Central nervous system cocaine methylphenidate

Central nervous system stimulants, e.g., amphetamine, methylphenidate (Ritalin) and cocaine... 

Central Nervous System Stimulants Central nervous system stimulants include agents such as the amphetamines (Dexedrine) and methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin), used to elevate mood, suppress appetite, and control hyperkinetic disorders in children. Other examples include the illegal drugs methamphet-amine and cocaine. The mechanism of action of these drugs is to augment actions of the adrenergic nervous system. 

Many drugs used for recreational as well as medical purposes can stimulate the central nervous system and so are referred to as stimulants. We separate. stimulants into tsvo groups according to their legal and social status. Controlled stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and related compounds are treated in this chapter, and over-the-counter stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine are dealt with in Chapters 7 and 8. We first consider the hi.story of stimulant use and discuss some of the effects of cocaine and the amphetamines as we review their history. Then we turn to a more detailed treatment of the pharmacology of these stimulants. 

The tricyclic and other NE-active antidepressants do not block dopamine (DA) transport via DAT) they thereby differ from central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, including cocaine, methylphenidate, and amphetamines see Chapter 10). Nevertheless, they may indirectly facilitate effects of DA by inhibiting the nonspecific transport of DA into noradrenergic terminals in the cerebral cortex. Tricyclic antidepressants also can desensitize D antoreceptors through uncertain mechanisms and with uncertain behavioral contributions. 

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