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What is the principal mode of action of amphetamines?
| Q: |
It is fairly well documented out there of the effect drugs have on the brain. For instance that Ecstasy floods the brian with serotonin, and Cocaine stops the reuptake of dopamine...both providing extreme euphoria. I have found such information on almost all drugs on your website except for Amphetimines/Methamphetimines/Ephedrine. I'd like to know what these chemicals do in the brain to give them the effects felt when taken. Thanks |
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| A: |
Amphetamines have several modes of action. The primary mechanism is causing newly synthesized catecholamines to be released, especially dopamine but also norepinephrine, from presynaptic storage sites of nerve terminals. A secondary mode of action involves direct stimulation of postynaptic catecholamine receptors.
The end result of this is that more Dopamine (and slightly more norepinephrine) is available to the brain, similar to the end result of Cocaine, but by completely different mechanism.
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Categories:
[ Pharmacology ]
[ Amphetamines ]
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