A Central Nervous System Stimulant

Most Americans have heard of Ritalin and Adderall, either being used to calm hyperactive children or used illegally across every college campus for the purpose of studying. These are two completely different circumstances, which may be confusing to some. The reason that these two different groups of people get two vastly different results from the same drug is that these belong to the drug class of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. CNS stimulants increase alertness mentally and physically, but do the opposite for those with hyperactivity disorders. This is because these drugs release dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is related with motivation (Healthline Editorial Team).

The main job of Adderall is to keep a patient awake and focused. For those that have ADHD, it is extremely difficult to focus or sit still, therefore Adderall is given to reduce and aid in focusing and keeping their hyperactivity to a minimum. For narcolepsy patients, since they collapse and fall asleep, adderall helps the patient to stay awake. Adderall is not used as a treatment because ADHD and narcolepsy are not treatable; instead it helps them cope with their day. According to my pharmacist, Sergey Sachacov, “Adderall is a stimulant that increases the

Adderall is a form of amphetamine, legally used in a limited number of countries, primarily the United States and Canada, for the treatment of: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is available in 2 forms: instant release and extended release. Both forms are suitable for the treatment for ADHD. When used for short periods as prescribed by a physician, Adderall has the positive effect of counteracting symptoms of ADHD. This happens by: Increasing the availability of certain neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. These brain chemicals are responsible for boosting alertness, attention, and energy levels.

Before people abused Adderall, it was initially used for disorders such as ADHD and narcolepsy. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a, “neurobehavioral disorder that is defined by persistent and maladaptive symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention3”. A report that was released in November of 2013, showed that around, “11 percent of children aged 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives. In adults, the rate is much lower (about 4 percent)4”. However, researchers advise that because the numbers may be higher than what was stated since adults that were not treated in their childhood are more likely to stay untreated. People that suffer from ADHD often have serious problems in school and communicating with others. It is also connected with various conditions such as mood, demeanor, and learning disorders. Narcolepsy is another common condition that is treated with Adderall. It is categorized as a sleeping disorder which causes, “excessive sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and in some cases episodes of cataplexy (partial or total loss of muscle control, often triggered by a strong emotion such as laughter)5”. The disorder occurs correspondingly in men and women and researchers think that it affects about one in two-thousand people. In the brains of those with narcolepsy, “the cluster of cells that produce hypocretin—located in a region called the hypothalamus—is damaged or completely destroyed5”. In

These drugs are used to aid ADHD by triggering dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Methylphenidates and Amphetamines improve response inhibition, working memory, attention, and vigilance. Atomoxetines and Reboxetines also help with ADHD but with depression as well. Atomoxetines and Rehoxetines do differ from Methylphenidates and Amphetamines by only effecting the Frontoparietal attentional systems. Atomoxetines and Reboxetines improve the same cognitive functions as Methylphenidates and Amphetamines but do not improve vigilance the same way that Methylphenidates and Amphetamines do. Just as Methylphenidates and Amphetamines trigger the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors so do Atomoxetines, and Rehoxetines. The only difference is that Atomoxetines, and Rehoxetines do not trigger dopamine. (Husain, Mehta) Methylphenidates and Amphetamines are drugs that are primarily used to combat developmental

Adderall is prescription drug that is a derivative of two forms of Amphetamine: l-amphetamines and d-amphetamines, the latter being the larger portion (makes up 75%) as well as the more potent of the two [6]. Amphetamine (then called Benzedrine ) was first synthesized in the early 1900’s through a serendipitous discovery while searching for a cheaper substitute of another drug called ephedrine. The chemist who discovered this new drug, G.A Alles, then conducted experiments and found that this new drug was powerful stimulant. As a result, it was introduced to the public in 1935. It was advertised as a treatment for narcolepsy, mild depression, post-encephalitic Parkinson and later as an appetite suppressant. Reports of improvement in intelligence

The significance of adderall is to mainly treat people who have narcolepsy and/or attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Regularly taking the medication with the correct dosage, ensures a person to get the most benefit from it. Adderall increases levels of dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline in the brain. This causes elevated moods in majority of people. With an elevated mood, a person might feel more attentive and focused throughout their day. As a result and also a benefit from taking Adderall, higher motivation and enhanced levels of productivity are shown. Adderall is often prescriped as an effective appetite suppressant for people who want to lose weight. Adderall is also beneficial when it comes to individuals who suffer from narcolepsy.

Ritalin and Adderall are both stimulants used to treat the symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy. The cause of ADHD is not completely understood, but ADHD is believed to be a neurobiological disorder. It is also thought to be hereditary. Narcolepsy is a chronic condition which involves the brain to lose the ability to regulate its sleep-wake cycles. Narcolepsy is characterized by uncontrollable random sleep attacks and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Ritalin, and Adderall, respectively. Although originally developed to treat diagnosed conditions ranging from narcolepsy to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, their off-label use has been reported to increase users’ recall, attention span, and ability to focus on cognitive tasks; in addition, modafinil has been shown to increase wakefulness (Butcher 2003; greely et al. 2008). Some CEDs also seem to enhance users’ “executive function,” or problem-solving ability (Mehlman 2004, p. 484). Beyond the currently available drugs, research into Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of cognitive decline in the elderly is likely to contribute, intentionally or not, to the further

Background: A 98-year-old female was recently prescribed a 5 mg daily dose of Donepezil for her memory loss. She wonders how Donepezil will help her recollection. She has not had problems with her memory in the past but has been having trouble remembering names and is easily frustrated by it. Along with dementia, she is also diagnosed with osteoarthritis and has a history of breast cancer. She has no food or drug allergies.

In 1996, Shire Pharmaceuticals introduced their patented blend of amphetamine salts known as Adderall. Adderall was created to treat patients suffering from Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It taps into the parts of their brain that control hyperactivity and impulses, intending to improve attention and focus. It brings people with ADHD down to a baseline level that healthy people like you and I are on on a regular basis. Meanwhile, it has the opposite effect on someone who does not suffer from ADHD. When a healthy person takes Adderall, the brain ends up being overstimulated. Although intended to help with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Adderall has become a drug misused by teens and college students. It gives students a certain edge which can be appealing to those striving to excel.

three groups.Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medicines block the monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAO) from destroying monoamine neurotransmitters, which allows them to accumulate, alleviating depression. Serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications block the serotonin reuptake pump, allowing the serotonin neurotransmitter to remain and accumulate in the receptor for longer. Speaking of serotonin specifically, depression has been related to a deficiency of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) neurotransmitter as evidenced by the concentrations of the

Many individuals are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Ritalin is a medication that is prescribed after diagnosis to offset its symptoms. As with most drugs, Ritalin has side effects, some of which are commonly associated with most pharmaceutical drugs but much more severe. Ritalin is a central Nervous system stimulant that affects ones’ central nervous system which controls cognition, thought processes and even regular breathing. Ritalin should be reconsidered as a remedy to either ADD or ADHD as the consequences of this medication can evolve into illegal drug use outside of what are common side effects. Drugs such as Ritalin produce successful outcomes for many patients but

Ritalin, named after the wife of its creator, Leandro Panizzon, is a common trade name for methylphenidate, and was first synthesized by the pharmaceutical company known today as Novartis Corporation (Myers, 2007). A central nervous system stimulant most commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, Ritalin acts as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, increasing neurotransmission of dopamine in the brain and enhancing performances in memory, cognition and attention (Markowitz, Patrick & Straughn, 2003). Although available in various forms, Ritalin is most commonly used in the form of pills and capsules (Lehmann &Wojnowicz, 2016). Also known as the “Smart Drug” or “Vitamin R”, Ritalin is used as an antidepressant for major depressive disorder, particularly in stroke and cancer patients (King, Leonard, McCartan and White, 2004; Office of National Drug Control Policy).

The linkage of serotonin to depression has been known for the past five years. From numerous studies, the most concrete evidence of this connection is the decreased concentration of serotonin metabolites like 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole acetic acid) in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissues of depressed people. If depression, as suggested, is a result of decreased levels of serotonin in the brain, pharmaceutical agents that can reverse this effect should be helpful in treating depressed patients. Therefore, the primary targets of various antidepressant medications are serotonin transports of the brain. Since serotonin is activated when released by neurons into the synapse, antidepressants function at the synapse to enhance serotonin activity. Normally, serotonin's actions in the synapse are terminated by its being taken back into the neuron then releases it at which point "it is either recycled for reuse as a transmitter or broken down into its metabolic by products and transported out of the brain." As a result, antidepressants work to increase serotonin levels at the synapse by blocking serotonin reuptake (2).