Stimulants

Question 1

Major drug class used therapeutically as CNS stimulants

Answer 1

indirect-acting adrenergic agonist

Question 2

What are three major therapeutic indications for which CNS stimulants are used?

Answer 2

Obesity
Sleep disorders
ADHD

Question 3

Do indirect-acting adrenergic agonists (e.g., amphetamine) target biogenic amine (also called “monoamine”) receptors or biogenic amine transporters?

Answer 3

transporters

Question 4

What 4 main types of molecular effects do indirect-acting adrenergic agonists produce in the presynaptic neuron?

Answer 4

1. Competitive inhibition of DAT, NET, SERT reuptake transporters
2. Inhibition of VMAT, causing buildup of BA in cytoplasm
3. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase enzymes in cytoplasm
4. Reversing direction of uptake transporters

Question 5

What are 4 major categories of side effects of CNS stimulants? (You can count dependence/tolerance as one category)

Answer 5

Reduced appetite
CNS over-stimulation
Autonomic effects
Dependence/tolerance

Question 6

Give 3 examples of conditions where there might be warnings against using CNS-stimulating drugs?

Answer 6

Anorexia
Insomnia
Psychiatric instability
Patients with history of drug abuse problems