Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Year 2 LCRS Pharmacology > 13: Drugs of Abuse 1 (Cannabis) > Flashcards

13: Drugs of Abuse 1 (Cannabis) Flashcards

1
Q

Why are “drugs of abuse” abused?

A

Because they make addictive

–> by stimmulating the reward system in the brain and inducing euphoria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How does the reward system in the brain work?

Which locations does it include?

A

Neurons originate in the ventral tegmenta area and release dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (in the ventrals striatum)

–> induce good feeling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the most common ROA for drugs of abuse?

A
  • Snorting –> intra-nasal (via mucus membranes)
  • PO
  • Inhalation
  • IV
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the fastes ROA for drugs of abuse (or drugs in general)?

A

Normally: From fast to slow:

  1. Inhalation
  2. IV
  3. Intra-nasal
  4. Oral
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How could you classify drugs of abuse?

Name examples for each class

A
  1. Narcotics/Painkillers
    • opiate like drugs e.g. heroin
  2. Depressants – ‘downers’
    • e.g. alcohol, benzodiazepines (valium), barbiturates
  3. Stimulants – ‘uppers’
    • e.g. cocaine, amphetamine (‘speed’), caffeine, metamphetamine (‘crystal meth’)
  4. Miscellaneous – e.g. Cannabis, Ecstasy (MDMA)
    • have partial characteristics of one class but also additional properties
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the main potent canabidoid in cannabis?

A

∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the two main cannabidoid in cannabis ?

How is their dose in relation to each other important?

A

Main active compounent: ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabiol and Canabidiol

  • Canabidiol (CBD) is thought to balance the negative effects of THC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Explain the main ROA of Cannabis

What is their respective bioavailibility?

A
  1. Oral – 5-15%
    • delayed onset/slow absorption
    • first pass metabolism
  2. Inhalation – 25-35%
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the pharmaockinetic properties of Cannabis?

What does this lead to?

A

It is very lipid soluble

–> leads to accumulation in the body fat and brain (expecially with choronic use)

–> up to 104:1 body fat to plasma ratio!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Explain the time course of the effects of Cannabis after use and name and explain its t1/2

A

It is very lipid soluble and accumulates into tissues and slowly gets released over days (up to 30 day) with a t 1/2 of 7 days

  • normally after 5 days release from fat is highest
  • a substantial proportion of accumulation in fat is thought to be 11-OH-THC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Explain the metabolism of Cannabis

A
  • Phase 1 metabolism in liver –> conversion into
    • 11-hydroxy-THC – >more potent than ∆9THC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How is cannabis excreted?

How does this influence its long t1/2?

A
  • 25% is excreted via the urine
  • 65% via bile –> but because of high lipid-solubility high rates of enterohepatic recycling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Explain the correlation between plasma Cannabis concentration and level of intoxication

A

Poor correlation between plasma

cannabinoid concentration and degree

of intoxication (because of accumulation in tissues)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the endogenous compound that binds to the Cannabinoid receptors?

A

Anandamide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the different kinds of Cannabinoid receptors?

Where are they located?

A
  1. CB1 receptor in brain
    • Hippocampus/cerebellum/cerebral cortex/basal ganglia
  2. CB2 receptors on immune cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Explain the intracellular response that is set of with cannabis binding to a Cannabinoid receptor

A

It has an inhibitory effect

  • sets of an inhibitory G-protein
  • Reduced Adenyly cyclase activity
  • reduced cAMP
17
Q

How does cannabis induce euphoria?

A

By disinhibition of the GABA-supressed reward system

  • Cannabis switsches of GABA inhibition of domamine release in the reward system
18
Q

What is disinhibition?

A

The process of activating a system by supressing its inhibition

19
Q

What is the physiological role of the Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)?

A

Normally involved in Error Detection and

Behavioral monitoring and adjustment in order to avoid losses

20
Q

Explain the function of the Anterior cingulate system in cannabis users

What does it lead to?

A

It is hypoactive in cannabis users leading to

  • decreased ability to regulate and monitor (appropriate) behaviour
21
Q

Explain the Effects of Cannabis on Food intake

A

It enhances food intake via

  • Disinhibition of GABA increases MCH neuronal activity in lateral hypothalamus –> stimmulates food intake (MCH neurons stimmulatory)
  • Increased orexin production
22
Q

Explain the effects of Cannabis on the Immune system

A

Mediated by the CB2 receptors

–> Immunusupressant

23
Q

What are the central effects of cannabis?

A
  • Euphoria
  • increased food intake
  • psychosis/schizophrenia
  • Memory loss
    • supressed hippocampus+ limbic regions
    • Amnestic effects/↓ BDNF Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
  • Impaired Psychomotor performance (cerebral cortex)
24
Q

What are the peripheral effects of cannabis?

A
  • Immunosuppressant
  • Tachycardia/vasodilation (Vanilloid receptor via conjugate)
  • Medulla – Low CB1 receptor expression –> does not supress Breathing/CVS !
25
Q

Why does an overdose with cannabis not cause death?

A

Medulla – Low CB1 receptor expression

–> no slow down of CVS and breathing

26
Q

What are the clinical uses of Cannabis?

A
  • Multiple sclerosis/pain/stroke – regulatory increase in CB1 receptors it seen to be helpful physiologically
  • Fertility/obesity - pathology
27
Q

What are Dronabinol or Nabilone?

What is their use and MOA?

A

∆9-Tetrahydrocannabiod derivate

  • CB1 agonists
  • used to
    • increase appetite (e.g. in chemotherapy patients)
    • anti-emetics
28
Q

What is Sativex?

What is its clinical use?

A

∆9THC+ CBD agonist

  • used as
    • analgesic in
    • neuropathic pain
    • MS-related pain
29
Q

What is Rimonabant?

What is its clinical use?

A

It is a CB1 antagonist –> not clinically used anymore

  • used to be an anti-obestiy drug
  • but associated with depression and increasing suicides
30
Q

Name drugs that modulate the CB receptors

A
  1. ∆9THC
    1. Dronabinol
    2. Nabilone
  2. ∆9THC+CBD
    1. Sativex
  3. CB antagonist
    1. Rimonabant
31
Q

Which is IV administration of a drug slower thatn inhalation?

A

It depends on the drug but genereally if its gets into the blood stream right away:

  1. venous blood has to go to heart first and be pumped around to reach circulation
  2. Inhalation goes directly to left heart and body (less way to overcome)

Year 2 LCRS Pharmacology (38 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions