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StimulantsStimulantsL. SchefflerL. Scheffler

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StimulantsStimulants

Stimulants are chemical Stimulants are chemical substances that stimulate the substances that stimulate the brain and the central nervous brain and the central nervous system. system.

They cause increased alertness They cause increased alertness and wakefulness. In many cases and wakefulness. In many cases they also act to decrease they also act to decrease appetite.appetite.

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Sympathomimetic Sympathomimetic DrugsDrugs

Sympathomimetic drugs are Sympathomimetic drugs are chemical substances that mimic chemical substances that mimic the effects of the hormone the effects of the hormone adrenalin.adrenalin.

Generally cause constriction of Generally cause constriction of the arteries and increase the arteries and increase metabolism.metabolism.

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NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters work to transmit work to transmit electrical neuro-electrical neuro-impulses across a impulses across a synapse.synapse.

Many stimulants Many stimulants enhance the neuro-enhance the neuro-impulse transmissionimpulse transmission

systems.systems.

L dopamine

Serotonin

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StimulantsStimulants The structures of The structures of

many stimulants many stimulants mimic chemical mimic chemical are closely related are closely related to the structures of to the structures of neurotransmitters neurotransmitters or the body.or the body.

L Dopamine

Serotonin

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AmphetaminesAmphetamines Amphetamine was first marketed in the Amphetamine was first marketed in the

1930s as Benzedrine, an over-the-counter 1930s as Benzedrine, an over-the-counter inhaler to treat nasal congestion. inhaler to treat nasal congestion.

It was also used in the treatment of the It was also used in the treatment of the sleeping disorder narcolepsy and the sleeping disorder narcolepsy and the behavioral syndrome called minimal brain behavioral syndrome called minimal brain dysfunction (MBD), which today is called dysfunction (MBD), which today is called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).(ADHD).

During World War II, amphetamines were During World War II, amphetamines were used to keep the fighting men going used to keep the fighting men going especially under intense battle conditions. especially under intense battle conditions.

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AmphetaminesAmphetamines

Amphetamines Amphetamines closely mimic the closely mimic the chemical structure chemical structure of adrenalin.of adrenalin.

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AmphetaminesAmphetamines

Amphetamines Amphetamines constricting arteries, increasing perspiration constricting arteries, increasing perspiration

activity and stimulating brain activity. activity and stimulating brain activity. increased heart rate, blood pressure, increased heart rate, blood pressure, increase wakefulness, restlessness, increase wakefulness, restlessness,

agitation and insomnia. . agitation and insomnia. .

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AmphetaminesAmphetamines Amphetamines became a cure-all for Amphetamines became a cure-all for

helping long haul truckers stay awakehelping long haul truckers stay awake Also used for weight control, for helping Also used for weight control, for helping

athletes to perform better and train longerathletes to perform better and train longer Intravenous amphetamine abuseIntravenous amphetamine abuse It became evident that the dangers of It became evident that the dangers of

abuse outweighed therapeutic uses. abuse outweighed therapeutic uses.

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EcstasyEcstasy Ecstasy is a powerful Ecstasy is a powerful

stimulant that has stimulant that has some characteristics some characteristics in common with in common with adrenalin and L-adrenalin and L-dopamine as well.dopamine as well.

Repeated use of Ecstasy ultimately may damage the cells that produce serotonin, which has an important role in the regulation of mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory.

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Ecstasy - EffectsEcstasy - Effects Because it mimics L-Because it mimics L-

Dopamine, it has been Dopamine, it has been used to relieve used to relieve symptoms of symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.Parkinson’s Disease.

Results in mental Results in mental relaxation, increased relaxation, increased sensitivity to stimuli and sensitivity to stimuli and hallucinations.hallucinations.

It can be produce fatal It can be produce fatal effects even from a effects even from a single exposuresingle exposure

Attempts to synthesize new amphetamines led to so called designer drugs, all of which are highly dangerous.

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Harmful Effects of Harmful Effects of AmphetaminesAmphetamines highly addictive and toxichighly addictive and toxic Long term use leads to deterioration of a Long term use leads to deterioration of a

number of body systems.number of body systems. Chronic abuse produces a psychosis that Chronic abuse produces a psychosis that

resembles schizophrenia and is resembles schizophrenia and is characterized by paranoia, picking at the characterized by paranoia, picking at the skin, preoccupation with one's own thoughts, skin, preoccupation with one's own thoughts, and auditory and visual hallucinations. and auditory and visual hallucinations.

Severe depression and violent or erratic Severe depression and violent or erratic behavior are also common among meth behavior are also common among meth addicts. addicts.

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NicotineNicotine NicotineNicotine is an is an

alkaloid found in alkaloid found in the the nightshadenightshade family of plants (family of plants (SolanaceaeSolanaceae) )

It constitutes It constitutes approximately approximately 0.6–3.0% of dry 0.6–3.0% of dry weight of weight of tobaccotobacco

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Nicotine -Short TermNicotine -Short Term SympathomimetiSympathomimeti

cc Increases Increases

concentration concentration and relieves and relieves tensiontension

Increased heart Increased heart raterate

Increased blood Increased blood pressurepressure

Reduction in Reduction in urine output urine output

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Nicotine – Long TermNicotine – Long Term Highly addictiveHighly addictive Increased risk of Increased risk of

heart disease and heart disease and coronary thrombosiscoronary thrombosis

Increased stomach Increased stomach acid and risk of acid and risk of peptic ulcerspeptic ulcers

Chronic lung Chronic lung diseasedisease

Increased risk of Increased risk of cancercancer

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Cessation of Cessation of smoking smoking difficultdifficult

Cravings Cravings Nausea, weight Nausea, weight

gain, insomnia, gain, insomnia, irritability, and irritability, and depressiondepression

Nicotine -- Addiction Nicotine -- Addiction and Withdrawaland Withdrawal

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AlkaloidAlkaloid Widely used Widely used

stimulant found in stimulant found in coffee and tea.coffee and tea.

Added to some pain Added to some pain killers to speed up killers to speed up their effects. their effects.

Caffeine CharacteristicsCaffeine Characteristics

                                        

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Increases Increases alertness, alertness, concentration, concentration, and restlessnessand restlessness

DiureticDiuretic Potential Potential

dependencedependence

Caffeine EffectsCaffeine Effects

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Found in chocolateFound in chocolate Effects similar to Effects similar to

caffeine.caffeine. Structure is similar Structure is similar

to that of caffeine to that of caffeine but the methyl but the methyl group on the group on the nitrogen between nitrogen between the two carbonyl the two carbonyl groups is missinggroups is missing

Theobromine Theobromine

Theobromine

Caffeine

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Although theobromine Although theobromine does not cause harmful does not cause harmful effects with humans, it effects with humans, it is highly toxic to some is highly toxic to some domestic animals, domestic animals, including dogs and including dogs and horses.horses.

With the animals, With the animals, theobromine can lead to theobromine can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrhythmias and seizures.seizures.

Theobromine Theobromine

Theobromine

Caffeine

Theobromine has a bitter Theobromine has a bitter flavor, which gives dark flavor, which gives dark chocolate its typical bitter chocolate its typical bitter taste.taste.