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stimulant

File:Amphetamine_structure.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ211036· pop 51· linked from 1,899 articles

Also known as psychostimulants, central nervous system stimulants, central stimulants

thumb|right|200px|Methylphenidate|Ritalin (Methylphenidate): 20 mg sustained-release (SR) tablets

Key facts

Drug class.Image
Amphetamine structure.svg
Drug class.ImageClass
skin-invert-image
Drug class.Caption
Chemical structure of amphetamine, one of the most well-known and widely used stimulants.
Drug class.Width
200px
Drug class.Synonyms
Psychostimulant; Central nervous system stimulant; CNS stimulant; Upper
Drug class.Use
Recreational, medical
Drug class.Mechanism_of_action
Various
Drug class.Biological_target
Various
Drug class.Chemical_class
Various
Drug class.legal_status
Variable

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

136,745 papers

via PubMed

~42 min read

Encyclopedic overview

35 sections
Contents
  • Definition
  • Effects
  • Acute
  • Chronic
  • Medical uses
  • Depression
  • Chemistry
  • Amphetamines (class)
  • Cocaine analogs
  • Mechanisms of action
  • Notable stimulants
  • Amphetamine
  • Caffeine
  • Ephedrine
  • MDMA
  • MDPV
  • Mephedrone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Methylphenidate
  • Cocaine
  • Nicotine
  • Phenylpropanolamine
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Pseudoephedrine
  • ''Catha edulis'' (Khat)
  • Modafinil
  • Pitolisant
  • Serotonin 5-HT<sub>2A</sub> receptor agonists
  • Recreational use and issues of abuse
  • Treatment for misuse
  • Testing
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References
  • External links

thumb|right|200px|Methylphenidate|Ritalin (Methylphenidate): 20 mg sustained-release (SR) tablets

Stimulants (also known as central nervous system stimulants, or psychostimulants, or colloquially as uppers) are a class of psychoactive drugs that increase alertness. They are used for various purposes, such as enhancing attention, motivation, cognition, mood, and physical performance. Some stimulants occur naturally, while others are exclusively synthetic. Common stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, cocaine (including crack cocaine), amphetamine/methamphetamine, methylphenidate, and modafinil. Stimulants may be subject to varying forms of regulation, or outright prohibition, depending on jurisdiction. Most stimulants are highly addictive and damage health when addicted.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “stimulant” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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