Impotence - Caused by Methamphetamine

Everything you need to make meth can be found in a super market. From the pseudophedrine in basic cold medicine to the red phosphorous found in matches, an addict can find the key ingredients for making meth at a local store. While the government has placed restrictions on the sale and production of pseudophedrine, meth users continue to find methods for producing the drug to feed their habit.
 
Meth first saw popular use during World War II. During long battles, Japanese soldiers would ingest methamphetamine to keep alert and awake. While the drug has since been banned from the battlefield, more than 1.9 million Americans have reported having abused or tried meth at least once.

The Dangers of Meth

Meth, unlike other recreational drugs, increases the release of dopamine, a vital neurotransmitter that promotes the stimulation-reward inside the brain. When levels of dopamine remain in a heightened state, the removal of the chemical can cause addiction. And since every type of pleasure-stimulating reaction is controlled by dopamine, the reduction of the chemical caused by meth can create a difficult habit to kick.

Let’s say you love chocolate cake. You crave chocolate. Each bite of its decedent texture makes you smile. The enjoyment you feel is the brain releasing dopamine. Each time your taste buds touch the cake, dopamine creates the pleasure and stimulation you feel.

Meth works in the same manner. Except meth causes your body to experience an unnatural elevation of dopamine. The brain experiences a heightened sense of concentration. The heart rate goes up, and blood pressure and body temperature rise. Long-term exposure to dopamine causes an unnatural imbalance, leaving the brain wanting to keep the same heightened concentration, pleasure and stimulation level. The loss in dopamine leads to an addiction.

Meth also inhibits the production of acetylcholine, an essential chemical that controls blood flow inside the body. The body will simultaneously experience a reduction in nitric oxide, a chemical that acts as a bridge of communication between the brain and the organs. When you experiences low acetylcholine and nitric oxide levels, your body cannot pump enough blood to power an erection or communicate the necessary stimulation from the brain to the penis needed to maintain an erection. ^[1]

Other Symptoms

The pathological effects of methamphetamine toxicities can vary, depending on dose, route, frequency of use and duration. Common abuse symptoms include:Violent aggression

• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Tachypnea
• Abnormal thoughts and behaviors
• Growth suppression
• Verbal tics
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Decreased appetite and weight loss
• Insomnia
• Stomach ache
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Seizures or abnormal brain waves
• High blood pressure
• Irregular cardiovascular output
• Erectile dysfunction including premature ejaculation

Detox and Recovery

Because meth elevates the levels of dopamine, most addicts experience a difficult road to recovery. Detox from meth can too become painful because an addict will want the drug to alleviate the imbalance of dopamine. Still, males who use meth for prolonged periods can suffer from impotence. If you suffer from impotence caused by meth abuse, all-natural supplements can help balance your nitric oxide and acetylcholine levels.