A group of psychostimulants and nootropics is used to increase the activity of the body and stimulate cognitive functions. Sometimes psychostimulant drugs are called psychotonics or psychomotor stimulants. This group may include drugs with very different effects, and not all of them have proven effectiveness. To understand all the diversity, you need to study this group more carefully.
The list of drugs related to psychostimulants and nootropics
According to the anatomical-therapeutic-chemical (ATX) system of classification of drugs, all considered drugs belong to group N06BX "Other psychostimulants and nootropic drugs." The number of drugs in this group is large. However, not all drugs that relate to it are registered and approved for use in the Russian Federation.
According to the reference book "Vidal", psychostimulants include drugs:
- Amilonosar;
- Vinpotropil;
- "Glycine";
- Gopantam
- "Hopantenic acid";
- Divaza
- "Calcium hopantenate";
- Kogitum;
- "Combotropil";
- Cortexin;
- "Caffeine";
- Nooclerin
- Noopept;
- "Kooserk";
- Omaron
- Pantogam
- Pantocalcin;
- Pantotropil;
- "Picamilon";
- Picanoyl;
- Pikogam
- "Piracezin";
- Semax
- Tenoten
- Thiocetam;
- Fezam;
- Phenibut
- "Phenotropil";
- Fescetam
- "Phenylpiracetam";
- "Cellex";
- "Cerebrolysate";
- "Cerebrolysin".
All of these drugs are used to treat cerebrovascular disease. 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 removed from production and removed from circulation on the market. Therefore, over time, the list may become somewhat less relevant.
History of creation
One of the first psychostimulants that entered the pharmaceutical market was Pervitin. It included a substance that is currently on the banned list - amphetamine. But after the appearance of this substance, pharmacology became interested in drugs with a similar effect and funds began to appear more often. In the 70s in the USSR, the list of psychostimulant drugs consisted of two drugs: Sydnocarb (sometimes produced as Mesocarb) and Sydnofen (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 effect of psychostimulants, although it did not repeat the effect of amphetamine, it was possible to obtain it from them. Drugs ceased to be released 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, Schisandra chinensis, Aralia manchurian). That is, they have an activating effect on the nervous system. They also tone and increase the resistance of the brain to hypoxia.
Most of the effect of psychostimulant drugs is due to stimulation of the adrenergic system of the body. This helps to increase the activity of processes occurring in the brain. In addition, drugs prevent the destruction of certain neurotransmitters (in particular, catecholamines), thereby 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, stimulation of the cardiovascular system in a person causes the same effects that are observed with a natural release of adrenaline into the blood. But to a lesser extent.
However, what drugs belong to psychostimulants is affected not only by 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 of which the name speaks. 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 effects such as antihypoxic, sympathomimetic, adrenomimetic and stimulating effects. Almost all of them, to one degree or another, have such properties. But throughout the group, there is a clear division into psychostimulants and nootropic drugs. It is necessary to understand what their similarities and differences are, as well as in which cases each subgroup is used.
Psychostimulants
From the name it is clear that this includes all funds that have a tonic effect on the nervous system. Currently, 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 prohibited drugs, there are other means that you can use freely. The classification of psychostimulants at the moment is as follows:
- Amphetamines. In addition to their ancestor, they also include methylphenidate, pemoline and phenylalkylpiperidine derivatives.
- Sidnoniminy. These include the more well-known Mesocarb, Fenprozidnin, and the familiar caffeine on the market.
- There are also other groups of psychostimulants: sulbutiamyl, meclofenoxate and others.
Many of the substances listed are not included in the Vidal Handbook. 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 according to a doctor’s prescription to prevent abuse. The use of psychostimulant drugs without a prescription and without evidence is punishable by law.
Nootropics
The funds 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 nootropic drugs and take them in the hope of significantly improving their cognitive abilities.
But in reality, 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 with 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 the part of the brain that suffered from a lack of nutrition.
That is, nootropics have a strictly stimulating metabolism effect. They do not have the effects characteristic of psychostimulants, but also do not have a magical effect. 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 suffering a stroke or injuries), the nootropic agent helps to restore working capacity, reduce fatigue and improve the patient's mood. It was noted 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
The list of psychostimulant drugs, which is better to take and when, should be determined by the doctor. As a rule, the appointment of a particular tool depends on the strength of its action on the nervous system. The stronger the drug, the more compelling the basis for its purpose will be required. Natural psychostimulants (ginseng, eleutherococcus and others) are prescribed freely, if necessary, to maintain the functioning of the nervous system and improve concentration.
There is a myth that such drugs are completely harmless and can be taken in any quantity, anytime. 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 body reactions.
Most non-natural psychostimulants are used to treat mental problems. Depression (including its severe endogenous forms), bipolar affective disorder, psychosis - all these are indications for treatment with drugs from this group.
A psychostimulant is not used as the only drug of choice. In the treatment of disorders in the nervous system, a whole complex of medicines is prescribed, which are taken strictly in combination. Only in this way it becomes possible to correct some violations. For example, with 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 for a completely different purpose, but later their capabilities were discovered in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system. At the moment, pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to search for new drugs that could be used in psychotherapeutic practice.
In some cases, psychostimulant drugs are prescribed to minimize the side effects of drugs with the effect of antagonism: tranquilizers, sleeping pills or antipsychotics. However, such methods require care in determining the dosage and are rarely used.
Due to the adaptogenic effect of some psychostimulants, they can also be used as supportive 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 dispensed without a prescription and allow a less careful approach to taking and dosing.
Psychostimulants can also combine other effects. Some of them have antidepressant action ("Mesocarb"), others - antipsychotic ("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 include drugs that have a strong tonic effect on the body. They can not but have any side effects, so you should consider some of the most common ones:
- Excessive excitability. The patient cannot concentrate, his thoughts are fragmentary, and his attention does not linger on one subject for a long time.
- Anxiety and anxiety intensify. Amid these symptoms, a sleep disorder may occur.
- In especially severe cases, hallucinations or delirium may occur.
- Muscles begin to twitch, in some cases, an seizure condition 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 occur when using drugs that are prohibited by law: amphetamine, cocaine and others. In addition to the above, these substances are also highly addictive, which may require correction in the future. It is precisely because of the number of side effects in combination with highly addictive psychostimulants of the first generation that were prohibited by law for use, including in medical practice. It is extremely rare, but still there is a habituation reaction to lighter psychostimulants, for example, caffeine.
Occasionally, the so-called paradoxical side effects appear: those that should not be manifested when using certain drugs. For psychostimulants, this is lethargy, drowsiness. When such reactions appear, it is necessary to cancel the drug as soon as possible and replace it with another.
Like any other medicines, psychostimulants can cause allergies, skin itching, dyspeptic disorders (gastrointestinal tract disorders). If such side effects appear, it is necessary to inform the doctor about them and subsequently rely on his opinion on the advisability of taking these drugs in a particular case.
Contraindications
All psychostimulants categorically should not be used with increased nervous excitability, as this can lead to increased problems with the nervous system in the patient.
In case of arterial hypertension, one should not take them either, since stimulation of the adrenergic system can lead to an increase in blood pressure and, as a result, to a hypertensive crisis in a patient.
For glaucoma, pregnancy, with limitations, they are used in childhood.
It is also forbidden to use them when the patient performs work requiring concentration, a quick reaction, or in extremely responsible work.
With a tendency to addictions, psychostimulants should not be prescribed, 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 such strict contraindications, which, despite this, should be borne in mind: caffeine is undesirable for patients with glaucoma, and Eleutherococcus is not recommended for parkinsonism. In infectious diseases, the use of tonic agents should be discontinued.
Also, you should 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, since they have a synergistic effect and will enhance the effect of each other. It should also be remembered that taking psychostimulants significantly weakens the effect of sleeping pills, 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.