Chapter 6 lesson 1 Flashcards
Psychopharmacology
-study of the way drugs affect the nervous system and behaviour
Drugs
Chemical compounds administered to produce a desired change
psychoactive drug
substance that acts to alter mood thought or behaviour
route of administration
the way a drug enters/passes through the body to reach its target
oral administration
easy and convenient but has the most barriers on the way to the brain, it does not enter the blood stream until after absorbed by the stomach
Skin administration
The skin is made out of protective layers and small molecule drugs can penetrate the skin barrier
Gases or aerosols penetrate the cell linings of respiratory tract easily.
When injected into the bloodstream a drug passes through less obstacles
factor of 10
when a drug is applied to a neuron it is 10 times as strong as when a drug is injected which is 10 times as strong as being inhaled which is 10 times as strong as being administered orally
endothelial cells
form a cell layer that lines blood vessels
-regulate exchanges between bloodstreams and surrounding tissues
-in endothelial cells in the capillaries they are not joined very tight and its easy for substances in and out
astrocytes
provide a route for the exchange of food and waste between capillaries in the brains extracellular fluid
how the body eliminates drugs
drugs are broken down in the kidney, liver, and intestines
, drugs are eliminated by urine, feces, sweat, breast milk, and exhaled air
agonist
-drugs that increase neurotransmission
antagonist
-drugs that decrease neurotransmission
tolerance
decreased response to a drug with repeated exposure
metabolic tolerance
-increase in number of enzymes in the liver, blood or brain used to break down a substance
cellular tolerance
-activities of brain cells adjust to minimize effects of the tolerance
