Comparison
Amphetamine vs Cocaine.
Side-by-side comparison of Amphetamine and Cocaine — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryAmphetaminestimulantCocainestimulant
- Chemical classAmphetamineamphetamineCocainetropane
- Common doseAmphetamine20–40 mgCocaine30–60 mg
- Peak durationAmphetamine120–240 minCocaine15–30 min
- Primary positivesAmphetamineStimulation and wakefulness, Increased focus and motivation, Confidence and talkativenessCocaineConfidence and self-assurance, Euphoria and stimulation, Talkativeness and sociability
- Primary negativesAmphetamineAnxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses), Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose, Cardiovascular strainCocaineCompulsive redosing ("the line is shorter than you remember"), Cardiovascular strain (heart attacks and strokes occur even in young users), Severe nasal damage with regular insufflation
- Legal (DE)Amphetamineprescription-onlyCocaineillegal
- Legal (NL)AmphetamineillegalCocaineillegal
- Legal (US)Amphetamineschedule-2Cocaineschedule-2
- Legal (UK)Amphetamineclass-bCocaineclass-a
| Amphetamine | Cocaine | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | stimulant | stimulant |
| Chemical class | amphetamine | tropane |
| Common dose | 20–40 mg | 30–60 mg |
| Peak duration | 120–240 min | 15–30 min |
| Primary positives | Stimulation and wakefulness, Increased focus and motivation, Confidence and talkativeness | Confidence and self-assurance, Euphoria and stimulation, Talkativeness and sociability |
| Primary negatives | Anxiety and racing thoughts (especially at higher doses), Insomnia for 6–12+ hours after the last dose, Cardiovascular strain | Compulsive redosing ("the line is shorter than you remember"), Cardiovascular strain (heart attacks and strokes occur even in young users), Severe nasal damage with regular insufflation |
| Legal (DE) | prescription-only | illegal |
| Legal (NL) | illegal | illegal |
| Legal (US) | schedule-2 | schedule-2 |
| Legal (UK) | class-b | class-a |
Key harm-reduction difference
Amphetamine and Cocaine 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 Cocaine?
- "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 Cocaine?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, Amphetamine or Cocaine?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- Amphetamine vs Cocaine: 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 Cocaine 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 Cocaine 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 Cocaine?
- 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 Cocaine?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.