Amphetamine Tolerance: Causes And Risks

Amphetamines are powerful stimulant medications that doctors commonly prescribe to help people manage attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. These drugs work by increasing certain chemicals in the brain that improve focus, attention, and wakefulness. When taken as prescribed under medical supervision, amphetamines can be effective treatment tools for these conditions.

However, even when people take amphetamines exactly as their doctor directs, their body can develop what’s called tolerance over time. Tolerance means that the same dose of the medication no longer produces the same effects it once did, leading some people to need higher doses to get the results they’re looking for. While tolerance itself isn’t immediately dangerous, it can be a warning sign of developing dependence or amphetamine addiction, and it’s important to understand what it means and how to recognize it.

What Is Amphetamine Tolerance?

Amphetamine tolerance is a reduced sensitivity to the effects of amphetamine drugs, including drugs such as methamphetamine and methylphenidate. Put simply, your body can become tolerant to the stimulant effects of amphetamines over time, with the repeated use of these drugs.

Studies show this can inhibit the effects of amphetamines with chronic administration—that is, long-term drug use. This can result in weaker drug effects.

What Causes An Amphetamine Tolerance?

The development of tolerance occurs through a metabolic process and can be influenced by certain environmental and behavioral factors. Generally, this takes time. Tolerance will develop through at least several weeks of regular drug use, although rapid tolerance may occur in some people.

Certain neurotransmitters, like dopamine, are believed to be involved in this development of amphetamine tolerance, due to the drug’s mechanism of action in the brain.

Which Amphetamines Can Cause Tolerance?

Tolerance can develop with any type of amphetamine or stimulant medication, whether it’s prescribed by a doctor or obtained illegally. All amphetamines work in similar ways by affecting dopamine and other brain chemicals, which means your body can adapt to them over time regardless of which specific drug you’re taking.

The most common prescription amphetamines that people develop tolerance to include Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), and Ritalin (methylphenidate). Vyvanse tolerance is particularly common among people who take this medication daily for ADHD, as the body gradually becomes accustomed to the drug’s effects.

Signs Of An Amphetamine Tolerance

Amphetamine tolerance can develop through prescription drug use, or as a result of amphetamine abuse—defined as a pattern of misusing amphetamines.

Primary signs of amphetamine tolerance include:

• reduced drug effects after taking the same dose for some time
• needing high doses of amphetamines to achieve the desired effect
• certain behavioral effects (i.e. urges to continue drug use, or increased drug use)

Does Amphetamine Tolerance Come With Risks?

Amphetamine tolerance isn’t dangerous. Unlike physical dependence, it does not lead to withdrawal symptoms if you attempt to stop or reduce your drug use. However, it can be a sign of drug abuse, or lead to substance abuse if someone attempts to overcome tolerance by taking higher doses without doctor approval.

If you do build a tolerance to an amphetamine drug like Adderall or Ritalin, talk to your doctor before making any adjustments to your drug dosage or frequency of use.

Treatment For Amphetamine Abuse

Tolerance can develop with chronic amphetamine use. Having a very high tolerance to amphetamine drugs, prescription or otherwise, can be a sign of drug abuse. If you are abusing amphetamines, a doctor may recommend psychiatric or behavioral health treatment to help you safely stop using amphetamines.

Treatment for amphetamine abuse may involve:

• amphetamine detoxification (detox)
• behavioral therapy
• group therapy
• dual diagnosis treatment
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• aftercare
• case management
• individual therapy
• drug counseling

Recovering from an addiction to illicit or prescription amphetamines is possible with professional help. While this journey can take time, healing from the physical, psychological, and mental effects of addiction is an achievable goal.

Amphetamine Tolerance FAQs

Get answers to frequently asked questions about amphetamine tolerance, dependence, and amphetamine addiction.

❓ What Is The Difference Between A Tolerance And An Addiction?

✔️ Tolerance is a change in the body’s response to a substance. This can build up over time with repeated use of amphetamines. But it’s not necessarily a problem by itself.

Addiction, on the other hand, is a serious condition that’s characterized by a compulsive need to repeatedly use drugs. Conquering an addiction may require professional treatment.

❓ Is Tolerance To Amphetamine A Problem?

✔️ Amphetamine tolerance can become a problem if it leads to drug misuse. For instance, if someone takes more of the drug without prescriber approval to overcome their tolerance.

Tolerance is not dangerous. If you develop tolerance to amphetamine treatment, your doctor can help guide you on what your next steps should be.

❓ Is There A Way To Avoid Amphetamine Tolerance?

✔️ Tolerance to amphetamines can develop through chronic, repeated drug use.

If you become tolerant to the effects of amphetamines, it is possible for your tolerance to decrease by safely and slowly weaning off the drug, or by completing drug detox.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff