Chapter 16 - Central stimulant drugs

Abstract

This chapter discusses the biochemical properties and uses of central stimulant drugs. Central stimulant drugs can be divided into two main categories according to the type of effect they produce and their mechanism of action: (1) psychomotor stimulants, which cause increased alertness and changes in mood; and (2) analeptics, which may also increase alertness but are convulsant drugs. The main effect of psychomotor stimulant drugs is to produce increased alertness but they may also cause changes in mood. The principal members of this group are sympathomimetics, for example, amphetamine and cocaine, which readily penetrate the blood–brain barrier and, therefore, produce their main effect on the brain although they also have peripheral actions. In animals, small doses of amphetamine cause increased locomotor activity and grooming, and there may be an increase in aggressive behavior. Analeptics are central nervous system stimulants that are also convulsant drugs. Their actions are mainly on the brain stem and spinal cord where they increase reflex excitability and stimulate the respiratory and vasomotor centers. Compared with the psychomotor stimulants, they appear to have little effect on mental function.