NOTE: If format is strange, you may want to go to outline format.
| Drug Class | Examples | Mechanisms of Action | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
STIMULANTS (produce psychomotor arousal; treat attention
deficit disorder) | Sympathomimetics
| Dextroamphetamine | Methylphenidate Monoamine (DA & NE) agonist;
increase release; block re-uptake | Cholinomimetics
| Nicotine | Muscarine ACh agonist (high dose blocks) | Xanthines
| Caffeine | Theophylline Block adenosine receptors;
GABA antagonist | Convulsants
| Strychnine
| Glycine antagonist | DEPRESSANTS (produce
sedation; treat pain, anxiety, sleep disorders) | Opioids
| Morphine, Codeine | Heroin, Methadone Endogenous opiate agonist | Barbiturates
| Secobarbital
| GABA agonist | Barbiturate-like
| Meprobamate
| Similar to barbiturates | Organic solvents
| Alcohol | Ether Disrupt neuronal membrane; may
facilitate GABA | HALLUCINOGENIC (produce
distorted perception) | NE-like
| Mescaline
| Alter 5HT activity | 5HT-like
| LSD
| Alter 5HT activity | Other
| Marijuana | Anti-cholinergics, PCP Alter 5HT activity |
ANTIPSYCHOTICS (treat schizophrenia; also delirium and
dementia) | Phenothiazines
| Chlorpromazine
| Block DA receptors | Butyrophenones
| Haloperidol
| Block DA receptors | Other
| Clozapine
| Block DA receptors | ANTIDEPRESSANTS
(treat depression and bipolar disorder) | Tricyclics(
secondary amines) | Tricyclics (tertiary amines)
Nortriptyline | Imipramine Clomipramine Block NE re-uptake | Block 5HT re-uptake Block 5HT re-uptake Heterocyclics
| Fluoxetine
| Block NE & 5HT reuptake | MAO inhibitors
| Phenelzine | Tranylcypromine Inhibit monoamine oxidase | Lithium
| Lithium
| Stabilizes synapses | ANTI-ANXIETY (treat
acute and chronic anxiety; also sleep disturbances) |
Benzodiazepines
| Alprazolam | Diazepam Faclitate GABA | Other
| Buspirone
| Decrease 5HT activity | | |||||||||||||||||
ACh = acetylcholine
DA = dopamine
5HT = serotonin
GABA = gamma amino butyric acid
LSD = lysergic acid diethylamide
MAO = monoamine oxidase
NE = norepinephrine
PCP = phencyclidine