how do amphetamines cause euphoric effects?

Question

how do amphetamines cause euphoric effects?

Answer 1

The brain circuit that's involved in the euphoric effects of amphetamines is the limbic reward system. Every substance of abuse will have some effect on the limbic reward system. They also affect the nucleus accumbens by increasing dopamine, which regulate feelings of pleasure. High levels of free dopamine will elevate mood.

Stimulants exert their effects by modifying communication that occurs between brain neurons. Amphetamines have been shown to modify the dopamine neurotransmitter system. This modification is due to overstimulation of the receptors on postsynaptic neurons by increasing dopamine in the synapse via excessive presynaptic release or by inhibiting dopamine's reuptake and breakdown. The increased dopamine in the brain leads to feelings of elation or euphoria.

Answer 2

Hello!!!

From its mechanism of action, it has been demonstrated that amphetamine augments the concentration of noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex and dopamine in the striatum on a dose and time-dependent manner. The indistinct release of neurotransmitters which include adrenaline is known to produce cardiovascular side effects.⁵

There are old reports of a cognitive enhancement related to the administration of amphetamine in which improvements in intelligence test scores were reported.²

In ADHD, amphetamine has been largely showed to produce remarkable improvements in school performance, behavior, and demeanor.¹ The effect was shown to be produced through both racemic forms and to this date, the use of racemic forms 3:1 (D:L) is very common.³ The therapeutic effect of amphetamine on serotonin does not seem to have a significant clinical effect on ADHD as observed on comparative studies with amphetamine and fenfluramine, a powerful serotonin releasing factor. However, the indirect effect on serotonin might have an effect on the depression and anxiety profile of ADHD.⁶

Studies regarding the illicit use of amphetamine in which heavy consumers were studied proved the generation of a paranoid state which flagged this drug as a psychiatric danger compound.¹³ This observation was supported by the continuous reports of misuse in patients under depression.¹