What are stimulants ? Give examples and their effects ?
What are stimulants ? Give examples and their effects ?
Stimulants are drugs that 'stimulate' the central nervous system. In other words, they increase the activity in your brain. Though each stimulant has unique effects, all stimulants increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. By increasing the electrical activity in your brain, stimulants cause you to be more alert, decrease fatigue, and prolong physical activity. Stimulants can also improve your mood and increase self-confidence. For these reasons, stimulants are also referred to as 'uppers.'
Caffeine is perhaps the most widely used stimulant in the world. Coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, candy, and energy drinks all contain caffeine. Small amounts of caffeine help you stay awake and increase alertness, but only for a short amount of time. Large amounts of caffeine can cause sleep interruptions, restlessness, and cardiac arrest. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it can cause you to use the bathroom more frequently. Caffeine is also linked to a decreased risk in certain cancers. Some medications that contain caffeine are:
- Vivarin: used to restore alertness and decrease fatigue
- Diurex Maximum Relief Water Caps: decreases the bloating and swelling associated with menstrual cycles
- Excedrin: used for pain relief
You probably know that nicotine is a natural ingredient found in tobacco, but did you know that nicotine is a stimulant? In terms of use and popularity, nicotine is not far behind caffeine. It is estimated that over 46 million adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes. Nicotine is regarded as one of the most addictive drugs in the world. Similar to caffeine, nicotine improves alertness and helps you stay awake when taken in small amounts. Unlike caffeine, nicotine is both a stimulant and a relaxant.
At low doses, the effects of nicotine are similar to most stimulants. It improves memory and concentration. Nicotine also decreases your appetite and increases metabolism, which is why many smokers report losing weight. At higher doses, nicotine tends to act more like a relaxant. Large amounts of nicotine give a calming effect, reduce pain, and cause respiratory paralysis. Although rarely used in medicine, nicotine is used in products that are designed to help people stop smoking, such as gum, patches, nasal sprays, and lozenges.
Cocaine is a highly addictive illegal drug that is created from the leaves of the coca plant. However, cocaine wasn't always illegal. It was even used as an ingredient in Coca-Cola from its development in 1886 until 1929.
Caffeine is perhaps the most widely used stimulant in the world. Coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, candy, and energy drinks all contain caffeine. Small amounts of caffeine help you stay awake and increase alertness, but only for a short amount of time. Large amounts of caffeine can cause sleep interruptions, restlessness, and cardiac arrest. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it can cause you to use the bathroom more frequently. Caffeine is also linked to a decreased risk in certain cancers. Some medications that contain caffeine are:
- Vivarin: used to restore alertness and decrease fatigue
- Diurex Maximum Relief Water Caps: decreases the bloating and swelling associated with menstrual cycles
- Excedrin: used for pain relief
You probably know that nicotine is a natural ingredient found in tobacco, but did you know that nicotine is a stimulant? In terms of use and popularity, nicotine is not far behind caffeine. It is estimated that over 46 million adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes. Nicotine is regarded as one of the most addictive drugs in the world. Similar to caffeine, nicotine improves alertness and helps you stay awake when taken in small amounts. Unlike caffeine, nicotine is both a stimulant and a relaxant.
At low doses, the effects of nicotine are similar to most stimulants. It improves memory and concentration. Nicotine also decreases your appetite and increases metabolism, which is why many smokers report losing weight. At higher doses, nicotine tends to act more like a relaxant. Large amounts of nicotine give a calming effect, reduce pain, and cause respiratory paralysis. Although rarely used in medicine, nicotine is used in products that are designed to help people stop smoking, such as gum, patches, nasal sprays, and lozenges.
Cocaine is a highly addictive illegal drug that is created from the leaves of the coca plant. However, cocaine wasn't always illegal. It was even used as an ingredient in Coca-Cola from its development in 1886 until 1929.
