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Central Nervous
System
Stimulants
Fact Sheet
Kristine Mitchell
Moraine Park Technical College Student
Cartoon: Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Speed
CNS Stimulants
Stimulants are a class of drugs that induce a feeling of increased energy and alertness, increase feelings
of well-being and create a state of euphoria. Stimulation of the body’s CNS occurs. Chemicals like
catecholamine’s, which includes dopamine, are increased affecting the brains reward system. In
addition, they increase heart rate, blood pressure and respiration. Originally used for respiratory
problems, neurological disorder, obesity and other ailments their potential for abuse has decreased
medical use.
Names of prescription, OTC, common and illicit CNS Stimulants
Major Stimulants: amphetamines and cocaine
Minor Stimulants: caffeine, sympathomimetic, and herbal
Schedule I
Aminoxaphen(Aminorex), Cathinone, Fenethylline, Methcathinone, Mephedrone, Methylaminorex,
Amphetamine variants including methamphetamine.
Schedule II
Cocaine, Dextroamphetamine(Dexedrine), Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse), Methamphetamine
(Desoxyn), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Phenmetrazine (Preludin), Biphetamine
Schedule III
Benzphetamine (Didrex), Chlorphentermine, Clortemine, Phendimetrazine tartrate (Plegine, Prelu 2)
Schedule IV
Armodafinil (Nuvigil), Diethylpropion hydrochloride (Tenuate), Fencamfamin, Fenproporex, Mezindol
(Sanorex, Mazanor), Mefenorex, Modafinil (Provigil), Norpseudoephedrine, Pemoline, Phentermine
(Fastin, Ionamin, Adipex), Pipradrol, Sibutramine
Schedule V
Pyrovalerone
Other
(OTC) decongestants, herbal extracts, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, and cigarettes
Designer drug: MDMA (Ecstasy),
Street names for various CNS Stimulants
Amphetamines: speed, crystal, meth, bennies, dexies, uppers, pep pills, diet pills, jolly beans, copilots,
hearts, footballs, white crosses, crank and ice. Speedballs (combinations of opiate narcotics and
amphetamine)
Cocaine: blow, snow, flake, C, coke, toot, white lady, nuggets, tornado, rock(s), and fat bags, bump,
candy, Charlie,
Freebased cocaine: coke, crystal, happy dust, snow, stuff, sugar, white horse, and wings.
Crack cocaine: big C, blos, nose candy, snow, Lady, and rock.
Methamphetamine: speed, bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, truck drivers,
uppers.
Methylphenidrate (Ritalin): kibbles and bits, kiddy cocaine, pineapple, skippy, smarties, vitamin R, West
Coast, rits
Ritalin with Talwin: crackers, one and ones, ritz and Ts, set, Ts and rits, Ts and Rs.
Designer drugs: club drug, cat, bathtub speed, meow meow, drone, S, E, EXT adam, frenzy, nemesis, BZP
Therapeutic uses of prescription stimulants
Amphetamines: Three legal uses of amphetamines include: Attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder,
narcolepsy, and weight reduction (short term)
Ritalin: used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sometimes depression
Cocaine: constricts blood vessels, which allows it to control the flow of blood and is used sometimes
during mouth, nose, or eye surgery. Also a local anesthetic.
Neurological effects of stimulant abuse
Decreases in brain content neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine is associated with high dose,
chronic use of amphetamines and can last even for months beyond the cessation of its use. Free radical
production that damages the cells in the brain may be at the root of this neuronal destruction.
Amphetamines can cause behavioral stereotypey. This is when an individual continues engaging in
simply activities over and over again. It is also referred to as “hung up”. An example would be picking
through garbage for days, taking apart appliances, or cleaning the same object over and over. These
patterns of behavior are similar in psychotic conditions. This affects points to the alterations in brain
from intense amphetamine use resembling psychotic mental disorders. Violence is often accompanied
with these episodes.
Physiological effects from stimulant abuse
Amphetamines: Amphetamines increase the blocking and release of catecholamine and serotonin in the
nerves and brain. Amphetamines are referred to sympathomimetic drugs because they cause the
release of norepinephrine. Amphetamines cause an activating response like the flight-or-flight response
produced naturally. In addition, alertness is heightened causing the user to feels “turned on” and felt as
a pleasant experience. Long term use may develop into feelings of anxiety, panic, or apprehension.
Dopamine, which regulates the reward center of the brain, is affected by amphetamines. Taken
intravenously, users experience a rush of intense pleasure.
Side effects of therapeutic doses can lead to abuse. The release of norepinephrine and epinephrine is a
result of low dose amphetamine use. Damage to vessels, like arteries and small veins, elevated blood
pressure and increased heart rate are effects of low dose use. Fatal consequence can occur in users who
have a history of coronary arrhythmia, hypertension, or heart attack.
Ritalin: blocks the reuptake of noradrenalin and dopamine as its chief mechanism of action. Can cause
seizures, strokes and tremors.
Cocaine: Cardiac (heart arrhythmia, infarction, etc.), Central Nervous System (severe headaches, seizure,
hemorrhages, cerebral infarction), Psychiatric Complications, Pulmonary Complications, ENT Changes.
Obstetric Effects
Crack Cocaine: Enhanced activity of the catecholamine and serotonin transmitters, Blocks reuptake of
these neurotransmitters.
Withdrawal effects from stimulant abuse
Withdrawal effects can include psychological symptoms such as depression and sometimes suicidal
ideation. Other symptoms include abnormal sleep patterns, lethargy, and muscle pains. Other drug use
can occur to relieve amphetamine withdrawal symptoms.
Health risk of the abuse of stimulants
Amphetamines: Long-term use can cause aggressiveness, thinking problems, visual and auditory
hallucination, paranoia, extreme anorexia and severe dental problems.
Cocaine: increased use can cause panic attacks, bizarre, erratic behavior, and paranoid psychosis.
Snorting cocaine can cause loss of the sense of smell, hoarseness, chronically runny nose, and
nosebleeds. Bowel problems can develop when taken orally.
Methamphetamine: psychosis, violent behavior, mood disturbances. Paranoia can lead to suicidal or
homicidal thoughts. Increased sexual drive that is causes an individual to engage in risky sex encounters
increasing the chance of infectious diseases.
Ritalin: psychotic episodes, cardiovascular problems, psychological addiction. Injections users risk HIV,
hepatitis B and C and other viruses that are blood-borne. In addition, can cause strokes, seizures and
tremors at high doses.
Pregnant Women: Possible problems with deficits to the child later in life such as information
processing and attention. Neglect, poor nutrition during pregnancy, other drugs of abuse, violence may
be causes for health risk for the children of stimulant drug users.
Signs and symptoms of CNS stimulant dependence
Methamphetamine, cocaine and other stimulants: Euphoria, rapid speech, decreased appetite,
restlessness, irritability, nasal congestion and damage to the mucous membrane in drug users who
snort, depression when the drug wears off, weight loss, insomnia, paranoia, increased blood pressure,
temperature, and heart rate. Amphetamines: A pattern of use that includes a rush (racing heartbeat,
metabolism, pulse, and blood pressure) followed by a high lasting 4 to 16 hours. The user feels powerful
and ambitious. The user wants to continue this feeling and can lead to a run or binge that might last as
long as 15 days. This is called tweaking. Tweakers will often turn to other drugs like barbiturates,
alcohol, opioid narcotics or benzodiazepines to alleviate some of the adverse side effect of
amphetamine withdrawal. Unpleasant symptoms occur after the first day or so of a binge. Disorganized
patterns of thought and behavior, teeth grinding, irritability stereotypy, suspiciousness, fear, and selfconsciousness can occur. Antisocial behavior can also occur with individuals who experience paranoid
psychosis (schizophrenia). Abdominal discomfort, chest pains, and fainting can occur with overdoses.
High doses can also cause “cocaine bugs” The user experiences the feeling of bugs crawling under
his/her skin. When the drug is discontinued crashing occurs. Sleeping several days is not uncommon.
Lethargy and hunger as well as depression will follow upon awakening. Signs of long term use are rotting
teeth, extreme weight loss, and sores on the skin, liver disease, hypertensive disorders, ulcers, heart
attack, kidney damage cerebral hemorrhage, and seizures.
Club drugs: overwhelming feeling of happiness or euphoria, heightened or altered senses, inhibitions
reduced decreased coordination, memory problems, poor judgment, drowsiness, heart rate and blood
pressure inconsistencies.
References
http://www.flickr.com/photos/combomphotos/4463684676/#/photos/combomphotos/4463684676/
lightbox/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php
http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/health-effects-of-stimulants
http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Prescription/prescription4.html
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/289007-overview#aw2aab6b3
http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs6/6444/index.htm
http://www.acnp.org/g4/gn401000166/ch162.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-addiction/DS00183/DSECTION=symptoms