Chapter 6 Flashcards

1
Q

T/F developing therapeutic drugs for brain disorders that penetrate the blood brain barrier is a challenge

A

T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What % of drugs that could have therapeutic use cannot pass the BBB

A

98%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

T/F Addictive drugs play on the natural function of the brain

A

T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How does addiction use the reward-seeking pathway of the brain

A

Naturally, when behaviours have desirable outcomes, the brain tells us we want to repeat this behaviour. This has a survival aspect, such as eating and sleeping

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what NT system is related to reward-seeking behaviour?

A

Dopaminergic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What part of the brain releases dopamine during rewarding behaviours?

A

Nucleus Accumebens in the Mesolimbic pathway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What part of the brain is a part of learned pattern/ conditioned movement which are rewarding?

A

Substantia Nigra in the Nigrostriatal pathway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What type of behaviour releases the strongest amount of dopamine

A

Behaviours that we can predict
- ex: high dopamine when taking out cigarette and when smoking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Are the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathway connected?

A

Yes, projections allow connection between the movement and experience of reward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the reward center of the brain?

A

Nucleus Accumbens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What part of the brain releases dopamine in expectation of and during rewarding behaviours?

A

Nucleus Accumbens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What part of the brain is involved in routine movement?

A

Striatum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Limbic system

A

responsible for emotional experiences and memory of experiences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

T/F The limbic system is responsible for physiological addiction

A

F - psychological

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

T/F The amygdala, the hippocampus and the thalamus are a part of the limbic system

A

F - not the thalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What area of the brain is responsible for reasoning and planning?

A

prefrontal cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What part of the brain is not functioning properly when a drug addict is unable to inhibit destructive behaviours?

A

prefrontal cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

T/F Over the time of an experience, the rewarding aspect dissipates

A

T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the 2 types of tolerance

A

functional and metabolic tolerance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

functional tolerance

A

less effect of drugs due to less effect at a synaptic level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

metabolic tolerance

A

less effect of drug due to changes in how the body breaks down and expels the drug

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

T/F Once tolerance has been built, it is not possible to return to baseline levels of drug effect

A

F - can go back when repeated use stops

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What organ is responsible for eliminating drugs

A

the liver, which metabolizes drugs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Sensitization

A

The strongest experience a person will have with a drug is the first time it is taken, and if taken rarely, will continue to have strong experiences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

T/F the most dangerous situation is when heavy drug users return to drug use after a long break as tolerance for the drug is much lower than they think

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Withdrawal symptoms are usually _______ of the drug experience

A

the opposite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

T/F The severity of withdrawal symptoms is dependent on the person taking the drugs

A

F - depends on the drug

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What system is involved in the memories of drug experiences that produce psychological drug cravings?

A

Limbic system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What basic system does drug addiction play on

A

The reward system and the role of reinforcement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the positive and negative reinforcement involved in drug addiction

A

Positive: the good feeling from taking the drug
Negative: the avoidance of withdrawal by taking the drug

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

T/F Drugs that work on the reinforcement system tend to be the most addictive

A

T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What speed and rate of absorption are the most addictive

A

Fast working and fast wearing off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Johnny has tried Drug A, which got him high immediately and wore off quick, and Drug B which took about an hour to kick in. Which is he more likely to become addicted to? Why?

A

Drug A because there is a stronger connection between the action of taking the drug and the effect. It also wears off quicker, making him want more sooner.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Incentive sensitization

A

other environmental cues that remind users of the drug experience and add to psychological dependence
(ex: being at a bar or drug house)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Repeated drug use alters ________ in the reward pathway

A

gene transcription factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

what is the epigenetic mechanism of addiction?

A

repeated use changes the reward pathway, leading to an addictive brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

T/F Addictive drugs are usually agonists

A

T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Benzodiazepines

A

minor sedatives and anti-anxiety agents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

T/F Alcohol is a sedative drug

A

True

40
Q

What can happen to benzodiazepine tolerance if someone is an alcoholic?

A

They may have a high tolerance to Benzo’s because they share a binding sight - this is called cross tolerance

41
Q

Why is dangerous to mix alcohol and sleep drugs

A

Because they work on the same binding site which exacerbates the effects and increases the chance of overdose

42
Q

What ion flows into the cell through GABA binding sites for sedatives?

A

Cl- which hyperpolarizes the cell and makes it less likely to fire, slowing brain activity

43
Q

What receptor is altered in alcoholics

A

Gaba receptors

44
Q

What are the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol

A

anxiety, convulsions, seizures

45
Q

T/F The withdrawal symptoms of sedatives are more dangerous than that of excitatory drugs

A

True

46
Q

What two NT systems are involved in THC use

A

dopaminergic and GABAergic

47
Q

What are dissociative anesthetics

A

date rape drugs

48
Q

GHB

A

a dissociative anesthetic in the form of salt, which causes dizziness and sleep

49
Q

Ketamine

A

A dissociative anesthetic causing out of body experiences and lack of control over movement

50
Q

Hallucination

A

visual or auditory experiences that are not real

51
Q

Delusions

A

Bizarre thoughts about reality

52
Q

Psychosis

A

checking out of reality

53
Q

What was the first antipsychotic drug used for schizophrenia

A

Chlorpromazine

54
Q

what was the original intent for chlorpromazine

A

to be used as a general anesthetic, but only calmed and did not put to sleep

55
Q

first generation antipsychotics

A

dopamine antagonists

56
Q

dopamine hypothesis of Schizophrenia

A

the first dominant theory about the cause of schizophrenia due to the effectiveness of dopamine agonist drugs

57
Q

side effects of first generation antipsychotics

A

Tardive dyskinesia: repeated movements
Anhedonia: inability to experience pleasure

58
Q

why was compliance difficult with first generation antipsychotics

A

the side effects were so unpleasant

59
Q

Second generation antipsychotics

A

act on dopamine (less agonistic) and serotonin (for hallucinations) receptors

60
Q

first generation antidepressants

A

MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants

61
Q

MAO inhibitors

A

antidepressant which inhibits break down of serotonin (agonist)

62
Q

Tricyclic Antidepressant side effects

A

can elevate blood pressure

63
Q

Second generation antidepressants

A

SSRI’s, SNRI’s and ketamine

64
Q

SSRI

A

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - inhibits reuptake

65
Q

SNRI’s

A

Selective Neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitors - inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine as well (which increases energy levels)

66
Q

T/F SSRI’s and SNRI’s can be complicated to start because they take weeks before any effects are noticed

A

True

67
Q

Ketamine as an antidepressant

A

In low doses, works quickly

68
Q

What is one important area of the brain where neurogenesis continues throughout life

A

the hippocampus, which helps with the creation of new memories

69
Q

T/F With depression, there is increased neurogenesis

A

F - decreased

70
Q

what is the link between SSRI’s and neurogenesis

A

the timeline for SSRI’s to begin working lines up with the timeline of neurogenesis, and neurogenesis is increased to normal levels on SSRI’s

71
Q

Opioid analgesics

A

pain relieving medications with a natural source from the opium poppy

72
Q

Morphine

A

A synthetic analgesic made from active ingredient in opium

73
Q

Heroin

A

A synthetic derivative opioid with a shorter half life (wears off faster) and twice the potency of morphine

74
Q

Fentanyl

A

Opioid Analgesic with extremely high potency and rapid absorption across the BBB (high risk of OD)

75
Q

Withdrawal symptoms of opioid analgesics

A

Allodynia: pain or irritation within the body with no obvious reason for it
Myoclonic movements: sudden jerking movements, fidgeting

76
Q

What is the cause of OD with opioids

A

respiratory suppression

77
Q

Naloxone

A

A drug that reverses OD within seconds but results in immediate extreme withdrawal

78
Q

What are opioids mechanism of action

A

opioids bind to G-coupled endorphin receptors and create effects

79
Q

what are the 3 mechanisms of tolerance to opioids

A

Desensitization: receptors become less sensitive
Endocytosis: receptor proteins sink into membrane and are less exposed for binding
Downregulation: loss of receptors which sink all the way in and are unable to bind

80
Q

what is the primary NT for stimulants

A

Dopamine (agonists)

81
Q

General stimulants

A

drugs that cause general increase in metabolic activity (increase energy levels)

82
Q

Which of the following is not a stimulant
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- ADHD meds
- Nicotine

A

Alcohol is a sedative

83
Q

Why is a gradual decrease of cigarettes not a successful way quitting

A

Heavy smokers are very sensitive to changes in nicotine content and experience withdrawal easily

84
Q

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms

A

trouble focusing, fidgeting

85
Q

what method of quitting smoking is the most successful

A

The patch

86
Q

Why is cocaine so highly addictive

A

rapid rate of absorption and tolerance

87
Q

Consumption of what other drug increase the effects of cocaine

A

Alcohol, as byproducts of metabolism interact

88
Q

What are the sex differences with cocaine

A

Cocaine is more intense in all aspects for women due to estrogen

89
Q

How does methamphetamine create it’s effect at a synaptic level

A

increases the release of dopamine and blocks reuptake

90
Q

Effects of methamphetamine

A

elevated mood, energy and alertness
Psychosis and hallucinations with high doses

91
Q

What area of the brain shows deficits and volume loss with chronic meth use

A

hippocampus (memory deficits)

92
Q

Why is MDMA less addictive than meth

A

It has a slower absorption rate and lasts longer

93
Q

Who discovered LSD

A

Albert Hofmann

94
Q

How do hallucinogens create their effects on a synaptic level

A

agonist to serotonin and norepinephrine (think opposite of antipsychotics)

95
Q

What are the addiction rates for hallucinogens

A

very low and non-toxic

96
Q

What was attempted through the LSD clinical trials in Saskatchewan

A

attempt to cure alcoholism through profound “awakening” but did not work