Bromantane
Encyclopedia
Bromantane is a stimulant
drug developed in Russia during the late 1980s, which acts mainly by inhibiting the reuptake
of both dopamine
and serotonin
in the brain, although it also has anticholinergic
effects at very high doses. It was used as a doping agent
to enhance athletic performance, and several athletes tested positive for the drug at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
, following which it was added to the banned list as a stimulant
and masking agent
. Research on this class of drugs has been fairly extensive and a large family of derivatives are known, although bromantane remains the best studied, and human trials continue for applications such as increasing endurance under extreme conditions.
Stimulant
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others...
drug developed in Russia during the late 1980s, which acts mainly by inhibiting the reuptake
Reuptake
Reuptake, or re-uptake, is the reabsorption of a neurotransmitter by a neurotransmitter transporter of a pre-synaptic neuron after it has performed its function of transmitting a neural impulse....
of both dopamine
Dopamine
Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter present in a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the brain, this substituted phenethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five known types of dopamine receptors—D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5—and their...
and serotonin
Serotonin
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...
in the brain, although it also has anticholinergic
Anticholinergic
An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system. An example of an anticholinergic is dicycloverine, and the classic example is atropine....
effects at very high doses. It was used as a doping agent
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
to enhance athletic performance, and several athletes tested positive for the drug at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, following which it was added to the banned list as a stimulant
Stimulant
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others...
and masking agent
Masking agent
A masking agent is a reagent used in chemical analysis which reacts with chemical species that may interfere in the analysis.In sports a masking agent is used to hide or prevent detection of a banned substance or illegal drug like anabolic steroids or stimulants...
. Research on this class of drugs has been fairly extensive and a large family of derivatives are known, although bromantane remains the best studied, and human trials continue for applications such as increasing endurance under extreme conditions.