Addiction Symposium Flashcards
what is tolerance?
Reduced responsiveness to a drug caused by previous administration
what is dispositional tolerance ?
less drug reaches the active site
- decreased absorption
- increased metabolism
- increased excretion
what is pharmacodynamic tolerance ?
Drug has less action at the active site
- fewer or less efficient receptors
what is the withdrawal effect of opioids?
diarrhoea
what is the withdrawal effect of barbiturate?
convulsions
what is the withdrawal effect of cocaine?
depressed mood
what part of the brain causes the sensation of pleasure/reward?
VTA (ventral tegmental area)
- causing an increase in dopamine levels
what two distinct components are related to drug dependance?
physical dependance
psychological dependance
what is physical and psychological dependance?
Physical dependence which develops as a consequence of tolerance to the drug
Psychological craving which is a result of stimulation of the reward pathways in the brain
where does information travel to from the VTA in the reward pathway?
from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens
state two stimulants?
cocaine
amphetamine
does smoking, injecting or snorting give the quickest or slowest effect?
smoking - almost immediate
injecting - 15-30secs
snorting - 3-5mins
state some effects of cocaine
increased alertness and energy
increased confidence and impaired judgement
lessens appetite and sleep
state some complications of cocaine
damage to nose and airways convulsions with resp failure arrhythmias and MI HTN paranoid psychosis
state some symptoms of cocaine withdrawal?
depression irritability agitation cravings hyperphagia hypersomnia
state some opiates?
opium morphine heroin methadone codeine
state some effects of heroin
analgesia sleep euphoria resp and cough reflex depression nausea decreased sympathetic outflow decrease of body temp pupillary constriction constipation
what is phlebitis?
inflammation of a vein
state some symptoms of opiate withdrawal?
craving insomnia yawning muscle pain and cramps dilated pupils piloerection
state the effects of ecstasy
euphoria followed by a feeling of calm
increased sociability
state side effects of ecstasy ?
nausea and dry mouth
increased BP and temp
dehydration
can induce psychosis
state the effects of cannabis?
euphoriant
increases sociability and appetite
changes in time perception
synaesthesia
state some complications of cannabis?
respiratory problems
toxic confusion
cannabis psychosis
state some side effects of steroid use?
hair loss acne stretch marks hypogonadism gynaecomastia
state some complications of steroid use?
increased cholesterol and HTN
liver disease - cholestatic jaundice, liver tumours
hypomania and mania
irritability
