Final answer:
Stimulants are the name given to drugs that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and energy, which include substances like cocaine and caffeine that act on the dopamine system and can mimic natural neurotransmitters like adrenaline.
Step-by-step explanation:
The name given to drugs that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and energy is stimulants. Stimulants are a type of psychoactive drug that stimulates the brain and increases alertness and wakefulness. They mimic the effects of naturally occurring substances like epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (NE), which are produced in stressful or exciting situations, leading to a physical boost and heightened awareness.
Furthermore, several synthetic drugs, including dopamine and isoproterenol, have been developed to mimic the effects of these natural substances by stimulating the influx of calcium ions, thereby increasing the strength of contraction of the heart muscles. On the other hand, drugs such as digitalis lower heart rate (HR) while also increasing the strength of the contraction, acting as a positive inotropic agent by maintaining higher levels of intracellular calcium.
Many stimulants act as agonists of the dopamine neurotransmitter system and have the potential for abuse. Examples of such stimulants include cocaine, amphetamines, cathinones, MDMA (ecstasy), nicotine, and caffeine.