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Depressant Drugs:

Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates and other central nervous system depressant drugs act primarily on a neurotransmitter substance known as GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that makes other neurons less likely to activate. The depressant drugs are GABA agonists, acting to help GABA reduce neuronal activation more efficiently than it usually would. Alcohol also inhibits (acts as an antagonist against) another excitatory neurotransmitter (Glutamate), making it harder for Glutamate to get the nervous system excited.

Stimulant Drugs

Amphetamines have their primary effects on the neurotransmitter Dopamine. Amphetamines both induce the terminal button of Dopamine-producing neurons to let more Dopamine out than normal, and also keep that Dopamine out in the synapse longer than it normally would be allowed to stay. Amphetamine also acts agonistically on receptors for a different neurotransmitter, Norepinephrine, by competing with Norepinephrine for post-synaptic receptors and turning those post-synaptic receptors on.

Cocaine has its major effect by blocking the re-uptake of the neurotransmitters Dopamine and Serotonin.

Opioid Drugs:

Opioid drugs bind to special endorphin receptors in the brain (the 'mu', 'kappa', 'sigma' 'delta' and 'gamma' receptors) that have to do with pain. When these receptors are occupied and activated, the perception of pain lessens.

Drug treatments for opioid addictions sometimes include the administration of Naltrexone, which is an opioid antagonist. Naltrexone competes with the opioids for their receptor sites, but is not itself capable of activating those receptor sites. An opioid addict on Naltrexone is thus rendered more or less incapable of getting high from their opioid drug of choice; they may take an opioid, but it will be blocked from the opioid receptors by the Naltrexone, and will not have its effect.

Cannabinoids:

Marijuana has a complex set of effects. It acts on the neurotransmitters Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholine. It also binds to a receptor for a recently discovered neurotransmitter known as Anadamide.

Hallucinogens:

LSD is known to antagonize Serotonin by blocking its release.

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Related Questions

How do stimulants and depressants affect nerve activity?

stimulants increase activity and depressants decrease activity.


What increases activity in the central nervous system?

stimulants


What is stimulance?

Stimulants are also known as "uppers" or psychostimulants. It enhances the activity of central and peripheral nervous systems.


Is amphetamine a depressant hallucinogen or stimulant?

amphetamines are stimulants and this means a substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.


What does Stimulants do Decrease alertness Increase alertness or None of the above?

Stimulants increase alertness by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine and norepinephrine.


How does red bull affect reaction time?

According to the ingredients label, red bull includes taurine, glucuronolactone, and caffeine which are psychoactive stimulants (they increase physiological and nervous activity).


Which describes the role of stimulants?

They increase the activity of the nervous system.They improve the function of the cardiovascular system.They cause cancer in humans.They help people overcome addiction to other drugs.


Which of the following is a legal prescription central nervous system stimulant that is also sometimes abused?

Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are drugs that increase activity in certain areas of the brain. These drugs are used to improve wakefulness in patients that have narcolepsy.


What are the differences between stimulants and depressant?

stim·u·lant/ˈstimyələnt/Noun:A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.Adjective:Raising levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body: "caffeine has stimulant effects on the heart".Synonyms:noun. stimulus - incentive - excitantadjective. excitant - stimulating - incentive - excitingde·pres·sant/diˈpresənt/Adjective:(chiefly of a drug) Reducing functional or nervous activity.Noun:A depressant drug.Synonyms: adjective. sedativenoun. sedative


A drug that increases the action of the central nervous system the heart and other organs?

A drug that increases the action of the central nervous system, heart, and other organs is known as a stimulant. Stimulants can increase alertness, attention, and energy levels by enhancing the activity of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Examples of stimulants include caffeine, amphetamines, and cocaine.


What is the difference between synthetic and stimulant?

Synthetic refers to substances made artificially in a lab, while stimulant refers to substances that increase alertness and physical activity by affecting the central nervous system. Stimulants can be natural or synthetic.


Do Stimulants increase alertness or decress alertness?

Stimulants increase alertness.