Drug cluster · 17 substances
Stimulants list
Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, raising alertness, attention, and energy. Prescription stimulants are the most effective treatment for ADHD; illicit stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine are highly addictive and strain the heart.
Prescription amphetamines and methylphenidates are Schedule II. In 2023 the FDA updated their boxed warning to emphasize the risks of misuse, addiction, and overdose, especially by snorting or injecting.
Also profiled on DoseUses in this cluster: Armodafinil, Caffeine, Diethylpropion, Khat, Phendimetrazine, Pseudoephedrine, Solriamfetol, and Synthetic cathinones.
Warning: Street stimulants and counterfeit Adderall pills are increasingly contaminated with fentanyl. Carry naloxone even if you do not use opioids.
Compare the stimulants at a glance
| Substance | Also known as | Type | US status | Medical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine | Adderall, Adderall XR, Mydayis | Amphetamine stimulant (mixed salts) | Schedule II | ADHD; narcolepsy |
| Armodafinil | Nuvigil | Wakefulness-promoting agent | Schedule IV | Narcolepsy; sleep apnea sleepiness; shift work disorder |
| Caffeine | Coffee, Energy drinks, NoDoz | Methylxanthine stimulant | Not federally controlled | Fatigue; apnea in premature infants |
| Cocaine | Goprelto, Numbrino | Stimulant and local anesthetic | Schedule II | Nasal anesthesia in procedures |
| Dexmethylphenidate | Focalin, Focalin XR, Azstarys | Methylphenidate-type stimulant | Schedule II | ADHD |
| Dextroamphetamine | Dexedrine, Zenzedi, ProCentra | Amphetamine stimulant | Schedule II | ADHD; narcolepsy |
| Diethylpropion | Tenuate, Tenuate Dospan, Amfepramone | Sympathomimetic appetite suppressant | Schedule IV | Short-term treatment of obesity |
| Khat | Catha edulis, Qat, Miraa | Plant stimulant (contains cathinone and cathine) | Schedule I | None |
| Lisdexamfetamine | Vyvanse | Amphetamine prodrug stimulant | Schedule II | ADHD; binge eating disorder |
| Methamphetamine | Desoxyn | Amphetamine-type stimulant | Schedule II | ADHD (Desoxyn, rarely) |
| Methylphenidate | Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD | Methylphenidate-type stimulant | Schedule II | ADHD; narcolepsy |
| Modafinil | Provigil | Wakefulness-promoting agent | Schedule IV | Narcolepsy; sleep apnea; shift work disorder |
| Phendimetrazine | Bontril PDM, Bontril SR | Sympathomimetic appetite suppressant | Schedule III | Short-term treatment of obesity |
| Phentermine | Adipex-P, Lomaira, Qsymia | Sympathomimetic appetite suppressant | Schedule IV | Short-term obesity treatment |
| Pseudoephedrine | Sudafed, Claritin-D, Allegra-D | Decongestant (sympathomimetic) | Not federally controlled | Nasal congestion |
| Solriamfetol | Sunosi | Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor | Schedule IV | Narcolepsy and sleep apnea sleepiness |
| Synthetic cathinones | Bath salts, Flakka (alpha-PVP), Mephedrone | Synthetic stimulants related to cathinone | Schedule I | None |
Amphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR, Mydayis
Adderall is a mix of four amphetamine salts (about three parts dextroamphetamine to one part levoamphetamine) used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.
Read profileArmodafinil
Nuvigil
Armodafinil (Nuvigil) is a prescription wakefulness medicine for narcolepsy, sleepiness from obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder.
Read profileCaffeine
Coffee, Energy drinks, NoDoz
Caffeine is the world's most widely used psychoactive substance, found in coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and over-the-counter alertness pills.
Read profileCocaine
Goprelto, Numbrino
Cocaine is a stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant.
Read profileDexmethylphenidate
Focalin, Focalin XR, Azstarys
Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin) is the more active half of methylphenidate, so it works at about half the dose.
Read profileDextroamphetamine
Dexedrine, Zenzedi, ProCentra
Dextroamphetamine is the more active form (isomer) of amphetamine.
Read profileDiethylpropion
Tenuate, Tenuate Dospan, Amfepramone
Diethylpropion, called amfepramone outside the US, is a prescription appetite suppressant for a few weeks of use in obesity.
Read profileKhat
Catha edulis, Qat, Miraa
Khat is a shrub whose fresh leaves are chewed for a stimulant effect in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Read profileLisdexamfetamine
Vyvanse
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is an inactive prodrug that the body slowly converts into dextroamphetamine.
Read profileMethamphetamine
Desoxyn
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant.
Read profileMethylphenidate
Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) is the most widely used ADHD medicine besides amphetamines.
Read profileModafinil
Provigil
Modafinil (Provigil) is a wakefulness-promoting medicine for excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work disorder.
Read profilePhendimetrazine
Bontril PDM, Bontril SR
Phendimetrazine (Bontril) is a prescription appetite suppressant for short-term use, a few weeks, alongside diet and exercise in people with obesity.
Read profilePhentermine
Adipex-P, Lomaira, Qsymia
Phentermine (Adipex-P) is an appetite suppressant related to amphetamine, used for a few weeks as part of a weight-loss program in people with obesity.
Read profilePseudoephedrine
Sudafed, Claritin-D, Allegra-D
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is a decongestant sold without a prescription but kept behind the pharmacy counter.
Read profileSolriamfetol
Sunosi
Solriamfetol (Sunosi) is a prescription medicine that improves wakefulness in adults with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea.
Read profileSynthetic cathinones
Bath salts, Flakka (alpha-PVP), Mephedrone
Synthetic cathinones are lab-made stimulants related to khat, sold as 'bath salts', 'flakka', or disguised as molly or other drugs.
Read profile