D.5+Stimulants

Stimulants - drugs that increase a person's state of mental alertness __**Amine groups:**__ Primary: one R group to N Secondary: two R groups to N  Tertiary: three R groups to N

**An R group is anything that is not hydrogen**


 * <- Primary amine group. **

__Amphetamines__ **: related to adrenaline. Mimic the effects of adrenaline. Both derive from the same phenylethylamine structure (ring-c-c-n).**
 * Sympathomimetic drug - fight or flight reaction, sympathetic nervous system. **
 * Symptoms: nervous, scared. **
 * General effects of stimulants - alert, pupils, heart and breathing, **
 * Effects: **
 * ** Short term: Increase of heart rate, breathing, pupils dilate, decrease in appetite **
 * ** Long term: weight loss, constipation, emotional instability. **
 * ** Withdrawal: fatigue and depression when wears off. **
 * Modification: **
 * ** Designer drugs. I.e. ecstasy. The date rape drug. **

__Caffeine:__ **coffee.**
 * [[image:http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/dt/dtclip/Food_Alb/images/coffee_jpg.jpg align="left"]] Diuretic - urination. **
 * Effects: alertness, concentration and restlessness. **
 * Large amounts: anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness. **
 * Structure: similar to nicotine - an alkaloid. **

__Tertiary amine group.__
 * __Alkaloids__: **
 * Contains nitrogen **
 * Plant origin **
 * Heterocyclic rings (contains other atoms besides carbon) **

__Nicotine:__ **sympathomimetic.**
 * Effects: **
 * ** Short term: increases concentration, relieves tension, increased heart rate and blood pressure, reduction in urine output. **
 * ** Long term: increased risk of heart disease and coronary thrombosis **
 * ** Withdrawal: craving for tobacco, nausea, weight gain, insomnia, irritability, depression. **
 * ** Smoking: lung diseases and cancers of lung, mouth, and throat. **

__Structures:__** Structure of adrenaline 

Structure of amphetamines

Structure of Caffeine

Structure of Nicotine