Post-mortems of methamphetamine-related deaths of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s commonly reveal heart conditions more frequently associated with old age. Heavy methamphetamine use is associated with a range of chronic and acute cardiovascular problems including stroke, heart failure and seizures. The most serious effects of taking large quantities may include stroke, heart failure, seizures and excessively high body temperature. Heavy users may also experience effects such as: Taking large quantities can intensify some of the effects. These effects vary from person to person, and are influenced by factors such as the person's weight, how much they have eaten, their general health, how much of the drug they have taken, and whether they have taken any other drugs. High doses may lead to aggressiveness, hostility and violent behaviour.
It was first synthesised from ephedrine in 1919, and was also used during World War II. Methamphetamine is a man-made stimulant drug - a more potent form of the drug amphetamine. In 1935 a study of the effects of amphetamine in hospital workers found that the most commonly reported effects were a sense of wellbeing and exhilaration, and reduced fatigue, while during World War II amphetamine was extensively used to combat fatigue and increase alertness in soldiers. Today, amphetamines and amphetamine derivatives are used in the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Amphetamine was first synthesised in 1887, and was used in the 1930s to treat asthma.