Master CNS Stimulant Indications with Picmonic for Nursing RN

Amphetamine salts are a controlled CNS stimulant medication used to treat obesity and ADHD. Off label uses of this drug include narcolepsy and depression.

Methylphenidate is a commonly prescribed drug used to treat ADHD and ADD and is for improving concentration and focus. Off label uses include combating obesity, lethargy, and depression.

These drugs cause stimulatory effects in the patient by increasing presynaptic vesicle release of catecholamines, one of them being norepinephrine.

These drugs increase dopamine by inducing the release of catecholamine-containing storage vesicles. Dopamine's bioavailability is also increased by blocking its reuptake with these drugs.

Symptoms of ADHD may be temporarily controlled with CNS stimulants for approximately three years before tolerance develops. CNS stimulants increase the patient's focus. By increasing the patient's level of concentration, symptoms of impulsivity, distractibility, and restlessness decrease. Because of concerns related to growth suppression in children, some healthcare providers recommend “drug holidays” on weekends and in the summer to allow the child to catch up on growth.

CNS stimulants affect the hypothalamus and cause appetite suppression. Patients with obesity may lose their appetite and experience weight loss when given this medication. Because CNS stimulants have a high risk for abuse, they are used "off label" for obesity treatment, and this is not an FDA approved indication for CNS stimulant use.

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive sleepiness and frequent daytime sleep attacks. Amphetamines activate the CNS and cause feelings of wakefulness and alertness to counteract feelings of sleepiness.