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Drugs > Drugs and Neurotransmitters > Flashcards

Drugs and Neurotransmitters Flashcards

1
Q

Neurotransmission - Definition

A

Communication between two cells via chemicals called neurotransmitters which interact with receptors on the postsynaptic neuron

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2
Q

EPSP

A
  • neurotransmitter is stimulatory/excitatory (i.e. glutamate) thus raising electrical activity of the neuron
  • increases likelihood of neurotransmitter being released
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3
Q

IPSP

A
  • neurotransmitter is inhibitory (i.e. GABA) thus dampening electrical activity of the neuron
  • decreases likelihood of releasing neurotransmitter
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4
Q

Three fates

A
  1. They attach to another receptor
  2. They encounter an enzyme that breaks them apart
  3. They re-enter the pre-synaptic neuron via special neurotransmitter transporters
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5
Q

Agonist

A

Facilitates the effect of a particular neurotransmitter, it causes action

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6
Q

Antagonist

A

Inhibits the effects of a particular neurotransmitter, it blocks action

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7
Q

Full agonist

A

“substitute agonist”, produce same effects as drug itself but are less harmful (i.e. produces lesser but longer-acting high or safer route of use), nicotine gum, methadone, can be as addictive as drug it’s substituting

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8
Q

Partial agonist

A

does not produce the whole effect like a Full Agonist, fit the receptors well enough to stop withdrawal and craving without producing an intense high, much better substitute

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9
Q

Pseudo-antagonist

A

produce negative effects, i.e. Antabuse which makes a person feel unwell after drinking alcohol, bad feeling supposed to make the person like alcohol less

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10
Q

Disease-modifying agents

A

drugs able to prevent some aspects of addiction that lead to relapse, reduce conditioned craving

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11
Q

Neurotransmitters - Definition

A

Chemical messengers, transmit signals across the chemical synapse

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12
Q

Glutamate

A

Turns brain on; memory, alertness, movement, sensation, and mood

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13
Q

GABA

A

Turns brain off; sleep, sedation, relaxation, reducing anxiety, decreasing muscle tension

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14
Q

Endocannabinoids

A

regulate pain, appetite, coordination, learning

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15
Q

Serotonin

A

regulates mood and anxiety, appetite, sleep/wake cycle, body temperature (MDMA)

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16
Q

Noradrenaline (or Norepinephrine)

A

creates feelings of alertness, attention, concentration, raises blood pressure, lifts mood, can increase anxiety (Cocaine)

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17
Q

Dopamine

A

creates feelings of motivation and drive, liking, attention, pleasure, enjoyment of food

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18
Q

Acetylcholine

A

regulates sleep/wake cycle and alertness, builds memory (Nicotine works as Agonist)

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19
Q

Adenosine

A

makes us feel tired and hungry

20
Q

Endorphins

A

create feelings of pleasure and reward, reduce pain

21
Q

Substance P

A

Regulates pain, stress responses

22
Q

Cholecystokinin

A

when to eat, possibly involved in managing anxiety

23
Q

What 6 elements define addiction?

A
  1. Strong desire to take the substance
  2. Difficulties in controlling quantity and frequency
  3. Physical withdrawal symptoms (i.e. tremors)
  4. Tolerance
  5. Neglecting other pleasures or interests
  6. Taking drug despite harm
24
Q

What 3 elements affect whether a person becomes addicted?

A
  1. Drug-related factors: dynamics & kinetics, tolerance, withdrawal
  2. Social factors: availability and social acceptance of drug, prevalence of advertising, economic and social costs
  3. Personal factors: gender, age, genetical predisposition
25
Q

Role of Dopamine in Addiction

A
  • reinforces drug use due to being released when feeling a sense of reward/achievement
  • > helps us memorize what made us feel good
26
Q

Role of Dopamine Addiction - What influences amount of dopamine receptors?

A
  • in general: Genetically determined
  • low amount: excessive pleasure is experienced
  • high amount: associated with high status -> # of receptors can be influenced by causal factors
  • other: Crack and methamphetamine reduce # of receptors -> ability to feel pleasure diminishes
27
Q

Role of other Neurotransmitters (Pull factors: GABA/Glutamate, Endorphins, Serotonin)

A
  • GABA/Glutamate: regulate memory
  • Endorphins: give peace and pleasure, reduced suffering, and numb pain
  • Serotonin: involved in attributing meaning to experience
28
Q

Role of Noradrenaline in Addiction (Push factors)

A

May be related to impulsivity and compulsivity

29
Q

Pull- and Push factors

A
  • associated with loss of control
    1. drug enhances push factors - impulsivity, compulsivity, and/or withdrawal
    2. drug reduces our ability to resist behavior i.e. good memories (pull factors)
  • > over time may lead to inability to resist cravings
30
Q

Tolerance

A
  • when repeatedly doing something changes the way we react to it
  • targeted receptors are desensitized
31
Q

Withdrawal

A

state of the brain after user stops taking the drug

32
Q

Physical Withdrawal

A
  • opposite effects of the drug
  • amphetamine: energised vs. lethargic
  • alcohol: relaxing/calming vs. irritation/anxiety
33
Q

Psychological Withdrawal

A
  • anhedonia, shot term depression, “comedown”
  • strongest force driving addicts back to drug use
  • main drive becomes reducing withdrawal symptomps
34
Q

Opiods

A
  • opium, heroin, methadone, buprenorphine, codeine
  • derived from opium poppy
  • target endorphin receptors
  • > dull/numb physical and psychological pain
  • some are highly addictive
  • main harms: nausea, vomitting, chronic constipation, apnea
35
Q

Stimulants/”uppers”

A
  • cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, caffeine, steroids, khat, mephedrone, tobacco
  • release noradrenaline and dopamine -> trigger fight-or-flight response which leads to high alterness, high energy, suppress needs for food and sleep
  • powerful stimulants (coke, crack, meth) overstimulate the CNS
36
Q

Depressants/”downers”

A
  • alcohol, benzodiazepines, GHB (liquid ecstasy)
  • activate GABA receptors (agonistic behavior), preparing for “sleep”
  • decrease anxiety (benzos), insomnia and pain, relaxing muscles
  • promote sociability and enhance mood (because they reduce anxiety)
37
Q

Psychedelics

A
  • LSD, magic mushrooms, ayahuasca/DMT, peyote/mescaline, ibogaine
  • seem to have an effect on serotonin receptors
  • produce visual distortions
  • cause little harm
  • unlike cannabis, psilocybin has no specific receptors even though they are both plant derivatives
38
Q

Less easily classified drugs - Ecstasy

A
  • stimulant/psychedelic
  • increase in alertness, high amounts of energy (stimulant) increase in sociability and talkativeness (psychedelic)
  • increases serotonin by blocking reuptake (reuptake inhibitor)
39
Q

Less easily classified drugs - Ketamine

A
  • depressant/psychedelic
  • blocks glutamate switching off the brain like an increase in GABA would (depressant), produces distortions of time and space (psychedelic)
40
Q

Less easily classified drugs - Cannabis

A
  • depressant/psychedelic
  • combines feelings of relaxation (depressant) and distortions of perception, openness, talkativeness, and great pleasure from eating
  • unique effects because has its own natural system - endocannabinoid system
41
Q

Alcohol - Neurochemistry

A
  • produces acetaldehyde (toxic)
  • increases GABA and Noradrenaline (indirectly), and blocks specific glutamate receptors
  • increase in GABA -> reduced anxiety and motor coordination
  • increase in Noradrenaline -> energy
  • increase in GABA & Noradrenaline -> disinhibition, disregard for social norms
  • blocking glutamate -> less alert/awake
42
Q

Alcohol - Effects and damage

A
  • low doses: relaxing, anxiolytic
  • high dose: slow reflex/response
  • very high dose: amnesia
  • lethal dose
43
Q

Tobacco - Neurochemistry

A
  • smoke contains 60 cancer-causing chemicals
  • releases dopamine -> feeling of pleasure (mostly derived from social context)
  • stimulates acetylcholine receptors -> more awake, higher concentration
  • substances in tobacco block monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme; it breaks down dopamine thus inhibition causes increase
44
Q

Article - “Alcohol and the brain - Pharmacological insights for psychiatrists”

A

Outline: different neurotransmitters are involved during alcohol intake and withdrawal, some antagonists can be use to treat withdrawal and other side effects

45
Q

Article - Personality types

A 
Type 1 (late-onset): high brain 5HT (Brain serotonin) function -> high harm avoidance & anxiety -> drink to reduce tension/feeling of guilt
Type 2 (early onset): low brain 5HT function -> poor impulse control -> increased criminality

Drugs (4 decks)

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