CNS Depressants

Question 1

General effects of CNS depressants

Answer 1

reduced heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, muscle tension/tension

Question 2

Alcohol

Answer 2

• binds and blocks glutamate receptors (blocks excitation)
• facilitates inhibition
• binds and activate opioid receptors

Question 3

Effects of Alcohol

Answer 3

• Amnesia and memory loss due to blocking of glutamate receptors responsible for forming new memories
• blackouts and coma (too much GABA)
• Korsakoff Syndrome - nutritional deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Thiamine is necessary for glucose metabolism, glucose is essential for brain functioning. Cells don’t receive nourishment and die. Treatment stops continued damage but does not reverse damage.
• Associate with clinical depression
• Associated with problems with liver, pancreas, blood pressure

Withdrawal of Alcohol: insomnia,tremors, nausea and seizures, delirium tremors

Question 4

Barbiturates

Answer 4

• reduces anxiety and tension
• Binds to GABA-A (does not need the presence of GABA as a gatekeeper) and determines how long the GABA-A channel will be open.
• more danger if keep channel open without gatekeeper

Question 5

Benzodiazepine (sedative-hypnotics)

Answer 5

• reduces anxiety and tension
• binds to GABA-A (needs the presence of GABA as gatekeeper) and determines how often the ion channel will be open
• Less dangerous than keeping channel open