Abuse of any type of drug, regardless of whether the drug is legal or illegal, can have an effect on the nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerve fibers and specialized nerve cells throughout the body. Drugs...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter -- a chemical in your brain that affects various aspects of your mood and behavior. Specifically, dopamine influences the parts of your brain that control body movement, emotions and pleasure-seeking behavior,...
Frequent urination is the sudden, strong urge to urinate that occurs more often than usual. Some individuals may get up several times at night to use the bathroom. This condition is known as nocturia. Apart from conditions, such as diabetes,...
Topamax is an anticonvulsant that is most commonly used to treat seizures. It can also be used for treating obesity, pain syndromes and alcohol cravings in people who are alcohol abusers. This drug has a number of side effects that can...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain playing a critical role in physical and mental health. Dopamine levels contribute to neurological processes affecting body movement, pleasure and pain sensations and emotional responses, according to...
Catecholamines play an important role in your mental health. They are substances composed of small molecules that act as both a hormone and neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that mediate communication between neurons across...
Your brain contains a number of chemicals called neurotransmitters that control your emotions, reactions, moods and even your physical movements. Your body synthesizes these chemicals naturally, but if it makes too much or too little of either...
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that six out of every 1,000 children are diagnosed with autism. This neurological condition is characterized by various impairments, such as difficulty communicating, social...
For hundreds of years, herbs and herbal treatments have been used in the battle against alcoholism, and to help reduce the temptation and lure of alcohol from recovering alcoholics and those who are tempted by alcohol. According to the University...
According to Mcgill University's "The Brain from Top to Bottom" website, a mere 0.3% of your brain cells produce dopamine. However having just the right amount of dopamine is vital to the healthy functioning of your brain. Healthy amounts of...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or brain chemical, which regulates many physical and emotional processes. Some health disorders involve too low or too high levels of dopamine activity, explain scientists at the Addiction Science Research and...
Neurotransmitters in your brain rule your mental and emotional life. Your body depends on nourishment from the food you eat to build and maintain them. Dopamine is a critical neurotransmitter that regulates your emotions, your movement and your...
Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter, a chemical that carries nerve signals across the gap between nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine agonists are drugs that bind to dopamine receptors on nerve cells, thereby taking the place of dopamine. The...
Anxiety can range from an occasional mild feeling of emotional discomfort to daily occurrences of disabling emotions. The National Institute of Mental Health says that approximately 40 million Americans aged 18 or older have an anxiety disorder....
Of all the rich chemicals in the amazing organ we call the brain, dopamine plays one of the most dramatic roles. Too little dopamine can cause slowed movement, apathy and lack of motivation. Too much dopamine is associated with schizophrenia and...
Kids have a lot of energy, but many kids aren't given enough opportunities to be active. If your family doctor has determined that your kids should lose a few pounds, chances are he won't recommend a calorie-busting diet that you've read about in...
Sometimes referred to as Indian tobacco, lobelia has a historical use dating to the Penobscot Indians and other native tribes, who would smoke it during religious ceremony. Lobelia is full of rich folklore with varied historical accounts of its...
Oxycontin, sold under the generic name oxycodone, treats moderate to severe pain. Oxycontin acts upon the opiate receptors in the brain, reducing the sensation of pain. Drugs.com warns that people can become addicted to Oxycontin. While Oxycontin...
The debate continues among researchers as to whether marijuana is physically addictive or a psychological habit. Chronic marijuana users may build up a tolerance to the drug's effects. They often need larger and larger amounts of marijuana to...
A debate lingers as to whether marijuana is physically addictive. It's difficult to classify it as a physical addition. But heavy marijuana use has been known to lead to psychological addiction and social dependence, according to the Center for...
Oxycodone is a prescription-only narcotic opioid painkiller available in a variety of prescription formulations--including instant- and extended-release pills. It is available in combination with acetaminophen as well. Oxycodone is a widely...
More than 50 percent of children in the United States try drugs at least one time between first and 12th grade, according to Phoenix House. In fact, risky behaviors that can lead to death, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease...
If you use caffeine regularly, you may be aware of your psychological dependence on it, but you may be surprised to find you have developed a physical addiction as well. If you suddenly stop using caffeine, that dependence will soon become...
According to relapse prevention consultant Terence Gorski, relapse doesn't just happen. There is a progression of warning signs that appear before the relapse into drinking or drug abuse. By learning the signs that lead to relapse, an addict or...
The successful completion of a stay in a drug rehabilitation center demonstrates a great degree of commitment and struggle on the part of the recovering addict. That commitment doesn't end once rehab is over. It takes constant vigilance to...
Despite the efforts of health-care professionals and law enforcement officials alike, addiction to alcohol and other drugs continues to be a major problem. The failure of conventional methods to defeat the insidious disease of addiction should not...
Alcohol definitely affects the brain, report researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Side effects can be apparent after only a few drinks. Immediate side effects of drinking alcohol can include blurred...
Substance abuse and chemical dependency can have a devastating effect on the individual and the family. Often the individual enters a rehab facility, where he undergoes some form of treatment, and leaves only to return a few months later....
Addiction to any opiate, especially one as strong as heroin, is dangerous. The regular consumption of these types of substances can be life threatening. Withdrawal from heroin is usually quick, but extremely difficult. Medical professionals...
