Methamphetamine (or “meth”) is an extremely potent drug. As a stimulant, it speeds up your central nervous system, causing a rush of energy and euphoria (intense joy).
Many people who use meth look for ways to make the high even more intense. For example, some of them drop meth in a glass of water and Alka-Seltzer. They claim that drinking this mixture (sometimes called an “Alka-Seltzer shot”) causes a powerful high.
What Is Alka-Seltzer?
Alka-Seltzer is a medication that treats heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach. It’s an antacid, which means it neutralizes stomach acid. It contains three active ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, aspirin, and anhydrous citric acid.
There’s also a version of the medication called Alka-Seltzer Plus. It contains additional ingredients, including acetaminophen (a pain reliever), chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine), dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant), and phenylephrine (a nasal decongestant). It’s used to treat cold and flu symptoms.
Possible side effects of Alka-Seltzer and Alka-Seltzer Plus include nausea, mild stomach pain, and trouble sleeping. Some people also experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as wheezing, hives, and swelling of the face, lips, or throat. These symptoms require immediate medical attention.
Does Drinking Meth & Alka-Seltzer Boost Your High?
According to user reports, Alka-Seltzer can enhance the effects of meth (as well as other amphetamines, such as Adderall). The effects may also start more quickly and last longer than they would if you used meth by itself.
This is probably because Alka-Seltzer neutralizes stomach acid. When you use meth alone, much of the drug gets destroyed by your stomach acid.
However, when that acid is neutralized by Alka-Seltzer, more meth remains in your body. Alka-Seltzer may also slow down the excretion of meth through your urine, causing even more meth to build up in your system.
These effects may lead to a stronger high, but they also increase your risk of meth-related health problems.
Dangers Of Drinking Meth & Alka-Seltzer
Because meth is so powerful, it poses numerous short-term and long-term health risks. Since Alka-Seltzer boosts the effects of meth, it makes you more likely to develop these issues.
Increased Side Effects
When you first drink meth and Alka-Seltzer, you may experience:
- fast breathing
- fast or irregular heart rate
- high blood pressure
- sweating
- hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature)
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- trouble sleeping
You might also face mental health problems, including:
- anxiety
- panic
- irritability
- aggression
- paranoia
- delusions (beliefs that conflict with reality)
- hallucinations (sounds, images, or sensations that aren’t really there)
Meth Overdose
Drinking meth and Alka-Seltzer increases the risk of a meth overdose. Common symptoms include:
- trouble breathing
- high or low blood pressure
- stomach pain
- chest pain
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
If you think you or someone you know is overdosing on meth, seek medical help right away. When left untreated, a meth overdose may be fatal.
Organ Damage
Long-term, frequent meth use can damage your lungs, kidney, liver, heart, and brain. In some cases, the damage may be permanent.
Cardiovascular Problems
Because meth increases your heart rate and blood pressure, regular use can damage your cardiovascular system. You then face a higher risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
Meth Addiction
Meth addiction is a serious disease that makes you feel unable to stop using meth. Other symptoms may include:
- mood swings
- loss of motivation
- loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- tolerance (needing increasingly larger or more frequent amounts of meth to feel the desired effects)
- physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as fatigue and depression, when you don’t use meth)
If you or someone you love experiences symptoms of meth addiction, please contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center.
Our board-certified healthcare providers offer behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and other forms of evidence-based care to help you or your loved one stay drug-free.
Sources
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed — Alka-Seltzer ® Original
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus — Methamphetamine
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus — Sodium Bicarbonate
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — Know the Risks of Meth
