CNS stimulants Flashcards
cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine
CNS stimulants examples
increased arousal, increased attention and mental focus
lower doses
sympathomimetic effects (HR,BP, respiration, fight/flight), decreased fatigue, mood elevation, excitation, enhanced self-worth
higher doses
side effects become more common and problematic as
dosage increases
anxiety/nervousness, irritability/edginess, psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations (e.g., formication)
side effects of dosage increase
thought process in which you believe you are the target of malicious intentions
paranoia
formication, perception of a stimulus that isn’t there
hallucinations
tactile hallucinations such as the feeling of bugs crawling across the skin
formication
the “third scourge” of humanity, has been used since before recorded history
cocaine
the “first scourge” of humanity
alcohol
the “second scourge” of humanity
opium
since cocaine is a basic drug, it won’t get absorbed will with this form of administration
oral administration
cocaine enters here through snorting
mucous membrane
smoking cocaine is actually more like vaporization of “free base” or crack, solid to vapor
inhalation
would be used by plucking plants and chewing on them, originally a key ingredient in Coca-Cola
cocaine
recommended by Sigmund Freud, used as a medicinal drug in certain situations (topical anesthetic)
cocaine
inhalation-Iv-intranasal membrane (-oral)
onset and duration of effect (least to most strongest)
half life average, slow onset, last longer
1 hour
detectable in urine, saliva, and hair
metabolites
easier for brain to tolerate
more destructive
consequent to frequent cocaine snorting, constricts blood vessels, tissues die, this forms
oronasal fistula
Mainly a reuptake blocker, most active at 5-HT reuptake transporters, then DA, then least active
on NE transporters
catecholamine agonist effect
action on these receptors is most relevant to psychoactive effects
dopamine
synaptic pooling of what and increased activity at what receptors seems crucial
dopamine, D3
derivatives that block Na+ channel activity (and AP) in axons that are important local anesthetics, similar to tetrodotoxin
procaine (Novocain) and lidocaine (Xylocaine)
This blockage of action potential can be a useful in this effect
PNS
At high local concentrations, can block
activity at Na+ channels in axon, where is it not seen
CNS
Longer acting and perhaps more efficacious than cocaine itself, combined with alcohol, cocaine is metabolized into
cocaethylene
notably, downregulation of post-synaptic DA
receptors (& autoreceptor-linked longer-term decrease in DA synthesis)
pharmacodynamic tolerance
exaggerated responsiveness to a dose of drug
sensitization
Classical conditioning, Physiological mechanisms (depending on usage patterns, probably)
aspects of sensitization
post-synaptic receptor downregulation & ↓ in DA synthesis… thus, need much larger dosage
frequent use
massive receptor upregulation (happens before DA synthesis normalizes)
abstain
Use heavily again after receptors have upregulated
exaggerated effect
this is somewhat unpredictable in that it can lead to greater or lesser effect across people and across usage episodes
cocaine
Benzedrine, Adderall, made up of d- and l-amphetamine
amphetamine
Dexedrine, containing just the d-enantiomer
dextro-amphetamine
hangs around the body a little longer than other amphetamines and variants (methedrine)
methamphetamine
khat and “bath salts”
cathinones
collects and pools like cocaine
dopamine
leads to desirable results for ADHD such as focusing on and completing tasks
low dose
increases psychomotor function such as quick burst muscle activities like swimming, fine motor control is hindered like golfing, improves mood and emotional state
high dose
long term consequence of amphetamine use
amphetamine psychosis
repetitive behaviors performed over and over again over a span of time (typically hours) like rocking back and forth
stereotyped behaviors
occurs when using meth over a long period of time, due to decrease in hygiene, xerostomia (dry mouth), and bruxism
meth mouth
clenching/teeth grinding
bruxism
ADHD drug, Ritalin, baby version of cocaine
methylphentamate
ADHD drug, need more than 1 dose of this to be affective over a long period of time, taking it with concerta extends longevity
Ritalin
ADHD drug, runs through liver and gets converted to d-amphetamine
Vyvanse (lisoexamfetamine)
ADHD drug, targets norepinephrine
Strattera (atomoxetine)
low tonic activity, bigger the phasic bursts, huge bursts in phasic activity causes more attention to distractions
ADHD activity
ADHD drugs increase this neurotransmitters level to increase tonic for smaller phasic bursts
dopamine
