CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DRUGS
NURS 241 Pharmacology
10/28/2018
, CNS STIMULANTS
Drugs that stimulate a specific area of the brain or spinal cord
Neurons contain receptors for excitatory neurotransmitters, including
dopamine (dopaminergic drugs),
norepinephrine (adrenergic drugs), and
serotonin (serotonergic drugs)
Sympathomimetic drugs
CLASSIFICATIONS
Classified according to
Chemical structural similarities:
amphetamines,
ADHD
serotonin agonists,
Migraines
Weight Loss
sympathomimetics,
xanthines
Caffeine
Site of therapeutic action in the central nervous system (CNS)
Major therapeutic uses: anti–attention deficit disorder, antinarcoleptic,
anorexiant, antimigraine, and analeptic (adrenergic) drugs
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER ADHD
Most common psychiatric disorder in children, affecting 4% to 10% of school-
age children
Boys are affected from two to nine times more often than girls.
Primary symptoms of ADHD are inappropriate ability to maintain attention
span or the presence of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Drug therapy for both childhood and adult ADHD is the same.
ATOMOXETINE (STRATTERA)
nonstimulant drug also used for ADHD
Approved for treating ADHD in children older than 6 years of age and in adults
In September 2005, the FDA issued a warning describing cases of suicidal
thinking and behavior in small numbers of adolescent patients receiving this
medication.
NARCOLEPSY
Incurable neurologic condition in which patients unexpectedly fall asleep in the
middle of normal daily activities. These “sleep attacks” are reported to cause car
accidents or near-misses in 70% or more of patients.
Cataplexy: sudden acute skeletal muscle weakness.
Associated symptom in at least 70% of narcolepsy cases.
MODAFINIL (PROVIGIL)
Use: improvement of wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness
associated with narcolepsy and with shift work sleep disorder
Less abuse potential than amphetamines and methylphenidate
Schedule IV drug
Armodafinil (Nuvigil): similar to modafinil
2
NURS 241 Pharmacology
10/28/2018
, CNS STIMULANTS
Drugs that stimulate a specific area of the brain or spinal cord
Neurons contain receptors for excitatory neurotransmitters, including
dopamine (dopaminergic drugs),
norepinephrine (adrenergic drugs), and
serotonin (serotonergic drugs)
Sympathomimetic drugs
CLASSIFICATIONS
Classified according to
Chemical structural similarities:
amphetamines,
ADHD
serotonin agonists,
Migraines
Weight Loss
sympathomimetics,
xanthines
Caffeine
Site of therapeutic action in the central nervous system (CNS)
Major therapeutic uses: anti–attention deficit disorder, antinarcoleptic,
anorexiant, antimigraine, and analeptic (adrenergic) drugs
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER ADHD
Most common psychiatric disorder in children, affecting 4% to 10% of school-
age children
Boys are affected from two to nine times more often than girls.
Primary symptoms of ADHD are inappropriate ability to maintain attention
span or the presence of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Drug therapy for both childhood and adult ADHD is the same.
ATOMOXETINE (STRATTERA)
nonstimulant drug also used for ADHD
Approved for treating ADHD in children older than 6 years of age and in adults
In September 2005, the FDA issued a warning describing cases of suicidal
thinking and behavior in small numbers of adolescent patients receiving this
medication.
NARCOLEPSY
Incurable neurologic condition in which patients unexpectedly fall asleep in the
middle of normal daily activities. These “sleep attacks” are reported to cause car
accidents or near-misses in 70% or more of patients.
Cataplexy: sudden acute skeletal muscle weakness.
Associated symptom in at least 70% of narcolepsy cases.
MODAFINIL (PROVIGIL)
Use: improvement of wakefulness in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness
associated with narcolepsy and with shift work sleep disorder
Less abuse potential than amphetamines and methylphenidate
Schedule IV drug
Armodafinil (Nuvigil): similar to modafinil
2
