Caffeine and Nicotine

Question 1

How much Caffeine does a typical coffee (5 ounce) have?

Answer 1

100mg

Question 2

What OTC analgesic contains caffeine and how much?

Answer 2

Excedrin, 65mg

Question 3

What is the distribution of caffeine?

Answer 3

Everywhere.

Question 4

What is the half-life of caffeine?

Answer 4

Average is 4-5 hours, but can be up to 10 hours in slow-metabolizers.

Question 5

How is caffeine metabolized?

Answer 5

In the liver, by cytochrome p450.

Question 6

What can change the activity of cytochrome p450?

Answer 6

Smoking can increase activity. Genetics, age, etc.

Question 7

How does caffeine work?

Answer 7

It acts as an Adenosine antagonist in the CNS.

Question 8

What is Adenosine? What kind of actions does it usually have?

Answer 8

A neuromodulator. Adenosine signaling usually results in sedative, depressant and anti-convulsant actions.

Question 9

How much caffeine is considered a lethal dose?

Answer 9

10 grams.

Question 10

What does caffeine do to coronary arteries?

Answer 10

It dilates them.

Question 11

What does caffeine do to cerebral blood vessels?

Answer 11

Constricts them.

Question 12

What does caffeine do to bronchi?

Answer 12

It relaxes them - you can breathe easier.

Question 13

What might cause the pain in headaches?

Answer 13

Vasodilation of cerebral blood vessels.

Question 14

Why does caffeine help some people with headaches?

Answer 14

It vasoconstricts the blood vessels.

Question 15

Why are people who suffer from migraine headaches generally told to limit caffeine?

Answer 15

Body can become dependent, causing headaches from withdrawal.

Question 16

How much caffeine can cause tolerance and some withdrawal and craving?

Answer 16

Chronic use (as little as a cup a day).

Question 17

Is caffeine considered an addictive drug?

Answer 17

No. It isn’t thought that it activates the central reward pathway.

Question 18

How quickly does Nicotine reach the brain?

Answer 18

7 seconds (smoking).

Question 19

Where and what is Nicotine broken down by?

Answer 19

In the liver by cytochrome 450 family. 10-20% excreted in urine.

Question 20

What is the half-life of nicotine?

Answer 20

2 hours.

Question 21

What is the primary metabolite of nicotine? What is its half-life?

Answer 21

Cotinine. Its half-life is 18 hours.

Question 22

How does Nicotine work?

Answer 22

It is an agonist at Acetylcholine Nicotinic receptors.

Question 23

What do Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors do in the CNS?

Answer 23

They facilitate the release of dopamine, ACh, and glutamate.

Question 24

Does nicotine active the central reward pathway?

Answer 24

yes.

Question 25

What affects does nicotine have on the anti-diuretic horomone?

Answer 25

It stimulates production of it.

Question 26

How does nicotine affect appetite?

Answer 26

It can reduce it.

Question 27

How does nicotine affect the vomiting center (brain stem) of the brain?

Answer 27

It stimulates it, but you can become tolerant to it.

Question 28

What do Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors do in the PNS

Answer 28

Increase in Epinephrine, raises blood pressure may alter taste bud sensitivity.

Question 29

Does nicotine have a tolerance?

Answer 29

Some.

Question 30

Does nicotine have dependence?

Answer 30

It has psychological and physical dependence.

Question 31

What drugs can help people stop smoking?

Answer 31

A nicotine replacement, Bupropion, Varenicline (Chantix).

Question 32

How does bupropion work?

Answer 32

Blocks the uptake of dopamine (strongly) and norepinephrine and serotonin (weakly). Antagonism of certain nicotinic receptors.

Question 33

How does bupropion help those trying to stop smoking?

Answer 33

It delays relapse and results in less weight gain.

Question 34

How does Verenicline (Chantix) work?

Answer 34

Partial agonist at nicotinic ACh receptors. It never activates the receptors fully (unlike nicotine).

Question 35

How is Verenicline (Chantix) thought to help those trying to stop smoking?

Answer 35

It helps reduce withdrawal symptoms (it can block nicotine from getting to receptor).

Question 36

How effective was Verenicline (Chantix) in comparison to bupropion and nicotine replacement therapies?

Answer 36

More effective than bupropion, but about the same effectiveness as NRT.