stimulant drugs

Stimulant drugs are drugs that excite the central nervous system.

There are several drugs used as stimulants. Although in large part they share the same properties, their use is determined by how well they are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. These drugs are related to the body's normal stimulant hormones epinephrine and nor epinephrine.
• Inject able stimulants are used to stimulate the heart or breathing. Epinephrine (adrenalin) is the most common.
• Topical stimulants are used as decongestants, since they cause blood vessels to contract. They are also used to stop superficial bleeding by contracting the capillaries and for relief of conjunctivitis. They may be applied to the skin, inhaled, or applied in the form of drops as nose drops or eye drops.
• Oral stimulants, including the two drugs in this class (methylphenidate [Ritalin] and amphetamine) are used to treat extreme daytime sleepiness also known as narcolepsy and for their calming effect in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Caffeine, a stimulant found in foods and drinks, is used to promote wakefulness and alertness.
Stimulant drugs, in addition to their proper medicinal use, are subject to abuse. The drugs commonly abused are methylphenidate, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. A related drug, 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (better known as ecstasy or MDMA), is also widely abused. Unlike methylphenidate and amphetamine, MDMA has no legitimate therapeutic use.
Cocaine is chemically different from the traditional stimulants but provides similar effects. It is used medicinally as a local aesthetic but is not available for self-administration. Cocaine has become a major drug abuse problem.
The most common use of methylphenidate and amphetamine in teenagers is for control of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This is a condition marked by general restlessness, excessive activity, and inability to concentrate on a topic. Teenagers who have this problem are unable to concentrate on schoolwork and fall behind their classmates. They are frequently disruptive. For this condition, the stimulants have a reverse activity and have a calming, rather than a stimulating effect.