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Definition

Stimulants are drugs or medicines that increase your heart rate, breathing rate, and brain function. Some stimulants affect only a specific organ, such as the heart, lungs, brain, or nervous system.

Epinephrine is a stimulant. It is given during cardiac arrest to stimulate the heart and help restore the heartbeat.

Other times, stimulants can cause unwanted side effects. For example, pseudoephedrine found in some cold medicines can increase the heart rate.

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Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. This includes the rate and regularity of beats as well as the size and position of the chambers, any damage to the heart, and effects of drugs or devices to regulate the heart.

References

Taber's Medical Dictionary Online website. www.tabers.com/tabersonline. Accessed March 15, 2023.

Last reviewed January 1, 2025 by Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..

Related specialties

Clinical trials: Stimulants

UF Health research scientists make medicine better every day. They discover new ways to help people by running clinical trials. When you join a clinical trial, you can get advanced medical care. Sometimes years before it's available everywhere. You can also help make medicine better for everyone else. If you'd like to learn more about clinical trials, visit our clinical trials page. Or click one of the links below:

REGAIN

A novel temporary peripheral nerve stimulation system that delivers a single dose of electrical stimulation therapy for 1 hour will be evaluated for safety and effectiveness.

Investigator
Ellen Satteson
Status
Accepting Candidates
Ages
18 Years - 65 Years
Sexes
All
Interposed Nucleus aDBS for Ataxia

This is a single-center, open-label study designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of cerebellar adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) in adults with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). A total of 5 participants will…

Status
Accepting Candidates
Ages
21 Years - 89 Years
Sexes
All
View all stimulants studies

News and patient stories: Stimulants

More Stimulants stories

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