This review of the 2010 publications on adverse reactions to central nervous system stimulants and drugs that suppress appetite covers amphetamines (amfetamine, dexamfetamine, and metamfetamine), benfluorex (in a special review), atomoxetine, methylphenidate, modafinil, methylxanthines (caffeine and theobromine), phentermine, sibutramine, rimonabant, tesofensine, and drugs used in Alzheimer's disease (donepezil, memantine, and rivastigmine). Benfluorex, an appetite suppressant structurally related to fenfluramine, was used for the management of obesity and to improve glycemic control and reduce insulin resistance in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been estimated that several million people were exposed to benfluorex before its recent withdrawal because of adverse reactions. Cases of valvular heart disease and cases of pulmonary hypertension associated with benfluorex are reviewed. Other stimulants, such as methylphenidate, used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are discussed. Newer insights on methylxanthine toxicity due to genetic susceptibility and regulatory policy changes on sibutramine, in view of cardiovascular safety concerns, are reviewed. An update on drugs used in Alzheimer's disease is also provided.