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Stimulants

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its effects by...

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants

Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...

Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents

Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents

Indirect-acting adrenergic agonists potentiate the effects of endogenous catecholamines through different mechanisms without directly binding to adrenoceptors.
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral bioavailability, and...

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...

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Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice

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Published on: February 18, 2016

Stimulants and doping in sport.

Mario Thevis¹, Gerd Sigmund, Hans Geyer

¹Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. m.thevis@biochem.dshs-koeln.de

Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America

|February 4, 2010

Summary

Stimulant detection in sports is common. Monitoring programs show increased pseudoephedrine use after its ban was lifted, leading to its reimplementation in doping controls.

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Area of Science:

Sports Science
Analytical Chemistry
Pharmacology

Background:

Stimulants are a diverse group of compounds frequently found in sports doping control samples.
Established drug-testing procedures utilize chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect various substances.
The history of pseudoephedrine in sports highlights the evolving landscape of doping control.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the detection of stimulants in sports.
To illustrate the importance of monitoring specific compounds like pseudoephedrine.
To discuss the impact of regulatory changes on doping control strategies.

Main Methods:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for stimulant detection.
Analysis of adverse analytical findings from doping control samples.
Monitoring of pseudoephedrine usage through urine sample analysis in competition.

Main Results:

Detection of diverse stimulants, including 4-methylhexan-2-amine and methoxyphenamine, using advanced analytical techniques.
A significant increase in pseudoephedrine detection in urine samples after its prohibition was lifted in 2003.
Evidence supporting the need for continued and potentially enhanced monitoring of certain substances.

Conclusions:

Comprehensive analytical methods are crucial for identifying a wide range of stimulant doping agents.
Changes in regulations, such as lifting the pseudoephedrine ban, can lead to increased misuse.
The findings necessitate the reimplementation of pseudoephedrine in future doping control strategies to maintain fair play.