Cocaine Flashcards
where is cocaine extracted from
the leaves of the coca plant, a shrub like tree that grows in the mountains of Peru, Columbia and Bolivia
what is the most addictive type of cocaine
crack cocaine
why is crack cocaine the most addictive
delivered to the brain faster as it can be smoked
what does cocaine do at the neural level
prevents the reuptake of monoamine
how does cocaine work as an anaesthetic
direct effect on cell membrane - blocks the sodium channel activity and prevents the generation and conduction of an action potential
which is a faster method of letting it reach the brain:
snorting
injecting
smoking
injecting and smoking are the same
what two actions does cocaine have on dopamine
stimulates the release of dopamine to a small extent
blocks reuptake at the dopamine transporter (DAT).
what are the immediate behavioural effects of cocaine
euphoria
increased sociabiliy
heightened sexual interest
how long do the effects of cocaine last when its been snorted
up to 15-30 mins
what are the behavioural effects of extreme cocaine use
exhaustion
incoherent speech
decreased sexual interest
delusions
paranoia
cocaine is a vasoconstrictor - what does this mean for common side effects
as cocaine purity increases, so does the risk of heart damage and overdose
what are the physiological effects of cocaine
increased HR and bP
increased body temperature
pupil dilation
why do people feel washed out and tired when they are on a come down off coke
neuroadaptive proesses down regulate the dopaminergic receptor = less dopamine firing
