Brief history of the medical and non-medical use of amphetamine-like psychostimulants

Exp Neurol. 2021 May 15;342:113754. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113754. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe alkaloid ephedrine derived from Ephedra vulgaris is at the origin of psychostimulant-drugs as amphetamine. These drugs have been principally utilized for medical treatments in the past, while their utilization has been largely reduced from the 1970s when the high risk of addiction and abuse has been recognized. The first reported treatments were as anti-asthmatics and to contrast narcolepsy until their recreational stimulant and anorexic effects were reported. Benzedrine and Pervitin use were of great importance during the Second World War due to their abundant utilization among military troops. Nowadays the use of selective amphetamine-like drugs is limited to ADHD treatment.PMID:34000249 | DOI:10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113754

Source: Experimental Neurology - May 17, 2021 Category: Neurology Authors: Micaela Morelli Eugenia Tognotti Source Type: research