Central Nervous System
Stimulants and Related Drugs
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
, CNS Stimulants
Drugs that stimulate a specific area of the brain
or spinal cord
Neurons contain receptors for excitatory
neurotransmitters, including dopamine
(dopaminergic drugs), norepinephrine
(adrenergic drugs), and serotonin (serotonergic
drugs)
Sympathomimetic drugs
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 2
, Classification
Classified according to
Chemical structural similarities: amphetamines,
serotonin agonists, sympathomimetics, and
xanthines
Site of therapeutic action in the central nervous
system (CNS)
Major therapeutic uses: anti–attention deficit
disorder, antinarcoleptic, anorexiant, antimigraine,
and analeptic drugs
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 3
, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Most common psychiatric disorder in children,
affecting 4% to 10% of school-age children
Boys are affected from two to nine times more
often than girls.
Primary symptoms of ADHD are inappropriate
ability to maintain attention span or the
presence of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Drug therapy for both childhood and adult ADHD
is the same.
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 4
Stimulants and Related Drugs
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
, CNS Stimulants
Drugs that stimulate a specific area of the brain
or spinal cord
Neurons contain receptors for excitatory
neurotransmitters, including dopamine
(dopaminergic drugs), norepinephrine
(adrenergic drugs), and serotonin (serotonergic
drugs)
Sympathomimetic drugs
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 2
, Classification
Classified according to
Chemical structural similarities: amphetamines,
serotonin agonists, sympathomimetics, and
xanthines
Site of therapeutic action in the central nervous
system (CNS)
Major therapeutic uses: anti–attention deficit
disorder, antinarcoleptic, anorexiant, antimigraine,
and analeptic drugs
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 3
, Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Most common psychiatric disorder in children,
affecting 4% to 10% of school-age children
Boys are affected from two to nine times more
often than girls.
Primary symptoms of ADHD are inappropriate
ability to maintain attention span or the
presence of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Drug therapy for both childhood and adult ADHD
is the same.
Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 4