From a psychopharmacology perspective, drugs are classified based on what?

The general type of effect that they produce

These produce a general decrease in cognitive and behavioral processes

Depressants

Alcohol, marijuana, barbituates (sedatives) and benzodiazapines (tranquilizers) are examples of what?

Depressants

These produce general increases in behavior and thought

Stimulants

Nicotine, caffeine, amphetamines and cocaine are examples of what?

Stimulants

These two classifications of substances alter one's perception of reality

Hallucinogens and opiates

LSD, magic mushrooms and opium are examples of what?

Hallucinogens and opiates

In order to take effect, drugs must go through what 3 steps?

Administration, distribution and elimination

This drug administration route is the most common and is very convenient yet may be a difficult path for some drugs as they must be able to survive the harsh stomach environment

Oral (PO)

This drug administration route goes directly into a vein, is the most commonly-used medical drug administration method and has the major advantage of speed but with complications at higher doses

Intravenous (IV)

This method of drug administration goes beneath the skin and is a really easy route for drug delivery

Subcutaneous (SC)

This method of drug administration goes into muscle tissue and is an easy drug delivery route

Intramuscular (IM)

This drug administration method is an easy route for drugs because it has the major advantage of circumventing the GI tract

Rectal

This drug administration method goes through the gut and is most commonly used experimentally in animals

Intraperitoneal

This drug administration method is very, very quick

Inhalation

This is the term used to describe the "parcelling" of a drug to the body

Distribution

Pick the right choice: most drugs affect synaptic activity on the (inside/outside) of the cell

Outside. They may affect receptors or reuptake mechanisms in the synapse so they must get to the appropriate target tissue efficiently and effectively

This is the term used to describe the process by which a susbtance losses its effectiveness on the body and is broken down and inactivated

Elimination

This is the amount of time that it takes to eliminate 50% of a given drug from the body

Half life

Drug metabolism typically occurs where?

In the liver

This is the process by which more and more of a substance is needed to produce a desired effect

Tolerance

What is the true definition of addiction?

Physiological and psychological need for the drug

What is the opponent-process theory of addiction?

It states that the body strives to maintain a homeostatic state. A drug produces changes from homeostasis and the body tries to reduce changes by producing an opposite effect

What is the definition of tolerance with respect to the opponent-process theory of addiction?

There is an increase in the strength of the B-process in which the body produces a countering effect to the drug

What is the definition of addiction in regards to the opponent-process theory of addiction?

There is need for more of the a-process by which the drug produces its effect in order to counteract the strengthened, body-reaction b-process

What is the definition of withdrawal in regards to the opponent-process theory of addiction?

There is the removal of the A-process by which the drug produces its desired effects; this leave behind a strengthened but opposite B-process

This is a naturally-occurring by-product of distilling and fermenting sugar

Alcohol

What is the distribution profile of alcohol?

It is absorbed by the small intestine and its peak concentration comes 30-60 minutes after ingestion

What are some of the CNS effects produced by alcohol?

Visual impairment, lack of motor coordination, increased reaction time, euphoria and release from inhibitions

This is a long-term effect of alcohol and is the debilitating loss of memory due to thiamine deficiency

Korsakoff's disease

This is a long-term effect of alcohol and is the weakening of the liver due to excessive metabolism of alcohol

Cirrhosis

This is a long-term effect of alcohol and appears in children of mothers who drink during pregnancy; symptoms include low birth weight and low IQ

Fetal alcohol syndrome

In low to moderate doses, this produces sedative/hypnotic effects. In high doses, this can produce a sense of euphoria and hallucinations

Marijuana

What is the distribution profile of marijuana?

Via inhaling - it enters the bloodstream through the lungs and has a peak concentration after 30 minutes, behavioral peak of around 2-3 hours

What is the elimination profile of marijuana?

Its half-life after it is distributed to the fat of the body is about 30 hours (4 days)

What are some of the short-term CNS effects of marijuana?

Mood alterations and euphoria, increased appetite and distortion of time perception

What are some of the longer-term health effects of marijuana?

There are various lung pathologies and immunosuppression associated with the drug

What are some of the terapeutic uses that marijuana has been used for?

It has been used for the reduction of pain among glaucoma patients and the alleviation of nausea for chemoterapy and AIDS patients

This may cause the neuronal membrane to become more flexible, may reduce the efficiency of neuronal transmission and may disrupt the activity of membrane receptors

Alcohol

This is thought to affect the membrane surrounding a specific receptor site

Marijuana/THC

This binds to the GABA receptor (increases the Cl- influx), the methyl-d-asparate (NMDA) receptor (glutamate) which decreases the Ca++ influx. This also enhances action of inhibitory GABA and reduces activity of excitatory glutamate

Alcohol

This has a specific receptor in rat brains; this receptor is most concentrated in the basal ganglia and cerebellum for motor effects and the frontal cortex for euphoria, relaxation and temporal distortions

Marijuana

These work to decrease anxiety through global depression of the CNS

Sedatives and barbituates

The effects for these are supra-additive which means that they produce greater effects than on their own

Sedatives and tranquilizers (combined with alcohol)

These are a class of synthetic compounds which act like sedatives and tranquilizers

Barbituates

These are usually taken orally and are distributed through the blood stream; they differ in length of action and are typically phenobarbital meaning that they have a half-life of 80-100 hours

Sedatives and tranquilizers

Low dose effects of these drugs include euphoria and loss of inhibition

Sedatives and tranquilizers

These are currently used as sleep aids and anticonvulsants; risks associated with the use of these include addiction, tolerance and insomnia upon withdrawal

Sedatives and tranquilizers

These are synthetic compounds which are used extensively as antianxiety (anxiolytic) drugs; they're one of the most widely prescribed medications at about 100 million prescriptions per year

Benzodiazepines

Common forms of these include chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium) and Xanax, they're taken orally and distributed through the blood stream, they act as a GABA agonist, commonly include lethargy and drowsiness as side effects and risks include addiction, tolerance and withdrawal

Benzodiazaprines

These have a great hazard of overdose potential, especially if they're mixed with alcohol (because these both affect the GABA receptor)

Benzodiazepines

Describe the benzodiazepine/barbituate/alcohol relationship with respect to the GABA receptor and the CNS

CNS depressants act on GABA which is an inhibitory transmitter. GABA opens chloride (Cl-) channels which produce hyperpolarization. Binding activates Cl- influx which causes the inhibition. If mixed with alcohol which also decreases Ca++ influx, supra inhibition results which may inhibit neural centers involved in critical functions such as breathing and heart beat

What is the half-life of nicotine?

About 2 hours

Feelings of alertness, increasing irritability, hunger suppression and increased blood pressure/heart rate are CNS stimulant effects of what?

Nicotine

"The leading cause of preventable, premature death in the world" is what?

Nicotine (smoking)

What are some of the health risks associated with nicotine/smoking?

All long-term toxicities are caused by tar and other chemicals (such as formaldehyde) from the burning of tobacco. Also, the most associated disease is cancer (primariliy lung cancer) and heart disease

What is the most widely-used drug in the world?

Caffeine

This stimulant hits the blood stream strongly around 30 minutes after injestion and effects peak around 2 hours; half life is anywhere from 3-5 hours

Caffeine

This substance acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist (AR plays a role in sedation and bronchospasm) and it also produces increases in alertness and decreases in fatigue as well as easier breathing by relaxing the bronchi

Caffeine

The risks of the use of this substance include the potential to create nervousness and hypertension. In high doses, this may also cause irritability, insomnia, nervousness and possibly panic attacks in those who are vulnerable to them

Caffeine

These are powerful stimulants which act through overlapping mechanisms (primarily dopamine). These have severe abuse potential, animals left to self-administer these do so until they die. Chronic use leads to very serious health problems

Amphetamines and cocaine

What is the typical half life of amphetamines?

18-24 hours

Increase in blood pressure, motor activity, libido and pain threshold, decreases in bronchial muscle tone, fatigue, appetite and euphoria are all CNS stimulant effects of what?

Amphetamines

About how many Americans have experimented with cocaine? How many Americans use cocaine on a regular basis?

20-30 million Americans have experimented with cocaine while several million use cocaine regularly

Increased heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature along with feelings of euphoria are all CNS stimulant effects of what?

Cocaine

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems are potential long-term health risks of what?

Cocaine

These substances prevent the inactivation of catecholamines by re-uptake at the synapse

Cocaine and amphetamines

These substances increase the release time of catecholamines when they are normally inactivated by re-uptake at the synapse

Amphetamines

This is injested orally in the form of "buttons", is absorbed rapidly by the gut and can produce hallucinogenic effects

Peyote

How long does it take for peyote to reach significant levels in the brain and how long could its physiological effects last for?

Significant levels are reached 30-60 minutes after injestion and effects can last for 10 hours

In smaller doses, this substance increases blood pressure, heart rate and pupil dilation. In larger doses, it can create hallucinations

Peyote

This is a "dangerous and potent" toxin of serotonin cells

Ecstasy

What is the onset and half-life of LSD and how long do its effects last for?

Onset occurs about 30-60 minutes after injestion, half-life is about 3 hours and effects can last for as long as 10-12 hours

Effects of this drug include increased heart rate and blood pressure, pupil dilation, perceptual alterations, occasionally psychotic episodes and synesthesia (mixing of the senses)

LSD

What is the greatest risk regarding the use of LSD?

Psychotic break (suicide)

This acts as a serotonin agonist at inhibitory autoreceptors (if you inhibit inhibiting neurons, you get excitation)

LSD

What is the most potent derivative of opium?

Morphine

CNS effects of these drugs include analgesia, euphoria, sedation and respiratory depression

Opiates

This is an extremely dangerous synthetic derivative of morphine and is approximately 10 times more powerful

Heroin

What does the mu opiate receptor responsible for?

Pain analgesia (binds endorphins in PAG)

What the kappa opiod receptor responsible for?

Pain analgesia (binds endorphins in the spinal cord

What is the delta opiod receptor involved in?

Altering affect and euphoria

What is the sigma opiod receptor involved in?

Dysphoria and feelings of discomfort