Central nervous system stimulants caffeine

Several OTC analgesic preparations contain caffeine, the rationale being that as a central nervous system stimulant caffeine will alleviate the depression often associated with pain. 

Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder. Numerous medicines and drugs of abuse can produce panic attacks. Panic attacks can be triggered by central nervous system stimulants such as cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, over-the-counter herbal stimulants such as ephedra, or any of the medications commonly used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD, including psychostimulants and modafinil. Thyroid supplementation with thyroxine (Synthroid) or triiodothyronine (Cytomel) can rarely produce panic attacks. Abrupt withdrawal from central nervous system depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines can cause panic attacks as well. This can be especially problematic with short-acting benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), which is an effective treatment for panic disorder but which has been associated with between dose withdrawal symptoms. 

Benefits The caffeine content makes guarana a strong central nervous system stimulant. It is traditionally used as a tonic for fatigue and to allay hunger and thirst. It also has short-term diuretic effects. The tannin content gives guarana an astringent effect and it has been used to treat diarrhoea. 

The main ingredient in OTC stimulants is caffeine. Plienylpropanolamine (Pl A) was a common ingredient in such preparations until 2000, when tlie FDA withdrew OTC approval because it was found to increase the risk of stroke. Popular brands of OTC stimulants are No-Doz and Vivarin. They certainly will induce mild central nervous system stimulation, but No-Doz, for example, contains about as much caffeine as one or two cups of coffee, so the user should expect about that effect. Information on the side effects of caffeine was presented in C hapter 8. 

Several medical, medication-induced, or substance-related causes of mania and depression have been identified (see Table 68-2 for causes of mania and Table 67-1 in Chap. 67 on depressive disorders for causes of depression). " A complete medical, psychiatric, and medication history physical examination and laboratory testing are necessary to rule out any organic causes of mania or depression. An accurate diagnosis is important because some psychiatric and neurologic disorders present with manic-like symptoms. For example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and a manic episode have similar characteristics thus individuals with bipolar disorder may be misdiagnosed and prescribed central nervous system stimulants. Use of any substance that affects the central nervous system (e.g., alcohol, antidepressants, caffeine, central nervous system stimulants, hallucinogens, or marijuana) can worsen symptoms and decrease the... 

Eor antidepressant-induced rapid cycling, taper off antidepressant and other agents that increase norepinephrine or dopamine activity (e.g., central nervous system stimulants, sympathomimetics, and caffeine)... 

Dependence on caffeine, although a lesser central nervous system stimulant, is an instructive addiction to look at in many ways because it illustrates a number of additional properties about addiction itself. For example, although the price for coffee has increased manyfold over the past ten to fifteen years, sales have not diminished. To the addict, money is no object when it comes to obtaining his or her substance of choice. Caffeine (present in coffee, tea, colas, other soft drinks, chocolate, and some over-the-counter pain relievers and wakefulness aids) is generally viewed as a harmless substance therefore, what harm can an addiction to caffeine do There are two kinds of harm ... 

Tea is made by processing the leaves of the tea tree Camellia sinensis, which originated in the southern areas of Yunnan province in China, and is now spread throughout the world. This plant has been used as a medicine for 5,000 years, and was probably first selected because its leaves contain a high concentration of caffeine. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, and other caffeine-containing plant products, such as coffee beans, cacao beans, guarana berries, kola nuts, and mate leaves, have been selected and used to make beverages by people on various continents. 

In normal human being the cerebral electrical activity is directly proportional to anxiety, emotional excitement, or administration of a potent central nervous system stimulant e.g., caffeine, dexamphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide LSD to name a few). At this juneture the administration of a reasonably overdose of barbiturates would cause a calming effect, which could be measured demonstrably with the help of an electroencephalogram, (EEG). Thus, barbiturates depress the reticular activating system by impairing the synaptic transmission. 

This is a controversial central nervous system stimulant. The source is the dried leaves of a Chinese plant. It is used in sports nutrition and diet products. It contains ephidrene, an alkaloid found in decongestants and asthma medicine. Death has resulted for some people who took it and had heart, thyroid, circulatory problems, or, in some instances, combined it with caffeine. In many states pharmacists only sell it to people 18 or older. 

Caffeine enhances the contractility of skeletal and cardiac muscle, and helps metabolize fat, thereby sparing muscle glycogen stores. It is also a central nervous system stimulant, which can aid in activities that require concentration. Many small studies using randomized, double-blind design have associated caffeine use with increased endurance times in athletes. - ... 

Caffeine is also a xanthine and it is principally used as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing wakefulness, and mental and physical activity. It is most commonly taken in the form of tea, coffee, cola drinks ( Coke") and cocoa. Table 33.2 , (p.l 159) lists the usual caffeine content of these drinks. Caffeine is also included in hundreds of non-prescription analgesic preparations with aspirin, codeine and/or paracetamol, but whether it enhances the analgesic effect is debatable. Caffeine is also used to assess the activity of hepatic enzyme systems (particularly the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP1A2) and can usefully demonstrate altered liver function, notably from drugs, as well as disease states. 

Use of caffeine with other central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, including bronchodilators or adrenergic drugs, may cause excessive central nervous system stimulation resulting in nervousness, irritability, insomnia, and possibly convulsions or cardiac arrhythmias (PDR 2006). 

Other constraints are important for more complex products, for which mass is not central, but value. For example, central nervous system stimulants are a new class of substances addressed by production with engineered baker s yeast. Expressing the biosynthetic pathways for the opioids thebaine and hydrocodone, and parts of the morphine pathway in yeast, a first step is taken for easy production of opiates [21, 22]. This opens the possibility for the development of new painldllers with less addictive potential. However, it clearly is a new technology that could be abused with many negative consequences - so some contemplation about how to control these developments seems advisable [23]. Not only are narcotics in the center of interest but stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine have also recently been produced with genetically engineered 5. cerevisiae strains [24]. 

Caffeine is the most widely consumed central-nervous-system stimulant. It also relaxes smooth muscles, stimulates the cardiac muscle, stimulates diuresis, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Moreover, it has potent antioxidant properties, helps in protecting cells against the UV radiation, and slows down the process of photo-aging of the skin [250]. Theobromine is used as a bronchodilator, as a vasodilator, as a diuretic, and in the treatment of angina pectoris and hypertension [251]. 

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. Present in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and cocoa, caffeine... 

Caffeine acts as a stimulant because it is an antagonist of adenosine, an inhibitor of the central nervous system. Structurally, caffeine resembles adenosine, and therefore binds to the adenosine receptor, blocking its action. With nothing to slow them down, there s greater dopamine and glutamate activity leading to increased neuron activity in the brain and more adrenaline production. Caffeine is slightly addictive because it is a cardiac stimulant. 

AH three of these materials are apparentiy central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It is beheved that for most individuals caffeine causes greater stimulation than does theophylline. Theobromine apparentiy causes the least stimulation. There is some evidence that caffeine acts on the cortex and reduces drowsiness and fatigue, although habituation can reduce these effects. 

Caffeine is considered by pharmacologists to be a mild stimulant of the central nervous system. It has been shown to promote feelings of well being and increased abiUty to perform certain mental tasks efficiently. There are people who are oversensitive to the effects of caffeine overindulgence by these individuals, eg, intake of more than 600 mg caffeine/d, can bring unwanted effects such as anxiety, restlessness, sleeping difficulties, headache, or palpitations of the heart (54). 

The various stimulants have no obvious chemical relationships and do not share primary neurochemical effects, despite their similar behavioral effects. Cocaines chemical strucmre does not resemble that of caffeine, nicotine, or amphetamine. Cocaine binds to the dopamine reuptake transporter in the central nervous system, effectively inhibiting dopamine reuptake. It has similar effects on the transporters that mediate norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake. As discussed later in this chapter in the section on neurochemical actions mediating stimulant reward, dopamine is very important in the reward system of the brain the increase of dopamine associated with use of cocaine probably accounts for the high dependence potential of the drug. 

The primary use of caffeine is that of a central nervous system (CNS) stimulation. 

Caffeine is a powerful stimulant of central nervous system and also stimulates the cardiac muscle. However, high amounts of the alkaloid have noticeable irritation of gastrointestinal tract as well causes matw unwanted effects [1]. 

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