Central nervous system stimulants increase energy, mood, and alertness. Caffeine and ginseng are available over the counter, while amphetamines are prescription drugs and cocaine is illegal. Stimulants can be snorted, smoked, ingested, or injected. Some prescription stimulants are used to treat ADHD, but recreational use is discouraged. Stimulants cause the brain to release dopamine, producing pleasure and euphoria.
The central nervous system (CNS) controls the functioning of the whole body. Central nervous system stimulants are drugs or substances that stimulate or excite the central nervous system, giving the user increased energy, an elevated mood, and increased alertness. Some stimulants, such as caffeine and ginseng, are available over the counter. Others, such as amphetamines, are available by prescription, and still others, such as cocaine, are not approved for legal use in some countries. Stimulants can increase heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.
Caffeine, a substance commonly found in coffee, tea and many sodas, is one of the most common CNS stimulants. The effects of caffeine are typical of most stimulants: a user may feel more alert, more energetic, and may have a greater ability to concentrate. However, high caffeine intake can overstimulate the central nervous system, resulting in fatigue, tremors, and difficulty concentrating.
There are a wide variety of psychoactive drugs that also act as potent central nervous system stimulants. Examples of these stimulants, or “uppers,” are cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and amphetamines. These substances are generally not approved for legal use and are considered illegal and recreational drugs. Stimulants can be snorted through the nose, smoked, ingested, or injected directly into the bloodstream. The method of use depends on the specific drug. Cocaine, for example, is commonly in powder form that is snorted through the nose, while ecstasy is typically ingested in pill form.
Some amphetamines are available in prescription form and have therapeutic medical applications. These prescription drugs, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin®), are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When taken in carefully adjusted doses, these drugs work on the nervous system to make patients more alert and better focused. Recreational use of these drugs is strongly discouraged as they can be habit forming and an overdose can cause vomiting, seizures and unconsciousness. If a patient experiences any of these symptoms, even if they take a prescribed dose, they should be taken to an emergency room immediately.
Central nervous system stimulants typically act rapidly on the brain, causing it to release large amounts of the chemical dopamine, which produces a feeling of pleasure. This surge of dopamine often causes euphoria and intense pleasure, but it can also create anxiety and restlessness. Stimulants are different from depressants and hallucinogens, both of which create an altered mood through chemical reactions with a brain chemical, or neurotransmitter, called serotonin.
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