Comparison
Amphetamine vs Methamphetamine.
Side-by-side comparison of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryAmphetaminestimulantMethamphetaminestimulant
- Chemical classAmphetamineamphetamineMethamphetaminesubstituted-amphetamine
- Common doseAmphetamine20–40 mgMethamphetamine15–40 mg
- Peak durationAmphetamine120–240 minMethamphetamine180–360 min
- Primary positivesAmphetamineStimulation and wakefulness, Increased focus and motivation, Confidence and talkativenessMethamphetamineSharp euphoria and confidence, Pronounced libido increase, Drive to work, talk, fix, organise
- Primary negativesAmphetamineAnxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses), Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose, Cardiovascular strainMethamphetamineStrong cardiovascular load (HR, BP), Anxiety, paranoia, scripting / patterns, Tactile hallucinations ("meth bugs") on prolonged binges
- Legal (DE)Amphetamineprescription-onlyMethamphetamineprohibited
- Legal (NL)AmphetamineillegalMethamphetamineschedule-1
- Legal (US)Amphetamineschedule-2Methamphetamineschedule-2
- Legal (UK)Amphetamineclass-bMethamphetamineclass-a
| Amphetamine | Methamphetamine | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | stimulant | stimulant |
| Chemical class | amphetamine | substituted-amphetamine |
| Common dose | 20–40 mg | 15–40 mg |
| Peak duration | 120–240 min | 180–360 min |
| Primary positives | Stimulation and wakefulness, Increased focus and motivation, Confidence and talkativeness | Sharp euphoria and confidence, Pronounced libido increase, Drive to work, talk, fix, organise |
| Primary negatives | Anxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses), Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose, Cardiovascular strain | Strong cardiovascular load (HR, BP), Anxiety, paranoia, scripting / patterns, Tactile hallucinations ("meth bugs") on prolonged binges |
| Legal (DE) | prescription-only | prohibited |
| Legal (NL) | illegal | schedule-1 |
| Legal (US) | schedule-2 | schedule-2 |
| Legal (UK) | class-b | class-a |
Key harm-reduction difference
Amphetamine and Methamphetamine differ most in their risk profiles and durations. Always research each independently before any session. If you are choosing between them based on safety alone, consult the full profiles and the interaction checker for any combinations you may be planning.
Related pages
FAQ.
- Is Amphetamine stronger than Methamphetamine?
- "Stronger" depends on the metric. Compare dose ranges, subjective intensity, and duration side by side above. Always factor in individual tolerance.
- Can I combine Amphetamine and Methamphetamine?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, Amphetamine or Methamphetamine?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- Amphetamine vs Methamphetamine: which is safer?
- Neither substance is "safe" in absolute terms. Harm is a function of dose, setting, purity, and individual factors. The comparison above covers the key risk differences.
- Are Amphetamine and Methamphetamine in the same drug class?
- See the category and chemical class rows above. Substances in different classes often have very different risk profiles even if subjective effects overlap.
- Is Amphetamine legal where Methamphetamine is?
- Legal status is substance- and jurisdiction-specific. See the legal status section for key countries.
- Where can I get harm reduction info for Amphetamine and Methamphetamine?
- Each substance has a full profile on this site with dosage, interactions, testing, and legal information. Follow the links at the bottom of this page.
- How do I test whether my substance is Amphetamine or Methamphetamine?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.