Amphetamines Flashcards
Routes of Administration
Snort
Smoke
IV
Orally
Half Life
7+ hours
Khat
primary active ingredient is cathinone
Historical Uses of Amphetamines
Narcolepsy - irresistible urge to sleep
Weight Loss
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Reduction in DAT by Meth Used
Reduced DAT from substantia nigra to striatum
Immediate Neuronal Changes with Amphetamine Use
increases in extracellular monoamines
Compensatory Neuronal Changes in Brain with Amphetamine Use
Decreased tyrsosine hydroxylase, DA content, DA metabolites, DATs
Increased GFAP immunoreactivity (glial response to trauma)
Effect on DA system
loss of terminals and probably axons BUT spares cells
greatest effect in nigrostriatal path (spares mesolimbic and mesocortical paths and completely spares hypothalamic path)
Effects on 5-HT System
loss of terminals, spares cells
Terminal loss in cortex, striatum and hippocampus
Glutamate Receptor Types
ionotropic receptors
AMPA and Kainate - Na flow
NMDA - Na and Ca flow
*5 independent peptide units
NMDA Receptor Function
Allows flow of Na and Ca
Has a Mg ligand block
Long Term Potentiation
Sustained increased in synaptic strength
Tetany
High frequency firing from presynaptic cell
LTP and Calcium Calmodulin Kinase II
1a - increases phosphorylation of AMPA receptors (more Na in post-syn terminal)
1b - inserts additional AMPA receptors
2 - retrograde receptors (likely to be Nitric Oxide)
Necrosis
Excitotoxicity and Cell Death Shown in AMPA and Kainate receptors Quick onset Osmotic swelling and lysis (cellular disintegration)
