alcohol study guide Flashcards

1
Q

pharmacokinetics

A
  • readily mixes with water and is soluble in fat
  • easily absorbed from GI tract, diffuses throughout the body, readily enters most tissues, including brain (BBB)

**time from last drink to maximal absorption in blood is ~60 mins

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2
Q

absorption and distribution

A
  • rate of absorption extremely variable, for this reason, behavioral effects are described based on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rather than on the amount ingested
  • it would take an adult about an hour to metabolize the amount of alcohol that is contained in a 1 oz. glass of whiskey, 3.5 oz. of wine, or 12 oz. beer
  • in general, it takes BAC of .04% to produce measurable behavioral effects
  • easily absorbed from the GI tract and diffuses throughout the body: 20% from stomach and 80% from upper intestines (move across membrane barriers by passive diffusion)
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3
Q

gender differences

A
  • one beer is much more concentrated in the average woman compared to a man because:
  • on average, males have greater vascular capacity: the larger the individual, drug more diluted
  • men are larger than women; have greater fluid volume
  • gastric metabolism of alcohol ~50-60% more active in males than females
  • females: higher concentrations of alcohol that will be more rapidly absorbed
  • when drinking same weight-adjusted amounts of alcohol: women ~7% high BAC than male
  • women with higher body fat than men concentrate alcohol in plasma, drink for drink, more than men, raising the apparent blood level
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4
Q

alcohol dehydrogenase

A

found in stomach, reduces amount of available alcohol for absorption

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5
Q

alcohol-related accidents

A
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6
Q

binge drinking

A
  • 5+ drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days (for men)
  • 4+ drinks for women
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7
Q

alcohol metabolism (pathways)/ CYP450

A
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8
Q

role of area postrema

A

blood monitoring system

  • alcohol is very toxic
  • concentration between .12 - .16 induces vomiting - especially with rapid drinking
  • AP activation makes it harder to get lethal dose - will vomit first

vomiting area basically

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9
Q

acute tolerance

A

occurs with a single exposure to alcohol

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10
Q

drug disposition tolerance

A

increased enzyme activity = more rapid metabolism = less drug

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11
Q

pharmacodynamic tolerance

A

neuronal adaptation

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12
Q

behavioral tolerance

A

learn to adapt behaviors when allowed to practice while under the influence

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13
Q

pharmacodynamics: chronic effects

A
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14
Q

pharmacodynamics: Alcohol-Glutamate

A
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15
Q

pharmacodynamics: Alcohol-GABA

A
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16
Q

pharmacodynamics: Alcohol-Dopamine

17
Q

Alcoholism

18
Q

co-morbidity

19
Q

alcohol pharmacotherapy

20
Q

benzodiazepines

A
  • increase GABA activity
  • ameliorate withdrawal symptoms; prevent seizures and DTs
  • long-acting, prevent withdrawal symptoms (either maintained or slowly withdrawn) allowing person to function
Drawbacks:
sedation 
psychomotor deficits
additive interactions with alcohol
abuse and dependence liabilities
21
Q

anticonvulsants mood stabilizers

22
Q

campral/anticraving drugs

23
Q

disulfiram

24
Q

heavy use

A

five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 5 different days in the past 30 days

25
psychological effects
- feels relaxed and less anxious - may feel somewhat sleepy - relaxed state is demonstrated by reduced social inhibition more gregarious, talkative, and friendly or inappropriately outspoken - self-perception and judgement somewhat impaired, more confident than reality proves true - reduced judgement and induce overconfidence increased risk-taking and may make sexual encounters more likely
26
CNS-related effects
low dose: - deficits are based more on expectation than on quantity consumed - under high-stress conditions, it enhances performance by minimizing anxiety high dose: - may cause amnesia for the events occurred during intoxication even though individual behaved quite normally
27
blackout
common occurrence for alcoholics; occurs in 25% of social drinks
28
alcohol poisoning
unconsciousness, vomiting, slow and irregular breathing and skin that is cold, clammy, and pale bluish in color
29
when death occurs
due to depression of respiratory control center in the brain stem. once respiratory mechanism is compromised the drinker can survive for 5 minutes but brain damage from oxygen deprivation occurs