We go out to party and we want to keep dancing all night. We have to study for an exam or deliver a project in a too short period of time. In these and similar situations, one’s physical and/or mental energy can quickly decrease until we are exhausted.
Some people, aware of this fact or simply for recreational purposes, They decide to consume substances to raise their level of activation and mood These substances that maintain or increase the level of activation are called psychostimulants, and in many cases they are substances with enormous addictive potential.
But the concept of “psychostimulant” does not refer to a specific, well-defined class of substance. Rather, There are different types of psychostimulants which are studied both from clinical psychology and from psychiatry. Let’s see what they are and what characteristics they have.
Psychostimulants are a group of substances with psychoactive effects whose main effect is to produce an increase in brain activation This increase generally produces an alteration and acceleration of activity and mood, as well as metabolism. Also called psychoanaleptics, the type of alteration they cause involves a state of stimulation that is subjectively perceptible by the person who suffers from it, without this having to affect the state of consciousness.
The effect of these substances is mainly due to their interaction with the reuptake or release mechanisms of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and norepinephrine. For this very reason They are highly addictive substances by greatly affecting the brain reward mechanism.
The use of these substances can arise from a large number of factors. They are sometimes used in medicine to treat some disorders , being used as anesthetics or for their effects on behavior. In many cases its use is merely recreational, running the risk of excessive consumption, suffering from poisoning and generating withdrawal syndromes with its withdrawal (in which effects appear opposite to those generated by intoxication).
Because they allow you to increase the level of physical and mental activity, they are sometimes used to improve physical performance or maintain the ability to concentrate during study Other substances included within this group are frequently consumed in the usual diet, precisely because of their stimulating effects, or they are started and continued to be consumed due to social reinforcement.
The group of substances known as psychostimulants is made up of several substances that have in common the increased stimulation and activity they cause. As main components of this category We find cocaine, amphetamines, xanthines and nicotine
The first two and their derivatives are considered major stimulants, generally consumed illegally and for recreational purposes, although in some cases they are used medically to treat some disorders and symptoms. Regarding the last two, xanthines and nicotine, they are a type of psychostimulant considered minor as they cause a lower (although more controllable) stimulation.
1. Cocaine
Initially made for medicinal purposes, this psychostimulant obtained from the plant Erythrosylon coca It is one of the best-known and most dangerous excitatory substances of plant origin, in addition to being among the most addictive drugs.
Cocaine acts at a neurochemical level blocking the reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters , producing a profound effect especially on dopaminergic transmission. Dopamine being one of the main responsible for the brain reward system, this means that we are dealing with a substance with a high addictive potential.
Generally consumed by nasal aspiration, its administration produces important behavioral changes surprisingly quickly. After consumption euphoria and hyperexcitation appear, disinhibiting behavior and causing perceptual changes and even in some cases hallucinations. Increases the liveliness of the subject, increasing the heart rate and tension on a physical level. Feelings of grandeur appear that, together with the expansive mood, can lead to aggressiveness. The effects are relatively short-lived.
Its effects are also well known when it comes to combating sensations of hunger and cold, as well as inhibiting pain. For that reason has been used as a pain reliever and even used by the army during major war conflicts, such as the First World War.
The appearance of dependence on this type of psychostimulant is common, as well as poisoning and withdrawal syndromes In the latter case, the effects are the opposite of those caused by consumption: a drop in mood, which may lead to depressive symptoms and anhedonia, fatigue, hypersomnia, hypothermia, intense hunger and compulsive desire to consume the drug or craving.
2. Amphetamines
Popularized among soldiers during the Second World War for their ability to combat low mood and reduce fatigue, Amphetamines are a type of psychostimulant with effects similar to those of cocaine
Initially it produces a feeling of well-being or “high” followed by behavioral and social disinhibition, hyperactivity and poor reasoning ability.
It also has a bronchodilator effect and reduces appetite. Its mechanism of action also affects monoamines , acting especially on dopamine and norepinephrine by blocking their reuptake. But, in addition to blocking reuptake, they cause it to be released in greater quantities, so the effects are longer lasting than those of cocaine. As it lasts longer, consumption spreads further over time. Even so, there is still a high risk of dependence on this type of substance.
Nonetheless, At a medical level, amphetamine derivatives are used to treat multiple disorders Specifically, its effects have been used in the treatment of obesity, narcolepsy and initially it was used as a treatment for asthma, although over time it has been used to administer other substances.
Although it may seem strange due to the high level of activity that many of those who suffer from it have, another of the disorders in which an amphetamine derivative is used is ADHD, since they increase the ability to concentrate and produce an improvement in the symptoms.
3. Xanthines
Although the name xanthine may not tell us anything at first, the substances grouped under this name are some of the most consumed by the majority of the population. We are talking about caffeine, theophylline or theobromine : mainly coffee, tea and chocolate, although they can also be found in soft drinks and energy drinks.
These are products consumed en masse by the majority of the population in relatively low doses, making the appearance of dependence, abuse or withdrawal problems unlikely. Its main effects are an increase in activity level, decreased fatigue and fatigue and a mild improvement in mood.
The action of xanthines is mainly due to an antagonistic action on adenosine an action that would result in a greater presence and transmission of catecholamines (including dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin).
In the case of caffeine, cases of physiological dependence and rebound effect have been found after stopping taking it. Excessive or prolonged consumption can cause anxiety symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia or accelerated thinking. Although excessive doses can cause death due to respiratory failure, the amount needed is so high that it is not likely.
4. Nicotine
When we think of someone who smokes we generally imagine someone who tries to relax by smoking tobacco. However, Although it may seem paradoxical, nicotine is actually an exciting substance , producing an indirect effect on dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. That is why it is included among the main types of psychostimulants.
Extracted from the plant Nicotiana tabacum , nicotine acts by producing an increase in neuronal activity by acting on certain acetylcholine receptors called nicotinic, increasing the excitability of the neuron. With this causes neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, to be released more easily Furthermore, as is known, it is a highly addictive substance.
The fact that many people find smoking relaxing is because the behavioral effects of this substance vary depending on the dose and pattern of consumption. At low doses the excitatory effect is more visible, producing disinhibition and a higher level of activity, alertness and performance
However, if nicotine consumption is very high or is prolonged over time, the neurons are overexcited and a depressant effect on the nervous system ends up being generated, making it behaviorally sedative or tranquilizing.
