
not used because the beads are difficult to crush into a fine enough powder and
they contain even more undesirable inactive ingredients. Once the amphetamine
is in powdered form, an A/B extraction or other cleaning method may be done to
remove impurities, binders, dyes and other inactive ingredients. The
amphetamine powder is then dissolved in sterile water to create a solution. The
amphetamine solution is filtered one or more times using a cigarette
filter, coffee filter or similar. The resulting filtered amphetamine solution is then
administered to a sterile injection site using a sterile syringe.
Notes / Warnings: Injection is the most complicated and dangerous
method of administering amphetamine. Many variables can cause dose
ineffectiveness, serious side effects or death. Aside from the inherent risks of the
injection method (disease transmission via used needle, infection, abscesses
and other damage due to improper technique, etc) there are significant risks
posed by the ingredients of any amphetamine form. Street forms of amphetamine
may contain impurities or cutting agents that can cause serious side effects or
death. Pharmaceutical amphetamine formulations contain binders, dyes and
other inactive ingredients which can cause significant harm. Extended release
forms of amphetamine are of particular danger because it is difficult to crush the
beads into a fine enough powder to dissolve completely in water. Dosage may
also need to be adjusted since injecting amphetamine increases the risk of
overdose. One must research exhaustively, be fully informed on harm
reduction and know the specifics before even considering attempting to inject
amphetamine.

Rectal
Description: Rectal administration (or plugging) of amphetamine is not as
common as the other routes and has not been studied or reviewed. Rectal
administration involves inserting the amphetamine (usually in a solution with
water) into the rectum where it is absorbed. Anecdotal evidence and user reports
suggest that amphetamine has good bioavailability when administered rectally.
Users report that the effects of rectally administered amphetamine come on more
quickly than with oral administration, but not as quickly as with insufflation or
injection. Plugging amphetamine seems to produce effects that are more intense
than those given by oral administration, but not approaching the intensity of
effects produced by injection. When compared to insufflation, the intensity of
effects from a rectally administered dose of amphetamine varies from user to
user, but are often comparable. Rectal administration of amphetamine also
seems to have a shorter duration of effects than the oral route.
Method: Some reports suggest that amphetamine powder or tablets can
be inserted directly if dampened with water. However this is not common as it
may result in significant irritation. A more common method involves mixing the
amphetamine powder or crushed pharmaceutical amphetamine with water. The
resulting solution is then administered rectally, usually with a syringe.
Notes / Warnings: The safety of administering amphetamine rectally has
not been established. However, the rectal administration method is generally
safer than that of injection. Administering amphetamine rectally can cause
varying amounts of irritation depending on the methods used, the presence of
inactive ingredients and personal factors. The presence of impurities, binders,
dyes and other inactive ingredients can contribute significantly to discomfort
and/or irritation. Very little data exists examining the results of rectal
amphetamine administration.