What are the side effects of using methamphetamine?
Side effects of using meth include convulsions, dangerously high body temperature, stroke, cardiac arrhythmia, stomach cramps, and shaking. Chronic abuse can lead to psychotic behavior including intense paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and out-of-control rages. Chronic users develop sores on their bodies from scratching at “crank bugs,” which describes the common delusion that bugs are crawling under the skin. Long-term use may result in anxiety, insomnia, and addiction. After methamphetamine use is stopped, several withdrawal symptoms can occur, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, aggression, and an intense craving for the drug. Psychotic symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years after use has ceased. Meth mouth is on the increase, particularly in jails where prisoners who have used methamphetamines have severe dental problems caused by this drug.
