ABSTRACT
Stimulants increase both energy and alertness and engender a euphoric sense of well-being. Although various stimulants have many common traits, each has its own unique mechanism of action and spectrum of activity. The term amphetamine is often used in a general sense to describe a group of drugs chemically related to amphetamine that produce pronounced stimulation of the CNS. However, various amphetamines have striking differences in their stimulant properties, toxic potential, and patterns of abuse. Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine can be considered identical in terms of their actions. Dextroamphetamine is an isomer of amphetamine twice as potent as the racemic mixture. Amphetamine is used clinically almost exclusively for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). Methamphetamine is a more potent and longer acting stimulant than amphetamine with fewer cardiovascular effects. Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular stimulant because it can impart a general sense of well-being, increase emotional warmth and sensory perception, and enhance empathy toward others.
