Amphetamines physiological effects

Snyder, S.H. Faillace, L. and Weingartner, H. A new psychotropic agent Psychological and physiological effects of 2,5 demethoxy-4-ethyl amphetamine (DOET) in man. Arch Gen Psychiatry 21 95-101. 1969. Timmermans, P.B.M.W.M., and Van Zwieten, P.A. Alpha, adrenoreceptors Classification, localization mechanisms and targets for drugs. J Med Chem 25 1389-1401, 1982. 

Tancer, M. and Johanson, C.E., Reinforcing, subjective, and physiological effects of MDMA in humans a comparison with rf-amphetamine and mCPP, Drug Alcohol Depend. 72(1), 33—44, 2003. 

The first phenylethylamine of commercial significance to have been synthesized was amphetamine (l-phenyl-2-aminopropane or methylphenethylamine). Amphetamine was developed in 1887 by the Romanian chemist Lazar Edeleanu (1862-1941). For four decades, amphetamine was little more than a laboratory curiosity with no known pharmaceutical use. In 1927, however, the compound was found to have a number of physiological effects It stimulates the... 

Drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines that produce the physiological effects of sympathetic activity. 

Dependence may develop after chronic use of cocaine or amphetamines. The abstinence syndrome is characterized primarily by depression and craving with few measurable physiological effects. Thus, a drug that does not cause severe physical withdrawal symptoms can still be highly addictive. 

The physiological effects of LSD and related hallucinogens arc generally similar to those of amphetamine and cocaine that is, they are sympathotnimetic. Thus, the effects include pupil dilation, increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased body temperature, and increased sweating (Grinspoon Bakalar, 1979). 

Amphetamine, methamphetamine and ephedrine all have similar structures and each has two enantiomers. Amphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant and an anorexic. Methamphetamine is also an anorexic and is frequently used for treating attention disorders with hyperactivity. Ephedrine, on the other hand, although of similar structure has quite different physiological effects. Ephedrine (1) is a commonly used as a bronchodilator whereas (d) ephedrine (pseudoephedrine) is used as a decongestant. The separation of the six isomers of amphetamine, methamphetamine and ephedrine is shown in figure 6.17. 

Four neurotransmitters are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Epinephrine is also known as the flght-or-flight hormone. The amphetamines have structures similar to that of epinephrine. Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing compounds isolated from plants. They exhibit a variety of physiological effects on the body. Examples of alkaloids include nicotine, caffeine, quinine, atropine, morphine, and codeine. 

Wyndham, C.H., Rogers, G.G., Benade, AJ.S., and Strydom, N.B. (1971) Physiological effects of the amphetamines during exercise. South African Medical Journal, 45,247-252. 

The amphetamine-like properties of trace amines are best described for PEA which shares close structural similarity to amphetamine and can displace monoamine neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles and trigger their release into the synaptic cleft by acting on the dopamine transporter. However, this effect is only observed at high, supra-physiological PEA concentrations and thus might not occur under physiological conditions. 

Martin WR, Sloan JW, Sapira JD, et al Physiologic, subjective, and behavioral effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, phenmetrazine, and methylphenidate in man. Clin Pharmacol Ther 12 245-258, 1971 McCormick TC Jr, McNeil TW Acute psychosis and Ritalin abuse. Tex State J Med... 

Stimulants are considered to be among the safest and most effective psychotropic medications prescribed. This view is based on a history of over 60 years of research and clinical use for a variety of physiological and psychiatric conditions. In a ground-breaking article, Bradley (1937) reported that D, L-amphetamine diminished motor activity, increased compliance, and improved academic performance in hyperactive children. Continuing his research throughout the next two decades, Bradley published more case reports of successful amphetamine treatments in children (Bradley and Bowen, 1941). 

---