drugs exam 3 Flashcards
facts about cocaine
Psychostimulant
Ancient uses of Erythroxylon coca (E. coca)
1884 used by Freud
1914 Harrison Narcotic Act (cocaine became regulated)
Schedule 2 drug (illegal but some medical use)
coca leaves
natural form (oral) (chewed)
Coca paste
coca leaves that are smashed into water, creating paste
moderate concentration
Cocaine hydrochloride:
(high concentration) (snorted, injection)
Levamisole (affects immune system)
Freebase
(high concentration, smoked)
Crack
(high concentration, smoked) (made with baking soda)
What is the difference between crack cocaine and freebase cocaine in terms of how the two drugs are made (just the basics here…)?
Free base: created as a version of cocaine that can be smoked
Crack cocaine: created as an alternative to free base cocaine
How was cocaine used in the late 1800s?
1860
1884
1886
1914
860s: cocaine is used medically - local anasthetic
1884: used by Freud; reccomended cocaine use to his patients as a psychological treatment
1886: used in soft drinks as a stimulant (replaced by caffeine after the Harrison Narcotic Act)
1914 Harrison Narcotic Act when cocaine became regulated
How is cocaine metabolized and what is the metabolite?
Metabolized quickly by enzymes in the liver and the blood
Inactive metabolite: benzolegonine
How is cocaethylene formed?
metabolite that is created when alcohol and cocaine are metabolized in combination (toxic) (high dependency and worse withdrawal symptoms)
Which neurotransmitters are affected by cocaine and how are the neurotransmitters affected in the brain?
norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin
(cocaine is an agonist for all 3)
What are the three primary actions of cocaine?
1.) Local anesthetic: numb gums, nose, throat, and choking sensation, property of cocaine that was used medically (blocks NA+ channels)
2.)Vasoconstrictor: cardiovascular problems and death
3.)Psychostimulant: gets you high; leads to reinforcement and addiction
What is a speedball?
Cocaine mixed with heroin (stimulant + depressant)
Typically intravenously injected
Can lead to overdose
Dangerous
Which drugs are used to treat cocaine dependence and withdrawal?
Ritalin: used as an anti-withdrawal agent (safer) (similar)
Zofran: used as an anti-craving agent
What is the “crash” observed in cocaine users and what effect does it have on mood?
Observed after users take a high dose of cocaine and reach a manic like state while high
Dopamine pathways become exhausted, user is in a depressed mood state and feels worse than before they used the drug
Leads to more use
How was amphetamine first discovered and how is it made?
Has been medically used in Chinese culture for over 5,000 years, used the Ma Huang herb which contains ephedrine
Gordon Alles wanted to create a synthetic version of ephedrine which led to creation of amphetamine
Amphetamine is not natural, it is human made
forms of amphetamines
1.)dextroamphetamine (treat ADHD)
2.)levamphetamine
3.) methamphetamine (gets across the BBB faster)
How do the routes of amphetamine administration differ for each type?
1.) Oral injestion (most common) leads to slower onset effects
2.)Smoking: delivers the drug rapidly to the brain through the lungs leading to a quick and intense high
3.) injection: intense effects as drug is delivered directly into bloodstream
What is the primary difference between amphetamine and methamphetamine in terms of crossing the blood brain barrier?
The methyl group on methamphetamine helps it cross the blood brain barrier faster than amphetamine
How is amphetamine metabolized?
Amphetamines are not significantly affected by metabolism
Excreted through urine
Which neurotransmitters are affected by amphetamine and what effect does it have on the neurotransmitters?
Amphetamine is an agonist drug of dopamine and norepinephrine
What effects does amphetamine have on the autonomic nervous system?
Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight)
What is amphetamine psychosis?
High dosage and long term amphetamine use can cause psychosis, including symptoms of: paranoia, delusion
Which drugs are used to treat ADHD?
ritalin
concerta
Focalin
adderall
dexedrine
Vyvanse
Strattera
