A group of psychostimulants and nootropics is used to increase the activity of the body and stimulate cognitive functions. Sometimes psychostimulant drugs are called psychotonic or psychomotor stimulants. This group can include drugs with very different effects, and not all of them have proven efficacy. To understand all the diversity, you need to study this group more carefully.
List of drugs related to psychostimulants and nootropics
According to the anatomical-therapeutic-chemical (ATC) system of classification of drugs, all considered drugs belong to the group N06BX "Other psychostimulants and nootropic drugs". The number of drugs in this group is large. However, not all drugs that belong to it are registered and approved for use in the Russian Federation.
According to the Vidal reference book, psychostimulants include drugs:
- "Amilonosar";
- "Vinpotropil";
- "Glycine";
- "Gopantam";
- "Hopantenic acid";
- "Divaza";
- "Calcium hopantenate";
- "Cogitum";
- "Combotropil";
- "Cortexin";
- "Caffeine";
- "Nooklerin";
- "Noopept";
- "Kooserk";
- "Omaron";
- "Pantogam";
- "Pantocalcin";
- "Pantotropil";
- "Pikamilon";
- "Picanoil";
- "Picogum";
- "Pyracesin";
- "Semax";
- "Tenotin";
- "Thiocetam";
- "Fezam";
- "Phenibut";
- "Phenotropil";
- "Festsetam";
- "Phenylpiracetam";
- "Cellex";
- "Cerebrolysate";
- "Cerebrolysin".
All of these drugs are used to treat cerebrovascular accidents. In addition, they are used as maintenance therapy. The list of psychostimulant drugs is constantly updated as new drugs are registered and old ones are discontinued and withdrawn from the market. Therefore, over time, the list may become somewhat smaller.up-to-date.
History of Creation
One of the first psychostimulants that was brought to the pharmaceutical market was "Pervitin". It included a substance currently on the banned list - amphetamine. But after the appearance of this substance, pharmacology became interested in drugs with a similar effect, and drugs began to appear more often. In the 70s in the USSR, the list of psychostimulant drugs consisted of two drugs: "Sidnocarb" (sometimes produced as "Mesocarb") and "Sidnofen" ("Fenprozidine"). Both drugs were actively used in medicine. Since their mechanism of action made it possible to achieve exceptional results by those standards in maintaining the strength of the body.
In the early 90s, drugs disappeared from free sale. Due to the fact that the action of psychostimulants, although it did not repeat the action of amphetamine, it was possible to get it from them. The drugs were discontinued and put on the control list.
Pharmacology
The mechanism of action is determined by the chemical composition of the active substance. Psychostimulants often consist of plant materials (ginseng, eleutherococcus, Chinese magnolia vine, Manchurian aralia). That is, they have an activating effect on the nervous system. They also tone up and increase the resistance of the brain to hypoxia.
Most of the effect of psychostimulant drugs comes from stimulating the body's adrenergic system. This contributes to an increase in the activity of processes occurring in the brain.brain. In addition, the drugs prevent the destruction of certain neurotransmitters (in particular, catecholamines), thus increasing their effect on the nervous system.
In addition, due to the stimulation of the adrenergic system, psychostimulants act on other body systems. In particular, stimulating the work of the cardiovascular system causes in humans the same effects that are observed with the natural release of adrenaline into the blood. But to a lesser degree.
However, what drugs are psychostimulants, affects not only their effect on the brain. Caffeine has a greater effect on the lumen of blood vessels, expanding some and narrowing others.
Therefore, sometimes finding out which drugs belong to psychostimulants, it is difficult to believe that the group includes drugs that do not have the effect that the name says. This is due to the fact that the drugs in the group have a complex effect on the body.
Pharmacological effects
The standard list of psychostimulants (drugs to restore activity) contains special substances. They have such effects as antihypoxic, sympathomimetic, adrenomimetic and stimulating effects. Almost all of them have these properties to one degree or another. But throughout the group, there is a clear division into psychostimulants and nootropic drugs. It is necessary to understand what are their similarities and differences, as well as in what cases each subgroup is used.
Psychostimulants
From the name it is clear that this includes all the means that have a tonic effect on the nervous system. At the moment, old drugs are a thing of the past. Although amphetamine is still used in some countries as a remedy. In the Russian Federation, it is prohibited by law for circulation on the market.
But in addition to illegal drugs, there are other drugs that you can use freely. The classification of psychostimulants at the moment is as follows:
- Amphetamines. These, in addition to the progenitor, also include methylphenidate, pemoline and phenylalkylpiperidine derivatives.
- Sydnonimines. These include the more well-known on the market Mesocarb, Fenprozidnin and the familiar caffeine.
- There are also other groups of psychostimulants: sulbutiamil, meclofenoxate and others.
Many of the listed substances are not included in the Vidal guide. Since they do not apply on the territory of the Russian Federation and are not registered. However, even in countries where they are allowed to be released, this is done strictly by prescription to prevent abuse. The use of psychostimulant drugs without a prescription and without indications is punishable by law.
Nootropics
Means of this subgroup have recently become widely known to the mass consumer, as they have acquired the status of a drug to improve brain activity. People buy and take nootropics in the hope of significantly improving their cognitive performance.abilities.
But in fact, these funds are far from such a panacea. The main indications for which nootropics are used include metabolic disorders in the brain. This means that for problems that prevent the delivery of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, a nootropic is prescribed, which is designed to establish this delivery and thus restore that part of the brain that suffered from malnutrition.
That is, nootropics have a strictly stimulating metabolism effect. They do not have the effects characteristic of psychostimulants, but they do not have a magical effect either. Nootropics have the desired effect only if the patient needs to take them, in all other cases they will be useless, and sometimes even harmful.
If the patient suffers from metabolic disorders in the brain (after a stroke or injury), the nootropic helps to restore performance, reduce fatigue and improve the patient's mood. It was noticed that during the course of maintenance therapy with nootropics, traumatic and stroke brain lesions disappeared faster than in the absence of such therapy.
Treatment of diseases with psychostimulants and nootropics
List of psychostimulant drugs, which ones are better to take and when, the doctor should determine. As a rule, the appointment of a particular remedy directly depends on the strength of its effect on the nervous system. The stronger the drug, the more compelling reason for its appointment will be required. Natural psychostimulants (ginseng, eleutherococcus and others) are freely prescribed if necessary to maintain the efficiency of the nervous system and improve concentration.
There is a myth that such drugs are completely harmless and can be taken in any amount, at any time. This is not true! With an overdose of natural psychostimulants, it is possible to get a whole range of both side effects and simply undesirable reactions of the body.
Most non-natural stimulants are used in the treatment of mental problems. Depression (including its severe endogenous forms), bipolar affective disorder, psychosis - all these are indications for treatment with drugs from this group.
Psychostimulant is not used as the only drug of choice. In the treatment of disorders in the nervous system, a whole range of drugs are prescribed, which are taken strictly in combination. Only in this way it becomes possible to correct some violations. For example, in depression, a psychostimulant gives the desired effect only if it is combined with an antidepressant, which will be the main drug.
It should be noted that some of the psychostimulants were originally released with a completely different purpose, but later their possibilities in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system were discovered. At the moment, pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to look for new drugs that could be used in psychotherapeutic practice.
In some cases, psychostimulant drugs are prescribed to minimize the side effects of drugs that have an antagonistic effect: tranquilizers, hypnotics or antipsychotics. However, these methods require careful dosage and are rarely used.
Due to the adaptogenic effect of some psychostimulants, they can also be used as maintenance therapy for problems with excessive emotional stress. In this case, as a rule, it is natural psychostimulants that are used, since they have the fewest side effects, are available without a prescription, and allow a less careful approach to taking and dosing.
Psychostimulants can also combine other effects. Some of them have an antidepressant effect ("Mesocarb"), others - neuroleptic ("Sulpiride"). Therefore, these drugs are used taking into account the complex of effects that they will give as a result of treatment.
Side effect
Psychostimulants are drugs that have a strong tonic effect on the body. They are bound to have some side effects, so some of the more common ones should be considered:
- Excessive excitability. The patient cannot concentrate, his thoughts are fragmentary, and his attention does not stay on one subject for a long time.
- Anxiety and restlessness increase. Against the background of these symptoms, a sleep disorder may occur.
- In severe cases, hallucinations ornonsense.
- Muscles begin to twitch, in some cases a seizure may occur.
- In extremely rare cases, convulsions and hyperkinesis.
The frequency of occurrence and the strength of these side effects almost completely coincide with the strength of the psychostimulant on the nervous system. Most often they appear when using drugs prohibited by law: amphetamine, cocaine and others. In addition to the above, these substances also cause serious addiction, which may require correction in the future. It is precisely because of the number of side effects, combined with strong addiction, that first-generation psychostimulants were banned by law for use, including in medical practice. Extremely rarely, but still, an addiction reaction occurs to lighter psychostimulants, such as caffeine.
Sometimes there are so-called paradoxical side effects: those that should not occur when using certain drugs. For psychostimulants, this is lethargy, drowsiness. When such reactions occur, it is necessary to cancel the drug as soon as possible and replace it with another one.
Like any other medicines, psychostimulants can cause allergies, skin itching, dyspeptic disorders (disorders of the gastrointestinal tract). If such side effects appear, it is necessary to inform the doctor about them and further focus on his opinion on the advisability of taking these drugs in a particular case.
Contraindications
All psychostimulantscategorically should not be used with increased nervous excitability, as this can lead to increased problems with the patient's nervous system.
With arterial hypertension, they should also not be taken, since stimulation of the adrenergic system can lead to an increase in blood pressure and, as a result, to a hypertensive crisis in the patient.
For glaucoma, pregnancy, with restrictions applied in childhood.
It is also forbidden to use them when the patient performs work that requires concentration, quick reaction or extremely responsible work.
If you are prone to addictions, you should not prescribe psychostimulants, but statistics are known that in some countries there is a method of getting rid of addiction using substitution methods. But this technique does not have legislative permission for use in the Russian Federation.
There are also not so strict contraindications, which, despite this, should be borne in mind: caffeine is undesirable for patients with glaucoma, Eleutherococcus is not recommended for parkinsonism. In infectious diseases, the use of tonics should be discontinued.
Also, do not use these drugs during the heat, as this can stimulate an increase in pressure and a hypertensive crisis in the patient.
Interaction
Psychostimulant drugs should not be combined with any other adrenomimetic drugs, as they have a synergistic effect and will enhance each other's action. It should also be remembered that thepsychostimulants significantly weakens the effect of hypnotics, tranquilizers, and sedative drugs.
It is forbidden to use drugs in combination with alcohol-containing drinks, as this can lead to an absolutely unpredictable effect.
