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Leslie Clark Fact Sheet: CNS Stimulants Defines/describes CNS Stimulants Drug whose primary effect is to increase one or more of the following CNS functions: vigilance, attention, motor performance, intellectual activity, etc. CNS stimulants have legitimate therapeutic applications but many drugs in this class are also frequently used for recreational purposes and are important drugs of abuse. Stimulants are a class of drugs that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness. List of the names of prescription, OTC, common and illicit CNS Stimulants. Amphetamines & Related Compounds o Amphetamine sulfate >> Benzedrine, Biphetamine, Obetrol o Dextroamphetamine sulfate >> Dexedrine, Eskatrol o Methamphetamine >> Crystal Meth, Desoxyn, Methedrine, Pervitin, Philopo, Speed, Yaba (methamphetamine and caffeine) Dextromethamphetamine >> Ice MDMA >> 3,4-methylenedioxy-n-methylamphetamine >> Ecstasy (See also hallucinogens) 4-Methylaminorex o Related compounds Fenetylline >> Captagon Methylphenidate >> Biphentin, Conceta, Ritalin Para-Methoxy-Amphetamine >> 4-MA, PMA (Sometimes sold as Ecstasy - see also hallucinogens) Pemoline >> Cylert Cocaine * o Crack* o Crack Cocaine* Methylxanthines (methylated purines) o Aaminophylline o Caffeine >> Coffee, Tea, Cola beverages, Maté o Theobromine >> Cocoa o Theophylline >> Tea Nicotine o Tobacco >> Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipe Tobacco Leslie Clark o o Chewing Tobacco Snuff Other Stimulants o Betal Nuts >> arecoline o Cathinone >> Khat plant Methcathinone >> Cat o Ephedra plant, ma huang, marwarth Ephedrine Pseudoephedrine o Ibogaine (see also hallucinogens) >> Found in the roots of Tabernanthe iboga o Piperazines 3-Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine Monohydrochloride >> TFMPP Benzylpiperazine >> BZP Antihistamines & Decongestants o Dextromethorphan >> DXM - often sold as MDMA (see also hallucinogens) o Phenylpropanolamine o Phenylephrine Appetite Suppressants & Anorexiants o Benzphetamine >> Didrex o Diethylpropion >> Tenuate o Mazindol o Phendimetrazine o Phenmetrazine >> Preludin o Phenylpropanolamine o Phentermine >> Ionamil * Both cocaine and crack share many of the same properties as stimulants and are therefore listed above with other stimulants. Cocaine is however classified under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (United States) as a narcotic, so you can get more information there too. List of street names for various CNS Stimulants Bams, Black Beauties, Blackbirds, Cross Tops, Cross Roads, Crosses, Eye Opener, Jolly Beans, Lid Poppers, Poppers, Speed, Thrusters, Uppers, Uppies, Whites, Bernies, Big, Bloke, Big "C," Billie Hoke, Blow, Burese, "C," Charley, Cholly, Cocoa Puffs, Coke, Cola, Corine, Flake, Girl, Gold Dust, Happy Dust, Heaven Dust, Her, Ice, Jam Cecil, Mosquitoes, Nose Candy, Peruvian Marching Powder, Powdered Diamond, School Boy, Snow, Snow Caine, Snow Flake, Stardust, White Mosquitoes , Wire, Bombitas, Businessman's Trip, Crank, Crystal, Meth, Methedrine, Splash, Dexies, Pep Pills, Bennies Therapeutic uses of prescription Stimulants Stimulants have been prescribed for a large number of conditions such as depression fatigue and long-term weight reduction. There is a restricted use on the legal use of amphetamines to three medical conditions narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and short-term weight reduction programs. Leslie Clark The neurological (brain) effects of Stimulant abuse. All stimulants work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain—dopamine is a brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) associated with pleasure, movement, and attention. The therapeutic effect of stimulants is achieved by slow and steady increases of dopamine, which are similar to the natural production of the chemical by the brain. The doses prescribed by physicians start low and increase gradually until a therapeutic effect is reached. However, when taken in doses and routes other than those prescribed, stimulants can increase brain dopamine in a rapid and highly amplified manner—as do most other drugs of abuse—disrupting normal communication between brain cells, producing euphoria, and increasing the risk of addiction. Physiological effects from Stimulant abuse Such use can lead to bizarre, erratic behavior. Some cocaine users experience panic attacks or episodes of full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and hears sounds that are not there (auditory hallucinations). Different ways of using cocaine can produce different adverse effects. For example, regularly snorting cocaine can lead to hoarseness, loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, and a chronically runny nose. Cocaine taken orally can cause reduced blood flow, leading to bowel problems. Repeated use of methamphetamine can cause violent behavior, mood disturbances, and psychosis, which can include paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and delusions (e.g., the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, called “fornication”). The paranoia can result in homicidal and suicidal thoughts. Methamphetamine can increase a person’s sex drive and is linked to risky sexual behaviors and the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV. However, research also indicates that long-term methamphetamine use may be associated with decreased sexual function, at least in men. Identifies the withdrawal effects from Stimulant abuse. After a 2-3 day binge Dysphonic (feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression) Exhaustion Somnolent (sleepy, drowsy) for 24 to 48 hours. After chronic, high dose use Irritability/anxiety Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) Intense dreaming Apathy Increased appetite/cravings Long periods of sleep Disorientation Dermatosis Hallucinations Leslie Clark Seizures Formication (cocaine bugs), Psychosis Stroke Heart attack Death The symptoms subside over 2 to 4 days of drug abstinence Identifies health risks of the abuse of Stimulants. Stimulants can also cause the body’s blood vessels to narrow, constricting the flow of blood, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. The heart may work so hard that it temporarily loses its natural rhythm. This is called fibrillation and can be very dangerous because it stops the flow of blood through the body. Other effects of long-term stimulant abuse can include paranoia, aggressiveness, extreme anorexia, thinking problems, visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and severe dental problems. Identifies the signs and symptoms of CNS Stimulant dependence. People under the influence of stimulant drugs will have the appearance of someone who is suspiciously too alert, seeming to appear nervous, and sweating, often thinking and moving very quickly with abnormally high energy. Another sign of stimulant use can be found in the eyes. Generally, in very low lights, normal eyes will dilate to get lighter, but constrict in brighter light to adjust to the abundance of light entering the eye. In comparison with normal pupil size under various light conditions, persons under the influence of stimulants will appear to have dilated pupils - the eyes will look like big black holes and any color in the eye will be hard to see around the pupil. Often this physical effect will make the eyes appear to be "popping" out of the head. This dilation of the pupils is a permanent effect for the duration of the high, no matter the lighting, so if a person is in daylight, for example and their pupils appear to be dilated, this is a good indicator of stimulant use in conjunction with the above-mentioned symptoms. The picture to the left is an example of a dilated pupil, where the eye color is difficult to see around the size of the pupil. For parents, spouses, siblings, friends, and children who know what an individual usually looks like at sober times, examining the pupil's size, and factoring other symptoms like abnormal energy, attention, and high body temperature are very conclusive signs for stimulant use. Additional effects of cocaine and other stimulant abuse are: elevated body temperature increased heart rate and blood pressure decreased appetite increased attention weight loss Leslie Clark References Central Nervous System Stimulants. (n.d.). In Drug Abuse. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/hrc/health_topics/drug_abuse/drugs_stim.htm Hason, G. R., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2009). Drugs and Society (10th ed.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett. Stimulants. (n.d.). In NIDA for Teens: Facts on Drugs. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php Stimulants. (n.d.). In Youth on Drugs. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from http://youthondrugs.com/drugs/stimulants