Stimulant · amphetamine
Amphetamine
aka Speed · Adderall · Pep · Whizz · Billy
Last verified
Amphetamine is a stimulant that promotes the release of dopamine and noradrenaline. It comes as both a racemic mixture (street "speed" and pharmaceutical Adderall) and as pure d-amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall XR). Doses below are for the racemic form; pure d-amphetamine is roughly 1.5–2× more potent per milligram.
Street speed is often heavily cut. Caffeine is the most common adulterant by far, followed by lactose, glucose and (in some markets) methamphetamine substituted for amphetamine. Visual appearance is not a reliable indicator of purity.
Harm reduction
- Test what you have. Marquis + Mandelin + Simon's together distinguish amphetamine from methamphetamine (Simon's reacts with secondary amines, so it's blue for meth and clear for amphetamine).
- Start low. Insufflated doses produce a sharper, more reinforcing effect than oral — and a steeper crash. If new to a batch, start with half what you think you'll need.
- Eat and hydrate. Speed will suppress your appetite for 12+ hours. Forcing a small meal and 500–750 ml of water per 4 hours significantly reduces the worst of the comedown.
- No alcohol while peaking. The combination puts substantial strain on the heart and masks the dose, leading to overuse.
- Sleep is the recovery. Plan no important commitments for 24 hours after the last dose. The "wired-and-tired" state is dangerous to drive in.
- Watch frequency. Multi-day binges are where amphetamine becomes meaningfully neurotoxic. A weekly limit, with most weeks at zero, is what most experienced users converge on.
- Pharmaceutical amphetamine prescribed for ADHD is a different risk profile when used as prescribed (steady, low oral doses). The risks above apply most strongly to recreational, especially insufflated, use.
Dosage.
Oral
- Threshold
- 5 mg
- Light
- 10–20 mg
- Common
- 20–40 mg
- Strong
- 40–80 mg
- Heavy
- 80 mg
Insufflated
- Threshold
- 5 mg
- Light
- 10–20 mg
- Common
- 20–40 mg
- Strong
- 40–70 mg
- Heavy
- 70 mg
| Route | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 5 mg | 10–20 mg | 20–40 mg | 40–80 mg | 80 mg |
| Insufflated | 5 mg | 10–20 mg | 20–40 mg | 40–70 mg | 70 mg |
Start at the bottom. Body chemistry, tolerance, and combinations all matter.
Duration.
Oral
total ~ 1290 min- Onset
- 30–90 min
- Peak
- 2–4h
- Offset
- 2–4h
- After
- 3–12h
Insufflated
total ~ 855 min- Onset
- 5–15 min
- Peak
- 60–180 min
- Offset
- 2–3h
- After
- 2–8h
Effects.
Positive
- Stimulation and wakefulness
- Increased focus and motivation
- Confidence and talkativeness
- Suppressed appetite
- Euphoria (more pronounced via insufflation)
Neutral
- Pupil dilation
- Jaw clenching
- Increased body temperature
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Negative
- Anxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses)
- Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose
- Cardiovascular strain
- Severe comedown (flat mood, fatigue, irritability for 1–3 days)
- Strong dependence potential, especially via insufflation
Interactions.
Heads up
Many drug combinations are unsafe even at low doses. When in doubt, take less or abstain. Always cross-check with the interaction checker tool.
Dangerous
Combination may cause serious harm. Avoid.
- maois
- tramadol
Unsafe
Substantial risk. Combination not recommended.
- mdma
- cocaine
- alcohol
- stimulants
- ssris
Caution
Mild interaction. Use with reduced doses.
- cannabis
- psychedelics
- ketamine
Testing.
- ReagentMarquisExpected reactionOrange to brown
- ReagentMandelinExpected reactionGreen to dark green
- ReagentMeckeExpected reactionNo significant reaction (negative)
- ReagentSimonExpected reactionBlue (confirms primary amine, distinguishes from MDMA)
| Reagent | Expected reaction |
|---|---|
| Marquis | Orange to brown |
| Mandelin | Green to dark green |
| Mecke | No significant reaction (negative) |
| Simon | Blue (confirms primary amine, distinguishes from MDMA) |
Cross-check with a secondary reagent. Tests tell you what something isn't, not always what it is.
Legal status.
- DEGermanyPrescription only
- ATAustriaPrescription only
- CHSwitzerlandPrescription only
- NLNetherlandsIllegal
- BEBelgiumIllegal
- LULuxembourgIllegal
- FRFranceIllegal
- ESSpainIllegal
- PTPortugalDecriminalised
- ITItalyPrescription only
- PLPolandPrescription only
- CZCzechiaIllegal but tolerated
- SESwedenPrescription only
- DKDenmarkPrescription only
- NONorwayPrescription only
- FIFinlandPrescription only
- IEIrelandClass B
- UKUnited KingdomClass B
- USUnited StatesSchedule II
- CACanadaSchedule I
- AUAustraliaSchedule 8
- TRTurkeyIllegal
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| DEGermany | Prescription only |
| ATAustria | Prescription only |
| CHSwitzerland | Prescription only |
| NLNetherlands | Illegal |
| BEBelgium | Illegal |
| LULuxembourg | Illegal |
| FRFrance | Illegal |
| ESSpain | Illegal |
| PTPortugal | Decriminalised |
| ITItaly | Prescription only |
| PLPoland | Prescription only |
| CZCzechia | Illegal but tolerated |
| SESweden | Prescription only |
| DKDenmark | Prescription only |
| NONorway | Prescription only |
| FIFinland | Prescription only |
| IEIreland | Class B |
| UKUnited Kingdom | Class B |
| USUnited States | Schedule II |
| CACanada | Schedule I |
| AUAustralia | Schedule 8 |
| TRTurkey | Illegal |
Information, not legal advice. Status varies by region and changes over time.
FAQ.
How long does Amphetamine last?
A typical oral Amphetamine experience peaks around 120–240 minutes and then tails off, with after-effects that can run several hours. The exact window depends on dose, body weight and what else you've eaten or taken.
Can you overdose on Amphetamine?
Yes. Higher doses sharply raise the risk of acute harm (cardiovascular strain, hyperthermia, serotonin issues for serotonergic drugs, respiratory depression for downers). Stick to the lowest dose that gives you the effect you're after, never re-dose blindly, and use our [dose calculator](/tools/dosage-calculator) before you weigh anything out.
Is Amphetamine addictive?
Amphetamine can produce psychological dependence with frequent use, especially in unstable settings or when used to self-medicate. Physical dependence varies by substance class; the safest pattern is occasional use with long breaks (often 4–6 weeks minimum) and an honest read on why you're reaching for it.
What does Amphetamine feel like?
Common subjective effects include the ones listed in the Effects section above. Set and setting massively shape the experience: a calm space, trusted people, food eaten, sleep the night before, and your own current mood all matter more than most people expect.
Can you mix Amphetamine with alcohol?
Mixing with alcohol is rarely a good idea — it dulls your judgement of how much you've taken, dehydrates you, and stacks cardiovascular load. If alcohol is on the table, drink less than normal, alternate with water, and run the combination through our [interaction checker](/tools/interaction-checker) first.
How do I test Amphetamine at home?
A basic reagent kit (Marquis + Mandelin + Mecke for most stimulants/entactogens; Ehrlich for tryptamines) gives you a fast presence check. It does NOT measure dose or purity, but it does rule out the most dangerous misrepresentations. See the [reagent guide](/tools/reagent-guide) for expected colors per reagent.
How much Amphetamine is too much?
There's no single number that applies to everyone. As a rule, anything above the 'strong' dose range (40-80 mg for the primary route) carries sharply higher risk of acute harm. Start low, don't redose blindly, and remember that purity varies batch to batch.
How long until Amphetamine kicks in?
Onset is typically 30-90 minutes via the primary route. Don't redose because you 'don't feel anything yet.' Many people have overdone it by stacking doses during the come-up window.
Can you build tolerance to Amphetamine?
Yes. Regular use builds tolerance, meaning you need more for the same effect. This escalation increases both health risk and dependence potential. The best counter is long breaks between sessions (2-4 weeks minimum for most substances, 3 months for MDMA-class drugs).
Is Amphetamine tested for in standard drug screens?
Yes. Amphetamine is typically detected under the amphetamines category in standard SAMHSA-5 panels. Urine detection window is roughly 2-4 days. See our [detection guide](/news/how-long-does-amphetamine-stay-in-your-system) for full details.