Phentermine is an anorectic medication utilized principally for the short-term treatment of obesity as an adjunct to caloric restriction, dietary modifications, and physical exercise. It is formally classified as a psychostimulant due to the fact that it increases mental and physical arousal [via sympathomimetic mechanisms]. Specifically, phentermine facilitates central and peripheral catecholamine release (primarily of …
Phentermine is a natural monoamine alkaloid derivative that was initially approved by the United States FDA in 1959 as an anorectic (appetite suppressant) for the treatment of obesity. It was popularized throughout the early 1970s under the brand name medication “Fastin,” marketed by King Pharmaceuticals. In the late 1990s phentermine was discontinued from pharmaceutical circulation, …
Nearly all individuals taking Adderall can attest to the fact that its psychostimulatory effect is most potent after an initial “first-time” dosage. Thereafter, its efficacy is generally maintained for weeks, or perhaps months after the initial dosage with favorable results. However, eventually Adderall users may notice that its therapeutic psychostimulation seems to have dwindled and/or …
Modafinil (brand name “Provigil”) is a blockbuster eugeroic drug synthesized by Cephalon Pharmaceuticals (now Teva) and approved in 1998 for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated with narcolepsy. It was since approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness associated with obstructive sleep apnea, as well as to normalize circadian rhythms in diagnoses …
Adrafinil (Olmifon) is a eugeroic agent originally synthesized in the 1970s by chemists at Group Lafon, a pharmaceutical company based in France. Following its synthesis, researchers discovered that adrafinil induced wakefulness in humans, and by the mid-1980s, it was being marketed as an experimental treatment for narcolepsy. Though its exact pharmacodynamics aren’t fully elucidated, adrafinil …
Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a psychostimulant medication manufactured by Shire Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Many consider Vyvanse to be a “new and improved” successor of the drug Adderall. Vyvanse contains the ingredient Lisdexamfetamine which is pharmacologically inactive until metabolized; hence being classified as a “prodrug.” The fact that Vyvanse is a prodrug …
Caffeine is considered a naturally occurring CNS stimulant and is classified as a methylxanthine drug. Over 60 species of plants contain caffeine, most notably: coffee seeds (i.e. “beans”) and tea leaves. It is estimated that 80% (4/5) adults in the United States consume caffeine on a daily basis, and 90% of people throughout the world …