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stimulants
Stimulants
Stimulants are a class of drugs that
enhance brain activity - they cause an increase in alertness,
attention, and energy that is accompanied by increases
in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
Historically, stimulants were used to
treat asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity,
neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments.
As their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent,
the use of stimulants began to wane. Now, stimulants
are prescribed for treating only a few health conditions,
including narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), and depression that has not responded
to other treatments. Stimulants may also be used for
short-term treatment of obesity, and for patients with
asthma.
Stimulants such as dextroamphetamine
(Dexedrine) and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
have chemical structures that are similar to key brain
neurotransmitters called monoamines, which include norepinephrine
and dopamine. Stimulants increase the levels of these
chemicals in the brain and body. This, in turn, increases
blood pressure and heart rate, constricts blood vessels,
increases blood glucose, and opens up the pathways of
the respiratory system. In addition, the increase in
dopamine is associated with a sense of euphoria that
can accompany the use of these drugs.
Research indicates that people with
ADHD do not become addicted to stimulant medications,
such as Ritalin, when taken in the form prescribed and
at treatment dosages.5 However, when misused, stimulants
can be addictive.
The consequences of stimulant abuse
can be extremely dangerous. Taking high doses of a stimulant
can result in an irregular heartbeat, dangerously high
body temperatures, and/or the potential for cardiovascular
failure or lethal seizures. Taking high doses of some
stimulants repeatedly over a short period of time can
lead to hostility or feelings of paranoia in some individuals.
Stimulants should not be mixed with
antidepressants or over-the-counter cold medicines containing
decongestants. Anti-depressants may enhance the effects
of a stimulant, and stimulants in combination with decongestants
may cause blood pressure to become dangerously high
or lead to irregular heart rhythms.
Treatment of addiction to prescription
stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines,
is based on behavioral therapies proven effective for
treating cocaine or methamphetamine addiction. At this
time, there are no proven medications for the treatment
of stimulant addiction. Antidepressants, however, may
be used to manage the symptoms of depression that can
accompany early abstinence from stimulants.
Depending on the patient's situation,
the first step in treating prescription stimulant addiction
may be to slowly decrease the drug's dose and attempting
to treat withdrawal symptoms. This process of detoxification
could then be followed with one of many behavioral therapies.
Contingency management, for example, uses a system that
enables patients to earn vouchers for drug-free urine
tests; the vouchers can be exchanged for items that
promote healthy living. Cognitive-behavioral therapies
are proving beneficial, and recovery support groups
may also be effective in conjunction with a behavioral
therapy.
Source: NAIDA
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