Misc Smoking Ice + Hypertension

[DannyG]

I started smoking ice early this year. It was nothing serious really and was just 'experimenting'. Started maybe about once or twice every month or two but I've since increased the frequencies a few weeks back.

I've got a couple questions though.
1. I read a few different articles off the web and most mention that smoking ice does increase your blood pressure (fact?). I've got Hypertension. It's not sky rocket high but a little too high for a 24 year old. Does smoking ice increase my blood pressure by a lot or just a little? I don't have one of those blood pressure monitoring stuff to check.

2. I've recently started getting numbness/tingly feeling throughout my whole body after about 2 hours of smoking. It last for a couple hours and fades away. Is that normal?


That's all i can think of right now. Looking forward to read your response(s).

 

[noobster]

1. Meth increases your blood pressure. It is an extremely powerful vasoconstrictor (constricts blood vessels). This will lead to increased blood pressure. The salt form of the drug (methamphetamine HCl) will cause an increase in blood pressure of between 2-4 mmHg (this is how blood pressure is measured, i.e. 120 systolic/80 diastolic (120/80)).

This is a modest increase, and since this comes from a drug study which uses MUCH lower doses than those required to achieve a high, I would say that smoking methamphetamine will increase your blood pressure by an amount at least twice as much as listed in the study. This is conservative estimate. When you are actually high on the drug it is likely your blood pressure could increase by as much as 20 mmHg.

2. This is normal. This is caused by the vasoconstriction that is described above. Note that this effect is not normal for most anyone who does not consume meth and is most commonly seen in people with circulatory problems. It is not healthy. Meth has been known to cause cell death in parts of the body such as the brain due to vasoconstriction

Hope this answers your questions,
Noah

Source: Online research and time spent as a student in pharmacy school. I've never smoked methamphetamine so I'm sorry I can't provide a first hand account of such symptoms.

http://www.lundbeckinc.com/USA/products/cns/desoxyn/usa_des_pi_may_09.pdf

 

[jamesBrown]

Wow....um...yes, ice most definitely increases your blood pressure, especially when it is good ice. It has the ability to make your BP skyrocket.....and I mean bigtime. Many people have died for that exact thing.

And the symptoms you are experiencing suggest that you are experiencing heightened BP from the meth and its causing severe hypertension, and possibly hyperventilation.

I would be very careful if I were you. I use to use stimulants until I damaged my heart one night when my BP got too high and it was just too much for my circulatory system to handle. Ever since then I have severe heart pain every day and I cant take ANY stimulants without a benzo at the same time. But for the most part I just dont take stims cuz it usually just ends up in severe heart pain and me hyperventilating, worrying that I need to go to the hospital.

Just be carefull man.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Meth will increase your blood pressure. How much of an increase is dose-dependent. If you are careful to take doses that are conservative instead of excessive, then you should be fine.

 

[DannyG]

When i first experimented with it, i did not consume a lot. Maybe a .2 shared between 2 other friends. Usually we take a hit once or twice every 1-2 month.

About 3 weeks ago, i decided to get 5.0g for myself and is now smoking probably a .1 each night, 2-3 times a week (These are just estimate stats. It varies on a weekly/mood basis). I took a ~.1 last night and a couple hours ago, just did a little more. I know, they're not ridiculously large amount but i was a little confused/concerned (One of it i guess. When I'm smoking, it's 'confused' but when I'm sober, it's 'concerned') with the numbness that I'm getting. It all started when i increased my doses and upped the frequencies.

All the replies above are very informative. Since I've already got a pretty high BP, i guess i should not go all crazy with it. Not looking forward to a stroke or anything else like that.

Thank you to everyone. You've been very helpful indeed. Much appreciated.

 

[abracadabra girl]

Would adding a hypertensive medication protect from this effect? Would it take the edge off the meth high in any way?

 

[iameatingjam]

Yes, it increases blood pressure a lot
I also get tingly feelings ( especially in my right hand, sometimes all over my body) from smoking meth.