Crystal meth increases attention, wakefulness, and physical activity, and decreases appetite and fatigue. There is a brief intense sensation or rush, followed by a long-lasting high or euphoria. It also brings about rapid breathing and heartbeat, high blood pressure, dilated pupils, and an elevated body temperature. It can cause stomach cramps, shaking, and anxiety. Short-term effects of crystal meth appear soon after a single dose and disappear after a few hours or days. With larger doses, effects can include fever, sweating, headache, blurred vision and dizziness. The body temperature can elevate to dangerous, sometimes lethal levels that may cause convulsions.

Once the drug's effect disappears, known as the "crash", the user may experience symptoms such as fatigue, nightmares, insomnia, disorientation, confusion, increased appetite, severe depression and suicidal tendencies. The term "Suicide Tuesday" has been coined due to the number of weekend users that feel the severe depression a few days after they have stopped using during the week. To avoid the unpleasant effects of crashing, some people will take more crystal meth. Paradoxically, the more one uses crystal meth, the harder one crashes.

Overuse of crystal meth can bring on paranoia, short-term memory loss, extreme mood swings, and some damage to your immune system. Overdoses are relatively common. Symptoms include agitation, hostility, hallucinations, high temperature, convulsions, suicidal tendencies, circulatory and respiratory collapse, coma and possible death. Mixing crystal meth with other drugs increases the risk of overdose.

Next:   Long term side effects of crystal meth.