Analeptics

• The drug which increase the activity of various subunit or parts
of CNS (brain and spinal cord) are called CNS stimulant.

• in CNS there are collection of cell which perform certain definite
function are called as an center .e.g. respiratory center, vomiting center,
heat regulating center, appetite controlling center.

• Some type of drugs show mild CNS stimulant effect and produce
toxic side effect in slight higher dose e.g. strychnine.

• Other type of drug show mild CNS. stimulant effect as a side
effect. e.g. Local Anesthetics (cocaine)

• Sympathomimetics (dexamphetamine), Parasympatholytic (atropine)

• CNS stimulant mainly used as an 1) Analeptics 2) Respiratory
stimulant

• They are also useful to increase mental alertness and produce wakefulness
conditions.

• To control appetite through CNS stimulant effect.

CNS stimulants Classification

CNS
stimulants can be classified as

1)  
Naturally
occurring drugs

a)  
Alkaloids
:

i) Xanthine derivatives – Caffeine,
Theophylline, Theobromin

ii) Other alkaloids –Strychnine, Lobeline

2) Synthetic drugs –Nikethamide,
Picrotoxin

3) Miscellaneous drugs – Cocaine (local
Anesthetics), Dexamphetamine (Sympathomimetics), Atropine
(Anticholinergics)  

• Analeptics are CNS stimulants which
are used to reduce narcosis produced by CNS depression.

• These drugs also act as respiratory
stimulants and thus are used to counteract drugs –induced Respiratory
Depression.

Caffeine

Structure of Caffeine: