What Amphetamine Testing Can Help You Discover
Millions of Americans take prescription amphetamines to control conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, it’s estimated that around 18 million misuse amphetamines each year. Amphetamine testing can show you whether or not your patients are taking their prescription as directed.
What are amphetamines?
Amphetamines are stimulants that increase concentration and focus and improve wakefulness and confidence. They help patients with ADHD improve their function, performance, and behavior at school or work. However, even people who don’t have ADHD feel like they benefit from amphetamine use, and the number of Americans misusing stimulants is increasing.
In addition to prescription amphetamine use, illicit use of methamphetamine is increasing, leading to a higher volume of overdoses. According to a New York Times article, between 2005 and 2015, the number of methamphetamine-related deaths increased by 255%.
Why would someone misuse amphetamines?
Though the prescriptions you provide for your patients help them cope with the symptoms of their ADHD or other mental health disorder, non-patients also want the benefits of:
- Increased concentration
- Improved cognitive control
- Enhanced sociability
- Heightened libido
- Euphoria
What many patients and nonpatients don’t realize is that misuse of amphetamines such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Dexedrine can have a dangerous impact on their health including:
- Changes in blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
- Anxiety and irritability
- Nausea and abdominal pain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Insomnia
You need to know if your patients are taking their prescription as directed, and amphetamine testing can give you the answers you need.
What does amphetamine testing reveal?
To put it simply, amphetamine testing shows whether or not a patient is using drugs. As a physician, you may need to know if your patients are taking their prescriptions or if you suspect a patient is misusing amphetamines.
Prescription amphetamines have a half-life of 4-24 hours, and illicit amphetamines such as methamphetamine have a half-life of 9-14 hours. The amphetamine testing provided by CLS diagnostics can show you if your patient has taken amphetamines within the previous three to five days. Depending on the concentration of the amphetamine found in the patient’s urine, you can determine how recently they used the drug.
How often does a person need to be tested for amphetamine use?
You can choose to have your patients take a drug test to confirm they’re taking their prescription before issuing a refill. Similarly, you can order a urinalysis if you suspect a patient is using drugs illegally or if you’re helping them in a recovery program. Amphetamine tests reveal use within the last three to five days, so you may want to have your patients have monthly drug tests for accurate information.
CLS Diagnostics provides expert toxicology testing with quick and efficient results for medical professionals. They use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure accuracy and speed. Contact the laboratory today to learn more about their amphetamine testing services and how they can help you serve your patients.