Question about stimulants

[MedStudentWanna]

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If stimulants act on the sympathetic nervous system, why is a prominent side effect diarrhea? I thought that was the parasympathetics in action.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

This sounds suspiciously like a homework problem...

EDIT: Post history says this not a homework problem.

 

[Gheorgia]

If stimulants act on the sympathetic nervous system, why is a prominent side effect diarrhea? I thought that was the parasympathetics in action.

Stimulants have to be processed by the P450 in the liver. Once it's processed a lot of the metabolite is excreted in the gallbladder as bile and that can have some toxic side effect once it reaches the intestine.

 

[gravitywave]

what'll really bake your noodle is when you realize that constipation is just as prominent a side effect.....

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Stimulants have to be processed by the P450 in the liver. Once it's processed a lot of the metabolite is excreted in the gallbladder as bile and that can have some toxic side effect once it reaches the intestine.

So it has nothing to do with the stimulation, just the toxicity. That makes a lot more sense. Thanks!

 

[MedStudentWanna]

what'll really bake your noodle is when you realize that constipation is just as prominent a side effect.....

When I read that SE, it made sense because I was thinking of it as stimulating the sympathetic system.