Cocaine Flashcards
Source of cocaine
coca plant
Pure Food and Drugs Act (1906)
pharmaceutical regulation required truth in product labeling
Harrison Act (1914)
producers and importers of coca had to register and pay taxes
1980’s
cocaine abuse becomes serious problem
Production of Cocaine
coca–> cocaine-HCL –> cocaine free base –> crack
Cocaine is addictive
physically and psychologically addicting
Cocaine-HCl salt
water-soluble, through mucus membranes, (snort, oral, or IV)
Crack (free base form)
lipid-soluble, smoked, rapid short-lived effects
Metabolism of cocaine mainly by
liver and plasma esterases
Half life of HCl-cocaine is about
1 hour
Major metabolite is
benzoylecognine
Cocaine effects on brain
increased stimulation and euphoria
Cocaine stimulation occurs in
reticular activating system
Reinforcing effects
on reward centers, POWERFUL REINFORCER, self-administration placed before all other activities
Delay in fatigue induced decline in performance
followed by accelerated decline in performance
Rebound effects
crashing may lead to cycle of drug use
Tolerance and Dependence
Psychological and physical
Cocaine Psychosis
similar to paranoid schizophrenia when ind is using at high doses chronically
Suppression of appetite
Acts on hypothalamus leads to malnutrition
Cocaine activates the __________ nervous system
sympathetic resulting in increased HR and BP, decreased food intake, vasoconstriction
Toxicity of cocaine results in
autonomic effects on the CV system (stroke, hypertension, infarcts, death), CNS stimulation (formication, psychosis), teratogenic effects, and impotence
Health hazards indirectly from drug usage
infections from IV use, nasal membrane damage, lung damage
Physical dependence on cocaine
signs of withdrawal and tolerance
Signs of withdrawal
craving drug, drowsiness, depression, irritable, hostile; depending on dosage, duration, and pattern of use
Drug dependence as the result of
adaptive changes in specific dopaminergic pathways in limbic areas of the brain
Cocaine mechanism
blocks DA reuptake
Amphetamine mechanism
stimulates release of DA; acts similar to cocaine
Antipsychotic drug mechanism
block dopamine receptors; inhibit effects of cocaine
Treatment for cocaine withdrawal using drugs
I-DOPA (increase brain DA), Bromocriptine (stimulate DA receptor), Bupropion (blocks DA reuptake)
Nicotine mechanism
causes release of DA in nucleus accumbens
