Central Nervous System Stimulants
| Definition: |
A loosely defined group of drugs that tend to increase behavioral alertness, agitation, or excitation. They work by a variety of mechanisms, but usually not by direct excitation of neurons. The many drugs that have such actions as side effects to their main therapeutic use are not included here. |
| Notes: |
GEN or unspecified; prefer specifics; consider also CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM /drug eff & BRAIN /drug eff; DF: CNS STIMULANTS |
| Also Called: |
Analeptics |
Central Nervous System Stimulants Categories.
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Aphrodisiacs - Chemical agents or odors that stimulate sexual desires. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) |
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Appetite Stimulants - Agents that are used to stimulate appetite. These drugs are frequently used to treat anorexia associated with cancer and AIDS. |
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Convulsants - Substances that act in the brain stem or spinal cord to produce tonic or clonic convulsions, often by removing normal inhibitory tone. They were formerly used to stimulate respiration or as antidotes to barbiturate overdose. They are now most commonly used as experimental tools. |
Central Nervous System Stimulants Definitions and Terms
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