Amphetamines are a type of medicine called stimulants. Stimulants increase your alertness and energy. They might be prescribed by a healthcare provider to treat sleep problems, obesity, learning problems such as ADHD, depression, or other health problems. They may also be sold illegally as “speed” or “uppers.”
Amphetamine abuse and dependence are patterns of using drugs that lead to serious personal, family and health problems. Amphetamine dependence occurs when you need the drug to function on a daily basis. You’ll experience symptoms of withdrawal if you’re dependent and you abruptly stop using the drug.