Addictions Flashcards
What are the 2 mechanisms responsible for substance misuse?
Tolerance
Reward centre
What is tolerance?
Reduced responsiveness to drug caused by previous administration
What is dispositional tolerance?
Less drug reaches the active site
What is pharmacodynamic tolerance?
Drug has less action at the active site
What causes increased dispositional tolerance?
Less drug absorbed
Drug metabolised faster
More drug excreted
What causes increased pharmacodynamic tolerance?
Fewer drug receptors
Less efficient drug receptors
Why can tolerance lead to withdrawal symptoms?
A drug effect which disrupts homeostasis will lead to an adaptive response, if the drug is stopped the adaptive response will suddenly be too much for the body
How does the body change in an adaptive response?
Change number of receptors
Change efficacy of receptors
What is the withdrawal phenomena?
The withdrawal effect of a drug is the opposite of the acute effect
What are the acute and withdrawal effects of opioids?
Acute - constipation
Withdrawal - diarrhoea
What are the acute and withdrawal effects of barbiturates?
Acute - anticonvulsant
Withdrawal - convulsions
Where is the reward pathway in the brain?
Ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex
What are the 2 most common stimulants?
Cocaine
Amphetamine
What are effects of cocaine on mood?
Stimulant and euphoriant
Increased alertness and energy
Increased confidence and impaired judgement
Lessen appetite and need for sleept
What are physical effects of cocaine?
Damage to nose and airways Convulsions with resp failure Cardiac arrhythmias and MI Hypertension Toxic confusion Paranoid psychosis