Plain English Meaning

Drugs that speed the body up and make you feel more awake, alert, or energetic. They can hide how tired you really are and then leave you feeling worse once they wear off.

Full Definition

Stimulants are drugs that increase the activity of the central nervous system, producing effects such as heightened alertness, faster heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and reduced sense of fatigue. Common examples include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and many over-the-counter and prescription decongestants and weight-loss medications. From an aviation medical standpoint, stimulants are a concern because they can mask genuine fatigue, cause jitteriness, disrupt sleep, and produce a rebound depression or sudden drop in performance as their effects wear off.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of drugs, fatigue, and fitness before .