How do stimulants work?

Stimulants work in the body by affecting the central nervous system. More on how long it takes for stimulants to start acting and how stimulants work in the body and brain here.

3
minute read

Stimulants include cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, nicotine, and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), better known as “Ecstasy.”

Here, we present more about how stimulants work in the brain and the body. In case you have some questions after reading, you are welcomed to ask questions in the comments section at the end. We will be more than happy to help you.

How do stimulants work in the body?

When you take a small dose of stimulants, you may feel euphoric, energetic, talkative and mentally alert. There is this feeling as if your sight sound and touch sensors are pretty sharp. All of a sudden you don’t feel hungry or fatigue. Your body temperature rises, the heart pumps faster and you can almost feel the blood in your veins. If you’ve taken a larger dose of stimulants, then you may start acting bizarre and erratic, being a bit violent too.

How does stimulants affect the brain and nervous system?

Stimulants change the way the brain works by changing the way nerve cells communicate. Stimulants cause a buildup of dopamine in the brain, which can make people who abuse stimulants feel intense pleasure and increased energy. They can also make people feel anxious and paranoid. Stimulants also interfere with serotonin and can block nerve impulse.

With repeated use, stimulants can disrupt the functioning of the brain’s dopamine system, dampening users’ ability to feel any pleasure at all. People may try to compensate by taking more and more of the drug to experience the same pleasure.

How fast or quickly does stimulants work?

Stimulants are absorbed relatively quickly fast when administered by smoking, snorting and intravenous use. However, the faster the absorption of stimulants in the system, the more intense and rapid the high, but the shorter the duration of action. For example, injecting stimulants produces an effect within 15-30 seconds. While only on hit of smoked crack produces an almost immediate effects and intense experience, but it will all end after 5-15 minutes. If you decide to snort stimulants, you’ll feel the effects almost immediately, but here you will be feeling high for about 15 to 30 minutes.

How long do stimulants work?

Stimulants have varied half-lives. However, general effects of most stimulants will last for at least 1 to 2 hours, depending on the dose, while later effects may last for several days, especially after binge use.

How do stimulants work better?

When it comes to dosing, single low doses of stimulants may improve mental and motor performance in people, who are tired. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that stimulants necessarily enhance the performance of normally active individuals. stimulants may improve human’s ability when working on simple tasks, not complex. A perfect example for complex task is driving.

Most studies done in the field of stimulants use are limited by the low doses allowed. These dosing requirements result in better attention, but no effect at all on any cognitive processes, such as learning.

Do stimulants work for everyone?

Stimulants can be provide very powerful psycho-active effects. However, stimulants can also become addictive drugs of abuse. So when you start to notice initial tolerance to a euphoric high, this is a good time to stop. Since most of stimulants are also sold on the streets, know that dealers dilute them with inert substances, such as talcum powder or sugar, you need to be aware for the purity issue and your own safety.

How stimulants work questions

If we haven’t managed to satisfy your interest about stimulants so far, you are more than welcome to ask any question about stimulants right below. We will read them and we will give you a personal and immediate answer. We welcome your experiences and thoughts, too.

Reference Sources: NIDA for teens: What are stimulants
National highway Traffic Safety Administration: Cocaine
National Library of Medicine: Stimulants
National Institute of Drug Abuse: Research reports on cocaine
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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