Pharmacological term for a substance that stimulates or irritates the body or a system. Can refer to both therapeutic stimulants and irritants.
This stimulant acts on the central nervous system.
If an irritant comes into contact with the skin, it may cause inflammation.
刺激物 is a more general term for any irritating substance or stimulus, not necessarily a drug, whereas 刺激薬 is specifically a pharmacological agent.
Compound of 刺激 (しげき, 'stimulus') and 薬 (やく, 'drug, medicine'). The term is a straightforward Sino-Japanese compound used in medical and pharmacological contexts.