The term stimulants is often used to refer to various drugs, including those that stimulate the central nervous system and increase the body’s activity. These include drugs that are stimulating and invigorating, as well as those that have sympathomimetic effects.
These drugs can speed up the messages between the brain and the body, making people feel more energetic, alert, and awake.
Among the drugs that can be used to stimulate the body are stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine. Large-sized doses of these drugs can cause over-stimulation and can lead to paranoia, seizures, and anxiety.
In addition to being used as prescription drugs, stimulants are also commonly used as recreational or performance-enhancing substances. Unlike narcotics, they can cause a crash or comedown once they have completed their effects. In 2013, the most commonly prescribed stimulants were lisdexamfenamine, methylphenidate, and amphetamine.
In 2015, it was estimated that around the world, about 0.4% of the population used cocaine during a year. For prescription stimulants, such as amphetamines and methamphetamines, the value was 0.7%.
What do stimulants look like?
Stimulants can be in various forms, such as capsules, tablets, and powder. These can have a bitter taste and a strong smell.
Some other names
Smart pills, pep pills, beans, speed, dexies, uppers
How are stimulants used?
On the other hand, illicit stimulants are usually ingested, smoked, injected, or snorted. Prescribed stimulants are taken orally, and their effects can vary depending on the type.
Stimulants are a type of drug that is used for a variety of purposes, including recreational use, treatment for narcolepsy, and prescription medications for ADHD. They increase body functions like alertness, physical activity, and dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps us feel good and reinforces rewarding behaviors. While stimulants are widely used for a variety of purposes, they can also be harmful to your health.
The most popular stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine. Although they may increase energy, overuse of these drugs can lead to adverse side effects, such as anxiety, headaches, and stomach cramps. Stimulants can also cause dependence, so they should be used only with care. Stimulants are often prescribed by a doctor and should only be taken as prescribed. Older adults should be especially cautious with stimulants.
Acute Effects
For people with ADHD, taking therapeutic doses of stimulants can help them focus and increase their sociability. However, in higher doses, they can cause a decrease in their ability to focus. This is according to the Yerkes-Dodson Law. In addition, in higher doses, they can also cause a boost in energy and excitement.
Although some types of stimulants have ergogenic effects, such as amphetamines, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine, cocaine has the opposite effect. Some studies have also shown that these drugs can enhance the cognitive abilities of healthy adolescents. These findings have been cited as a reason why many college students use illicit stimulants.
In some cases, psychiatric phenomena such as paranoia or stimulant psychosis can develop. The effects of acute toxicity can be linked to various mental health conditions, such as homicide and motor dysfunction. Some of the violent and aggressive behaviors that can be associated with this disorder are reportedly caused by paranoia. Most commonly, stimulants are classified as sympathomimetics.
The effects of acute toxicity can be linked to various mental health conditions, such as paranoia or psychosis. These conditions can then develop into pathological changes, such as arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and hyperthermia. These can lead to various health conditions, such as cardiac arrest, stroke, and rhabdomyolysis. Since the exact amount of stimulants that can cause these changes is not known, it is difficult to determine what dose can be lethal.
Chronic Effects
Given the number of people currently taking stimulants, the effects of this drug on cardiovascular health are of interest. A review of the studies that were conducted on prescription stimulants found no proof of a link between the use of these drugs and cardiovascular health conditions. However, they noted the need for more long-term studies to confirm the effects of these drugs.
A yearlong analysis of the records of people with ADHD who were taking prescription stimulants revealed that the cardiovascular side effects were not severe. They also noted that the initiation of stimulant use in childhood seemed to carry benefits into adulthood.
The use of illicit or prescription stimulants, regardless of their intended use, can have negative effects on a person’s health. For instance, abuse of cocaine can increase a person’s risk of experiencing various health conditions, such as heart failure and stroke.
Depending on the type of administration, the effects of these drugs can also vary. For instance, intravenous use can result in the transmission of diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. On the other hand, inhalation can cause lung cancer and an increase in respiratory tract infections.
In addition, abuse of cocaine can also increase a person’s risk of developing autoimmune disease. It can also damage nasal cartilage. In methamphetamine, the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons can lead to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Medical Usage
In medicine, stimulants are commonly used to treat various conditions, such as asthma, mood disorders, and obesity. They can also be used as local anesthetics for cocaine. Obesity is one of the conditions that are commonly treated with anorectics, which include drugs that are similar to stimulants.
Eugeroics are also commonly used to treat sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy. Stimulants can be used in the treatment of mood disorders, such as ADHD. These drugs can help increase a person’s focus and energy levels.
Although certain types of stimulants, such as salbutamol, epinephrine, and theophylline, have been used to treat asthma, inhaled adrenergic drugs are preferred over oral medications due to their less systemic side effects. For people suffering from sinus or nasal congestion, pseudoephedrine is also commonly used to treat these conditions.
Stimulants are generally well tolerated by most people. A short-acting version of an ADHD medication will last a few hours, while a long-acting version will last eight to twelve hours. Long-acting stimulants are easier to remember to take. However, they can lead to personality changes and can raise blood pressure.
Low-dose stimulants are most often prescribed for ADHD. One study found that methylphenidate improved prefrontal cognitive function in children and adults with ADHD. It has also been shown to improve prefrontal-cortical activity in normal college students. In addition, childhood ratings of ADHD correlated with responses to the stimulant. These findings are promising and suggest that stimulants can have a therapeutic effect.
Despite this, some recent studies have shown that high-doses of stimulants may increase the risk of substance abuse. In addition, adolescents with a history of ADHD are at a higher risk of developing substance use issues. These studies have yet to be replicated in humans. So, if you’re considering using stimulants for ADHD, make sure to research all the side effects before you take the first pill.
Depression
The use of stimulants was first established for treating depression during the 1930s, when the amphetamines were first introduced. Following the 1950s, they were largely discarded as new antidepressants were introduced. A resurgence in their popularity during the past couple of years has been attributed to the availability of new treatment options.
The effects of stimulants are usually short-lived and fast-acting. They are not very effective in treating depression when used continuously. In addition, tolerance to the effects of amphetamine can increase the amount of drugs that an individual takes.
Although the effects of continuous administration of stimulants are modest, they can still provide a statistical significance and provide a similar level of benefit to that of standard antidepressants.
The exact reason for the short-term effects of stimulants is not known. However, it has been known that tolerance to their effects can lead to rapid recovery. Withdrawal symptoms similar to those of major depression are also known to occur in people who use stimulants.
Chemistry
Due to the number of classes the drugs fall under, it is difficult to classify them. For instance, ecstasy can be considered a substituted version of amphetamine.
The parent drug, amphetamine, is always referred to as the singular when referring to stimulants. The word “substituted” is placed before the parent drug, which is referred to as amphetamines. Major classes of stimulants include phenethylamines, as well as their daughter products, which are substituted for amphetamines.
Most stimulants enhance the catecholamine neurotransmission, which is a process that involves the activation of certain catecholamines. These chemicals are involved in regulating various aspects of our attention, such as motivation and task salience. Classical stimulants block the reuptake of these chemicals, which leads to an increase in the activity of these circuits. Some of these also affect the transmission of serotonin.
Some of the stimulants, such as amphetamine derivatives and yohimbine, can also antagonize the regulatory autoreceptors. Adrenergic agonists, such as ephedrine, act by binding to and activating the adrenergic receptor. These drugs produce sympathomimetic effects.
A drug can also stimulate the activation of certain indirect mechanisms. For instance, caffeine acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist, which indirectly increases the catecholamine transmission within the brain. Pitolisant is an inverse agonist of the H3 receptor, which is mainly used as an autoreceptor. As a result, it decreases the negative feedback that the histaminergic neurons receive.
Popular Stimulants
Modafinil
Among the drugs commonly sold under the name Provigil is a type of central nervous system stimulant that’s used to treat sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy. Although it’s been used as a cognitive enhancer, the effectiveness of this drug is not known.
Amphetamine
Phenethylamine is a class of drugs that are used to treat conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy. These drugs can also be used recreationally and as a cognitive enhancer.
Although amphetamine is a prescription medication in most countries, it is often illegal to possess or distribute it. This is because of the potential risks associated with its use. It is produced and sold in clandestine laboratories. Because of this, the production and trafficking of illicit amphetamine is less common than that of methamphetamine.
The first pharmaceutical drug used to treat a wide range of conditions was Benzedrine. Due to its dextrorotary isomer’s higher stimulant properties, it was phased out and replaced by formulations that contain mostly or all of amphetamine. Currently, this drug is commonly prescribed as a combination of amphetamine salts and other drugs.
Khat (Catha edulis)
The plant known as khalat is native to the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. It contains a monoamine alkaloid, which is commonly referred to as a “keto-amphetamine.” In 1980, the WHO categorized it as a drug of abuse, though it doesn’t consider it to be addictive.
Some countries, such as Germany, Canada, and the US, have banned the production, sale, and consumption of this substance. In other regions, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen, it’s legal to possess and use.
Caffeine
A substance found in various beverages, such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, caffeine is a type of compound that’s commonly used as a stimulant. It’s also the most common psychoactive drug in the world. In North America, about 90% of adults consume caffeinated coffee daily.
Some jurisdictions restrict the sale and use of caffeinated coffee. In some medications, caffeine is added to help enhance the effects of the main ingredient or reduce the side effects of the drug, such as drowsiness. Because of its standardized form, tablets containing doses of caffeine are widely available.
Unlike other stimulants, caffeine doesn’t have an addictive potential. Its mechanism of action is different from that of other drugs as it can prevent the effects of adenosine receptors. These receptors are believed to be involved in the development of sleep and drowsiness. In animal models, it has been shown that caffeine can increase the striatal dopamine’s activity and inhibit the effects of adenosine receptors.
In a study conducted on drug abuse liability, participants reported that they preferred to have a placebo over caffeinated coffee. Although only 11% of the participants said they experienced dependence, only half of those who claimed to have experienced it actually did. This suggests that caffeine might not be able to produce an effective and safe form of addiction.
MDMA
MDMA, also known as ecstasy or ecstasy, is a stimulant and euphoriant that’s commonly used by people who are suffering from various conditions. It can be used as an adjunct to therapy. Due to its dangerous effects, the DEA labeled it as a Schedule I substance, which means that it can’t be used in clinical trials.
MDMA can cause various effects, such as euphoria, anorexia, social disinhibition, and hypertension. It can also improve one’s energy levels and increase one’s arousal. Compared to other stimulants, such as amphetamine, MDMA can enhance the transmission of catecholaminergic signals. It does not appear to be associated with an increase in dependence or addiction.
Due to the relatively safe effects of MDMA, some researchers have criticized the scheduling of this substance. For instance, David Nutt, in a satirical article, stated that it’s 28 times less dangerous than horse riding.
Propylhexedrine
In the US, propylhexedrine is commonly used as a stimulant and is sold over-the-counter as a cold medication known as Benzedrex. Unlike amphetamines, which are structurally similar to propylhexedrine, it doesn’t have the same effects. Instead, it’s a cycloalkylamine, which makes it less potent.
Due to its limited abuse potential, propylhexedrine can be abused relatively easily. In the US, Benzedrex can only be purchased over-the-counter as an inhalant that’s mixed with other ingredients such as menthol and lavender oil. Its users have reported experiencing unpleasant “menthol burps.”
MDVP
MDMA is a psychoactive substance that has a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor effect. It was first discovered during the 1960s by a team from Boehringer Ingelheim. Until 2004, it had been regarded as an obscure drug. In 2004, it was reported that this substance was being marketed as a designer drug. In the US, bath salts containing MDPV were being sold as recreational drugs at stores and gas stations.
Mephedrone
Known as a synthetic stimulant, mephedrone is commonly used by users of the amphetamine and cocaine classes. It’s produced in China and is said to be similar to the compounds found in the Khat plant in eastern Africa. Users can take either a powder or tablets, and these can produce similar effects to MDMA and cocaine.
The first known use of mephedrone was in 1929. By 2007, it was widely available on the Internet. Law enforcement agencies started becoming aware of the drug in 2008, and it was reported in most European countries in 2010. In Israel and Sweden, mephedrone was made illegal in 2008.
In December 2010, the European Union ruled that mephedrone is illegal. In the US, Australia, and New Zealand, it’s considered an analogue of other illegal substances, and it can be controlled through laws similar to those in the Federal Analog Act.
Methylphenidate
In addition to treating ADHD and other conditions, methylphenidate is also used to treat obesity and other conditions. Its effects can include increased focus, decreased appetite, and decreased need for sleep. Although it’s not commonly used as a recreational drug, its effects are similar to those of amphetamines.
In addition to inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine, methylphenidate also works by blocking the two other chemicals that are involved in the regulation of this chemical. These chemicals are known as the dopamine and the norepinephrine transporter. Due to its affinity for the latter, the effects of the drug are mainly due to the elevated levels of dopamine.
Some of the popular brand names of methylphenidate are Ritalin and Concerta. Other versions of this drug include the transdermal patch Daytrana and a long-lasting tablet.
Cocaine
Derived from the leaves of a coca shrub, cocaine is a SNDRI. It’s produced in South American countries such as Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, regions where the Aymara people have been using and cultivating this substance for centuries. In parts of Asia, Europe, and North America, the most common form of this drug is a white crystalline powder.
Although cocaine is commonly used as a stimulant, it’s not typically prescribed for use as a local anesthetic. Due to its high abuse potential, most of it is consumed as a recreational drug. Other types of cocaine-related products, such as lometopane and troparil, have not been widely used or sold.
Nicotine
In tobacco, nicotine is the active chemical component. It can be found in various forms of products, such as chewing tobacco, cigarettes, and electronic cigarettes. In other countries, it’s widely used for its relaxing and stimulating effects.
Through its agonism, nicotine can exert its effects by increasing the activity of certain neurons in the brain’s midbrain reward system. It can also decrease the expression of monoamine oxidase.
Due to its addictive properties, nicotine is considered one of the most harmful substances in the world. It’s ranked 6th on the list of the 20 most harmful drugs based on a multi-criteria decision analysis.
Phenylpropanolamine
A psychoactive component of the amphetamine and phenethylamine classes, which are used as a stimulant, anorectic agent, and a decongestant, is known as pseudoephedrine. It’s commonly used in over-the-counter and prescription cold and cough preparations. It can also be utilized in veterinary medicine to treat urinary incontinence in dogs.
In the US, the use of PPA has been restricted due to a potential risk of stroke in young women. In other countries, such as Canada, it’s still available over-the-counter or in prescription forms. In 2011, India banned the human use of this substance.
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a component of the amphetamine and phenethylamine chemical classes that can be used as a wakefulness-promoting agent or a nasal/sinus decongestant.
It’s commonly used in over-the-counter and prescription preparations for various conditions. It can be found in various combinations, such as in combination with other drugs such as guaifenesin and aspirin. It’s also used as a precursor in the production of methamphetamine.
Ephedrine
Like other sympathomimetic amines, such as methamphetamine and phenylpropanolamine, the drug ephedrine is also used to treat conditions such as anxiety and depression. It can be used as a combination of drugs to treat various conditions.
It’s a type of alkaloid that’s found in various plants, such as the Ephedra family. It works by increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine on the receptor of the alpha adrenergic system.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses the herb m hung, which is also known as Ephedra sinica, as its principal active ingredient. Both pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are commonly found in this herb.
Methamphetamine
Derived from N-methyl-phenethylamine, methamphetamine is a powerful psychostimulant that’s commonly used to treat obesity and ADHD. It has two enantiomers, levorotary and dextromethamphetamine. Compared to levomethamphetamine, dextromethamphetamine is more addictive. Both of these substances have similar toxicity symptoms.
Although it’s commonly used to treat ADHD and other conditions, methamphetamine is also commonly used as a recreational drug. It can stimulate sexual desire and increase energy levels. This drug can be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the brand name Desoxyn.
In the US, methamphetamine can be sold as either pure dextromethamphetamine or as half of the right-handed and left-handed compounds, which are known as levomethamphetamine and dextromethamphetamine. Due to its classification as a schedule II controlled substance, the production, distribution, and possession of methamphetamine are restricted or illegal in other countries. In the US, however, levomethamphetamine is commonly sold over the counter.
Due to its classification as a schedule II controlled substance, the production, distribution, and possession of methamphetamine are restricted or illegal in other countries. In the US, however, levomethamphetamine is commonly sold over the counter.
More to Note
The drug mephedrone is another common stimulant. This synthetic form of ephedrine has a similar effect to benzedrex. However, this stimulant has fewer side effects than other stimulants. It is also available as an over-the-counter product, though its effects are more subtle than those of methamphetamine and cocaine.
The most common stimulant used for the treatment of sleepiness is caffeine. It is found naturally in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cocoa. It is also used in many energy and soft drinks. It is the world’s most popular psychoactive drug and is consumed by nearly 90% of North Americans on a daily basis. It is also found in some prescription drugs. It can reduce drowsiness and is also used for treatment of shift-work sleep disorder and narcolepsy.
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