- The root substance of Dexedrine, namely amphetamine, was developed ostensibly as a plant extract in 1887 and nothing more. It was not until 1935 that the drug hit the consumer market as the inhalant Benzedrine. Benzedrine was marketed as a decongestant, relieving congestion and promoting alertness. It was this "alertness" that attracted the attention of the U.S. military. Practically all of the branches of the military issued Benzedrine to help soldiers and pilots fight off fatigue.
- The effects of Dexedrine are well-documented and insidious. They include a sense of euphoria, while reducing appetite and giving the sensation of having more energy. This was the key marketing ploy used by the pharmaceutical companies; they claimed you could not be hungry and still have energy -- more than ever -- to meet the needs of the day. Of course, that was true, but it came at the expense of the users' heart and nervous system. Additionally, and ironically, Dexedrine had the effect of making users more self-conscious and more prone toward anxiety.
- The popular conception, particularly during the late '60s and throughout the '70s, was that Dexedrine was a miracle diet drug. Let the pill do the work and get on with your everyday life. This naivete was short-lived as more and more users reported such unpleasant side effects as diarrhea, palpitations and tremors. Indeed, more and more users were slipping into comas, suffering heart attacks and falling victim to strokes. The pharmaceutical industry successfully marketed the convenience of Dexedrine but failed to make its effects public.
- To say Dexedrine did not have any benefits is disingenuous. It did deliver on its promise to help people lose weight. It did indeed give people that "certain pep" which enabled them to get through a long day of not eating. To that end it did, and still does for some clinical patients, help people lose weight. It is still clinically prescribed, especially to patients who suffer from narcolepsy, ADHD and even some forms of depression. These doses are carefully controlled and monitored.
- The best prevention, with regard to Dexedrine, is avoidance. Never starting is the best way to never have to stop. The lure of the drug, though, is still popular, especially with diet-resistant people. The lure of enjoying all the benefits of weight loss without having to do any of the work is a powerful one. Before ingesting Dexedrine, potential users should be made aware of the powerful draw of the drug. It has been compared with heroin withdrawal, with former abusers longing to enjoy the energy and euphoria it induces.
- Using Dexedrine without a physician's approval can be fatal. The panoply of negative physical and psychological effects aside, the withdrawal symptoms are harrowing. They include suicidal thoughts, pronounced depression, hallucinations, sudden bursts of violent behavior and, in some cases, irreversible psychosis. Moreover, habitual abusers grow more tolerant to Dexedrine, needing more of it to achieve the same effects. This can cause an inadvertent and potentially fatal overdose.
- The consensus amongst reputable physicians and fitness experts is that avoiding Dexedrine in the first place is the best policy. To be sure, the lure of quick and effortless weight loss is a powerful one -- a profound one. But the key to meaningful, health-sustaining weight loss is moderation and adequate exercise. Using Dexedrine should only be done by means of a prescription and then only in relatively mild doses.
