Methamphetamine is a stimulant which means it can keep a person awake even though a person may not still be feeling the ‘high’. The use of methamphetamines like ice can make it hard to sleep and can mix up a person’s sleeping patterns. This can lead to a person being unable to sleep even though the feelings of  ice have worn off.

Those experiencing problems sleeping (insomnia) often find it hard to fall asleep or may wake up lots during the night and they can’t fall back to sleep. Continued problems with sleeping can lead someone to feel very tired, not able to concentrate or focus and have headaches during the day.

Methamphetamines such as ice increase the heart rate which can cause people to feel out of breath. Some people may suddenly feel very frightened or paranoid (suspicious) which can trigger panic attacks. Other common symptoms include restlessness, shaking, dizziness, sweating, dry mouth, muscle aches, headaches, feeling sick in the stomach or vomiting. These symptoms can leave people feeling agitated or nervous, particularly as the drug starts to wear off. If these symptoms persist for several days, or a few weeks, it may be a sign that an anxiety disorder is present. Click here for tips about how to help someone who is having a or experiencing other side effects.

As the effects of methamphetamine begin wearing off, it is common to feel very low, tired and useless (also called depressive symptoms) for a few hours or even up to a few days. Some people who use ice regularly also experience depressive symptoms even when they haven’t used the drug recently. This is  because it can reduce brain chemicals which are responsible for making us feel happy and excited.

Those who have experienced depression before are at particular risk of experiencing these symptoms. If these symptoms occur for several days or for a few weeks, this is a sign that depression may be present.

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