Chemicals and Drugs

Central Nervous System Agents

A class of drugs producing both physiological and psychological effects through a variety of mechanisms. They can be divided into specific agents, e.g., affecting an identifiable molecular mechanism unique to target cells bearing receptors for that agent, and nonspecific agents, those producing effects on different target cells and acting by diverse molecular mechanisms. Those with nonspecific mechanisms are generally further classed according to whether they produce behavioral depression or stimulation. Those with specific mechanisms are classed by locus of action or specific therapeutic use. (From Gilman AG, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p252)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A class of drugs producing both physiological and psychological effects through a variety of mechanisms. They can be divided into specific agents, e.g., affecting an identifiable molecular mechanism unique to target cells bearing receptors for that agent, and nonspecific agents, those producing effects on different target cells and acting by diverse molecular mechanisms. Those with nonspecific mechanisms are generally further classed according to whether they produce behavioral depression or stimulation. Those with specific mechanisms are classed by locus of action or specific therapeutic use. (From Gilman AG, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p252)

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Central Nervous System Drugs

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

general or unspecified; prefer specifics

MeSH Record

History Note

79; was NON MESH before 1979

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D27.505.954.427

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 76.5

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Central Nervous System Agents. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D002491. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D002491
  2. Central Nervous System Agents. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50429917