Cardiac stimulant

A cardiac stimulant is a drug which acts as a stimulant of the heart to increase cardiac output. They can work via positive chronotropic action (increased heart rate) and/or positive inotropic action (increased myocardial contractility).

Within positive inotropes, there are calcium mobilizers and calcium sensitizers. Calcium mobilizers are conventional positive inotropes that elevate intracellular calcium, whereas calcium sensitizers do not elevated intracellular calcium but instead increase sensitivity to it.

Cardiac stimulants are known to be used (and banned) as performance-enhancing drugs, including for doping in sport.

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