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Central Nervous System Agents MeSH Descriptor Data 2026


MeSH Heading
Central Nervous System Agents
Tree Number(s)
D27.505.954.427
Unique ID
D002491
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D002491
Annotation
general or unspecified; prefer specifics
Scope Note
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)
Entry Version
CNS AGENTS
Entry Term(s)
Central Nervous System Drugs
Registry Numbers
0
NLM Classification #
QV 76.5
Public MeSH Note
79
Online Note
consider also CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM /DE & BRAIN /DE
History Note
79; was NON MESH before 1979
Date Introduced
1979/01/01
Last Updated
2005/08/15
Central Nervous System Agents Preferred
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