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Stimulants
4.03.07
41
Other
Not Applicable
04/05/2007

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Cards

Term
What are examples of stimulants?
Definition
Cocaine;
Methamphetamine;
Dextroamphetamine;
Methylphenidate;
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Term
what is the stimulant epidemic?
Definition
Stimulant “epidemics” driven by low perceived risk and increasing supply, occurred initially with cocaine, later with amphetamine, and again with cocaine in the 1980s.

Education can address perceived risk but law enforcement efforts to limit supply have not been particularly successful
Term
What is cocaine dependence driven by?
Definition
Cocaine dependence is driven largely by euphoria (positive reinforcement) and craving (negative reinforcement), which alternate to produce a cycle of addiction.
Term
What does euphoria result from?
Definition
Euphoria results from the acute pharmacological action of cocaine on pleasure circuits
Term
What does craving result from?
Definition
Craving appears to result in part from chronic neuroadaptations associated with cocaine exposure. Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments that diminish cocaine euphoria or reverse craving should promote recovery.
Term
What neurological circuit does cocaine affect?
Definition
the neural circuits involved in reinforcement. This is the dopamine (DA) system. The DA system originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and connects to the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex as well as hippocampus. This is the mesocorticolimbic system. Activation of the VTA results in the DA release in the nucleus accumbens and limbic system and the prefrontal cortex. This is associated with rewarding/reinforcing effects, not only for alcohol but for almost all abused drugs.
Term
What does chronic cocaine exposure do?
Definition
It disregulated the rewards pathways.
Term
what is the most common illicit drug mentioned in ER reports?
Definition
Cocaine
Term
what are the toxic effects of cocaine?
Definition
Toxic effects result from vasospasm, producing ischemia or necrosis, electrophysiological disturbances, and hypertension.
Trauma is another common cause of the addiction resulting from the dangers of cocaine procurement.
Term
what are cardiac complications?
Definition
Cardiac complications of cocaine use:
Angina
Myocardial infarction
Cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Term
If an MI in a younger person, what do you expect?
Definition
Myocardial infarction in a young individual without evident risk factors should always increase the index of suspicion for cocaine dependence. Sudden death can even occur with first time use, especially if cocaine is mixed with alcohol (due to the toxic effects of cocaethylene).
Term
what are other Coke medical problems?
Definition
Other medical problems:
Hyperpyrexia
Intestinal ischemia
Renal failure
Perforated nasal septum
Low birth weight, spontaneous abortion
Term
what is most common coke combo?
Definition
Cocaine & alcohol
Most common cocaine combination
Reduces anxiety
Term
what does cocaethylene do?
Definition
Cocaethylene is psychoactive and cardiotoxic
Term
what is speedball?
Definition
Intravenous cocaine & heroin (speedball)
Enhanced euphoria positive effects of both drug
Reduction of unpleasant cocaine effects
Medical complications associated with IV use
Term
What is the clinical syndrome of cocaine?
Definition
Cocaine Euphoria
Cocaine-Induced Craving
Cue-Induced Craving
Stress-Induced Craving
Baseline Craving
Cocaine Withdrawal
Hedonic Dysregulation
Hypofrontality
Term
What is changed by chronic cocaine exposure?
Definition
Neurotransmitter levels, receptor sensitivity and even the morphology of neurons within reward pathways are changed by chronic cocaine exposure.
Term
cocaine euphroria?
Definition
Brief duration
Gives way to craving in minutes
(even when levels are still elevated)
Lack of satiation - multiple doses
Binge pattern use
Intensely rewarding
Animals self-administer till death
Patients obsessed with euphoria
Distinctive features v. heroin/alcohol
Manic-like, racing thoughts, energy, vigilance
Psychomotor activation, environmental focus
Sexual arousal
Term
Does Da increase or decrease
Definition
increase DA releasing, and increase DA binding
Term
Does glutamate neurotransmission increase of decrease?
Definition
it increases
Term
How do coke and meth increase DA levels?
Definition
Cocaine and methylphenidate increase DA levels by binding the dopamine transporter (DAT). Amphetamine has the added effect of releasing DA.
Term
How is DA in the NA abused?
Definition
Naturally rewarding activities (sex, feeding) also release DA in the nucleus accumbens, demonstrating how stimulants hijack natural reward pathways. Stimulants increase sex drive, which leads to risky behavior and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Nearly all drugs of abuse release DA in the nucleus accumbens.
Term
what is the siignature of drug reward
Definition
an increase in DA in NA
Term
what are advantages of smoking crack?
Definition
The intrapulmonary administration of cocaine with crack delivers a rapid bolus of cocaine to the brain.
Smoking cocaine bypasses the venous system, providing more euphoria than oral, intranasal, and even intravenous cocaine. Smoking is certainly more socially acceptable than injecting to novice users.
Term
How is craving produced?
Definition
Cocaine-induced craving:
Glutamate depletion;
Cue-induced craving:
DA/glutamate activation;
Stress-induced craving:
CRF, NE & DA/glutamate activation;
Baseline craving :
DA/glutamate depletion?
Term
What does limbic activation provide?
Definition
Limbic activation provides a means of testing anti-craving medications in the laboratory under controlled conditions
Term
What are symptoms of cocaine withdrawl?
Definition
Anergia
Depression
Bradycardia
Hyperphagia
Hypersomnia
Poor concentration
Psychomotor retardation


Cocaine withdrawal is not medically dangerous but severe withdrawal curiously predicts poor clinical outcome
Term
what is hallmark of cocaine dependance?
Definition
Denial!!! Denial, traditionally viewed as purely psychological, may result in part from prefrontal cortical dysfunction
and Poor decision making
Impaired ability to weigh risks against benefits
Dangerous risk tolerance
Poor impulse suppression
Cocaine becomes the first priority.
Term
what are progressive complications of cocaine dependence?
Definition
Death (MI, hyperthermia, hemorrhage, violence)
Medical (cardiac, seizures, stroke, renal)
Psychiatric (psychosis, depression, panic, suicide)
Legal (incarceration: possession, dealing, prostitution, theft)
Family (child neglect, violence, divorce)
Occupational (job loss: absenteeism, poor performance)
Financial (drug procurement, loss of income)
Term
what is most important source of collateral info?
Definition
family
Term
is indv drug counseling helpful?
Definition
yes
Term
are vouchers helpful?
Definition
yes
Term
Are there meds for cocaine dependence?
Definition
Not yet, with any proven efficacy
Term
What are possible meds for cocaine dependnece?
Definition
Possible medications include:
Modafinil - blocks euphoria;
Propranolol - reduces stress;
Baclofen - reduces cue-craving;
Topiramate - relapse prevention;
Disulfiram - reduces alcohol use, increases DA;
Cocaine vaccine - blocks euphoria
Term
Which are considered DA/Glut enhancing agents?
Definition
DA/Glutamate Enhancing Agents Modafinil (glutamate-enhancing)* Amantadine (releases DA)* Disulfiram (?brain DA; ?DBH)* <<<
Term
What are Da/GLUT inhibt agents used for?
Definition
relapse prevention:: DA/Glutamate Inhibiting Agents
Ondansetron (?DA release)
Tiagabine (?GABA uptake)
Baclofen (GABAB agonist)*
Topiramate (?GABA, AMPA blocker)*
Term
which med promoted coke abstinance and attenuates coke euphoria?
Definition
modafinil
Term
Disulfirim has been shown to do what?
Definition
reduce cocaine use
Term
What does Topiramate do?
Definition
it prevents relapse
Term
What is addiction driven by?
Definition
euphoria and craving
Term
What do brain neuroadaptations contribute to?
Definition
Brain neuroadaptations contribute to cocaine euphoria, cue-induced craving, hedonic dysregulation, and even denial
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