Medical complications of stimulant use
Organ system | Acute complications | Chronic complications |
---|---|---|
Central nervous system | Hallucinations, esp. tactile | Psychotic symptoms |
Dyskinesia | Cerebrovascular disease/stroke | |
Seizures | Movement disorders, e.g., dystonic reactions, akathisia, choreoathetosis, tardive dyskinesia | |
Cardiovascular system | Tachycardia | Myocarditis |
Hypertension | Cardiomyopathy | |
Myocardial infarction | Myocardial fibrosis | |
Arrhythmias | Myocardial infarction | |
Pulmonary | Cough, shortness of breath, wheezing | Interstitial pneumonitis |
Pulmonary edema, hemorrhage | Bronchiolitis obliterans | |
Pneumothorax | ||
Renal | Renal ischemia | |
Renal failure | ||
Gastrointestinal | Reduced gastric motility | Gastric ulceration and perforation |
Intestinal infarction | ||
Ischemic colitis | ||
Liver | Viral hepatitis secondary to contaminated syringe use | |
Endocrine | Reduced prolactin | Inc, normal or dec. prolactin |
Increased epinephrine, CRH, ACTH, cortisol and luteinizing hormones | Normal testosterone, cortisol, LH, thyroid hormones | |
Musculoskeletal | Movement disorders (see CNS) | Rhabdomyolysis |
Head and neck | Rhinitis | Rhinitis |
Perforated nasal septum | ||
Nasal and gingival ulceration | ||
Sinusitis | ||
Dental decay and periodontal disease | ||
Xerostomia | ||
Corneal ulcers | ||
Immune system | Vasculitis sysndromes | |
Sexual function | Erectile dysfunction | |
Irregular menses | ||
Reproductive | Vaginal bleeding | FDA category C |
Abruption placenta | Placenta previa | |
Premature rupture of membranes | Low birth weight | |
General/other | Dehydration | Weight loss |
Nutritional deficits |