Stimulant

Ritalin sustained-release (SR) 20 mg tablets.

Stimulants (also referred to as psychostimulants) are psychoactive drugs that increase activity in the brain and induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical functions or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others.

Stimulants are also occasionally referred to as "uppers". Depressants or "downers", which decrease mental and/or physical function, are in stark contrast to stimulants and are considered to be their functional opposites. Stimulants are widely used throughout the world as prescription medicines and without prescription both as legal substances and illicit substances of recreational use or abuse.

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects. These effects are listed and defined in detail within their own dedicated articles below:

Along side of these a variety of non-essential secondary effects are often present. These generally include but are not limited to:

After effects

The effects which occur during the offset of a stimulant experience generally feel negative and uncomfortable in comparison to the effects which occurred during its peak. This is often referred to as a "comedown" and occurs because of neurotransmitter depletion. Its effects commonly include:

Irritability

Examples

The chemicals below have a varying degree of stimulant effects. Some of the chemicals have a minimal stimulant effect while others may have a strong stimulant effect. Many of these substances possess other qualities including entactogenic or nootropic effects.