Even when taken properly, prescription stimulants may cause side effects including loss of appetite, sleep loss, and increases in heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure.

Since prescription stimulants affect the way the brain functions, misuse can cause serious effects in your body and affect your behavior:

• Too large a dose (even once) can lead to dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, seizures and even death.

• Large enough doses over a short period of time can lead to feelings of discomfort, hostility and distorted thinking or paranoia.

• Continued overuse can lead to tolerance to the medication.

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