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The term over-the-counter (OTC) refers to a medication that can be purchased without a medical prescription. [3] In contrast, prescription drugs require a prescription from a doctor or other health care professional and should only be used by the prescribed individual. [4]
In 2008, stimulants, such as caffeine, were the most commonly used nootropic agent. [15] In 2016, the American Medical Association adopted a policy to discourage prescriptions of nootropics for healthy people, on the basis that the cognitive effects appear to be highly variable among individuals, are dose-dependent, and limited or modest at ...
Stimulants can affect various functions, including arousal, attention, the reward system, learning, memory, and emotion. Effects range from mild stimulation to euphoria, depending on the specific drug, dose, route of administration, and inter-individual characteristics. Stimulants have a long history of use, both for medical and non-medical ...
More specifically, it looked at the effect of methylphenidate (brand names Ritalin, Concerta), a stimulant, and atomoxetine (Strattera), a non-stimulant, on the brain.
As different drugs have different effects, they may be used for different reasons. According to the self-medication hypothesis (SMH), the individuals' choice of a particular drug is not accidental or coincidental, but instead, a result of the individuals' psychological condition, as the drug of choice provides relief to the user specific to his or her condition.
A stimulant is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system, increasing arousal, attention and endurance. Stimulants are used in psychiatry to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder . Because the medications can be addictive, patients with a history of drug abuse are typically monitored closely or treated with a non-stimulant.
Prescription stimulant use was defined as adults filling one or more stimulant prescriptions that contained amphetamines and methylphenidate, which is the active ingredient in Ritalin.
Use of stimulants may cause the body to significantly reduce its production of endogenous compounds that fulfill similar functions. Once the effect of the ingested stimulant has worn off the user may feel depressed, lethargic, confused, and dysphoric. This is colloquially termed a "crash" and may promote reuse of the stimulant.