Short-term Effects of Methamphetamine Use

Meth causes serious physical and psychological damage with every use. Common short-term effects include:

• Brief rush
• Paranoia
• Depression and anxiety
• Irritability
• Sleeplessness
• Increased physical activity
• Unpredictable behavior; violence
• Heavy sweating
• Acne
• Dry mouth and bad breath
• Uncontrollable jaw clenching
• Cracked teeth
• Headache
• Performing repetitive, meaningless tasks
• Dilated pupils
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Increased breath rate
• Dangerously elevated body temperature
• Sores and skin infections
• Increased blood pressure
• Seizures
• Damaged nerve terminals in the dopamine-containing regions of the brain