Day 4: Stimulants

Question 1

List various stimulant drugs that are abused.

Answer 1

Cocaine, methamphetamine, Adderall, nicotine

Question 2

Effects of stimulants on the body

Answer 2

1. Speed up CNS
2. Increase activity levels
3. Strong psychological and possible physical dependence.
4. Reduce fatigue
5. Elevate mood and alertness

Question 3

Abuse effects of stimulants

Answer 3

addiction, seizures, strokes, death

Question 4

Cocaine: reliability

Answer 4

unreliable; no purity standards, can be mixed with any white powder

Question 5

Cocaine: half-life

Answer 5

1 hr

Question 6

Cocaine: time spent in euphoria and effect on use

Answer 6

15 minutes of euphoria&raquo_space; multiple uses more often

Question 7

Cocaine: routes of administration

Answer 7

IV, inhalation, intranasal **

Question 8

Cocaine: effects on heart

Answer 8

Increase HR, irregular heartbeats

Question 9

Cocaine: effects on blood vessels

Answer 9

Blood vessels constrict&raquo_space; increase in BP, possible rupture&raquo_space; MI, stroke

Question 10

Cocaine: effects on CNS

Answer 10

1. stimulant
2. euphoria,
3. increase in energy,
4. increased sensory awareness,
5. possible seizures

Question 11

Cocaine: addiction potential

Answer 11

Addiction is common

Question 12

Cocaine: adverse effects

Answer 12

Psychological - anxiety, paranoia, depression, memory problems, irritability, suicidal thoughts/attempts
Physical - severe headaches, laziness/sleep problems, nasal sores/nose bleeds

Question 13

Cocaine: mood swings

Answer 13

User is depressed all the time except while abusing drug

Question 14

Methamphetamine: ROA

Answer 14

oral, intranasal, injection, smoked

Question 15

Meth: appearance

Answer 15

white (slightly yellow) crystal-like powder

Question 16

Meth: duration of action

Answer 16

6 - 8 hrs

Question 17

Which is more addicting - meth or cocaine?

Answer 17

meth

Question 18

Describe meth mouth.

Answer 18

cavities, red swollen gums, tooth decay, teeth grinding, poor dental hygiene

Question 19

Adderall: generic

Answer 19

amphetamine salts

Question 20

Adderall: indication

Answer 20

ADHD

Question 21

Adderall: abuse effects

Answer 21

seizures, addiction, HF, death

Question 22

Nicotine: amt that leads to physical and psychological dependance

Answer 22

5 mg (1 - 3 cigarettes) a day

Question 23

Nicotine: perceived benefits

Answer 23

Comes from nicotine’s effects

Effects: relaxation, enhanced attention and thinking ability

Question 24

Describe the medical use of stimulant drugs.

Answer 24

1. ADHD
2. Narcolepsy
3. Suppress appetite (anoretics)
4. Migraine

Question 25

D-ephedrine: pharmacological target

Answer 25

D-ephedrine: adrenergic receptor (used as decongestant, bronchodilator)

Question 26

Pharmacological targets of cocaine

Answer 26

Cocaine = inhibitor of: 
1. dopamine transporter
2. serotonin
3. noradrenaline transporters
Therefore it blocks reuptake of dopamine >> increase [dopamine] >> increase duration of action

Question 27

Pharmacological targets of amphetamine, MDMA/Ecstasy

Answer 27

amphetamine, MDMA/Ecstasy = substrates of

1. Dopamine transporter, serotonin, noradrenaline transporters
2. Vesicular mono-amine transporters (VMAT)&raquo_space; increase [mono-amine] in synapse. Mono-amine examples = serotonin, norepinephrine
3. Trace amine-associated receptor&raquo_space; activate DA/5HT/NE transporters through phosphorylation.

Question 28

Pharmacological targets of nicotine

Answer 28

ionotropic acetylcholine receptors

Activation of receptors leads to Na+ entry and K+ exit from cell&raquo_space; action potential generation

Question 29

Pharmacological targets of caffeine

Answer 29

adenosine receptors

Question 30

Amphetamine vs methamphetamine

Answer 30

1. amphetamine = N-desmethyl analog of meth

2. Meth is more potent&raquo_space; more euphoria

Question 31

Behavioral processes impacted by dopamine signaling in brain

Answer 31

1. decision-making
2. Planning
3. Reward/value-based learning
4. Movement/action
5. Fear/anxiety
6. Learning and memory
   Basically: dopaminergic system important for predicting and valuing reward

Question 32

How are cough medicine, adderall, and crystal meth related structurally?

Answer 32

Cough medicine = D-ephedrine
Adderall = amphetamine salt
Structural similarities: aromatic ring, amine group

Question 33

Methylphenidate: MOA, indication

Answer 33

MOA: DA/NE reuptake inhibitor
indication: narcolepsy and ADHD