Drugs of Abuse 1

Question 1

Glutamate

Answer 1

primary excitatory neurotransmitter of CNS found in almost all neurons that act on glutamatergic neurons important for learning

Question 2

GABA

Answer 2

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of CNS found in high conc. in cerebrum, hippocampus and cerebellum

Question 3

ACh

Answer 3

excitatory neurotransmiter that acts on nicotinic receptors (stimulated by ACh or nicotine) and muscarinic receptors (stimulated by ACh or muscarine) involved in learning, memory and cognitive function

Question 4

Catecholamines

Answer 4

dopamine- involved in some hormonal systems, motor coordination, and motivation and reward; norepinephrine- bind alpha and beta receptors and activation leads to excitation

Question 5

Serotonin

Answer 5

hyperactivity of this system leads to anxiety and hypoactivity leads to depression

Question 6

Opioid Peptides

Answer 6

enkephalins, endorphins and dynorphins that bind to mu, delta and kappa receptors

Question 7

Dopamine hypothesis

Answer 7

main hypothesis to explain addiction; drugs of abuse increase dopamine in limbic system which is also responsible for natural rewards such as food, sex and stimulus related rewards

Question 8

Criteria for substance abuse

Answer 8

use of prohibited drugs, alternate use of therapeutic drug, ingestion of larger doses of drugs or different route of administration, drugs taken in combo to produce pleasurable effects, excessive use of legal social drugs, use if non-therapeutic substances of abuse

Question 9

Drug withdrawal

Answer 9

abnormal physiological state produced by repeated administration of a drug that leads to the appearance of a withdrawal syndrome when drug administration is discontinued

Question 10

Drug Tolerance

Answer 10

state in which repeated administration of a given dose of a drug has progressively less pharmacological effect or dose needs to be increased to have the same magnitude

Question 11

Drug Addiction

Answer 11

stopping or abruptly reducing the dose of a drug produces non-physical symptoms characterized by emotional and mental preoccupation with the drug’s effect (craving)

Question 12

What are stimulant drugs? What are some examples?

Answer 12

increase the activity of the brain; amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine, caffeine

Question 13

What are Amphetamines?

Answer 13

widespread controlled substances that are structurally similar to epi and norepi and increase the release of dopamine; includes amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and methamphetamine

Question 14

CNS effects of amphetamines

Answer 14

decreased threshold for transmitting sensory input causing excitation of cerebral cortex that leads to restlessness, dizziness, confusion, tremors, sometimes panic and psychosis, euphoria, appetite suppression, and increased mood swings and aggression

Question 15

Other Effects of amphetamines

Answer 15

short term: heart attack, angina, bp changes, increased respiratory rate, fever, stroke
long term: chronic sleeping issues, poor appetite, anxiety, psychosis, elevated bp and abnormal cardiac rhythm

Question 16

Abuse potential and dependence of amphetamines

Answer 16

high abuse liability bc of powerful euphoria and quick onset of action (IV administration) and inherent harmfulness due to long-term effects
tolerance develops to everything but therapeutic effects and psychosis, strong dependence and addiction develop

Question 17

Therapeutic uses of Amphetamines

Answer 17

Ritalin (related compound) used to treat ADHD and Narcolepsy as opposed to amphetamines bc of reduces cardiovascular and appetite suppressing effects

Question 18

Cocaine and its pharmacology

Answer 18

originates from leaves of coca bush and is a local anaesthetic and CNS stimulant that causes stimulation in a dose dependent manner by inhibiting re-uptake of dopamine and serotonin

Question 19

Effects of cocaine on CNS

Answer 19

similar to amphetamines but have shorter duration of action and less complications w IV use bc it is sniffed or smoked

Question 20

Long-term effects of cocaine

Answer 20

paranoia, hallucinations and sensation of insects crawling under skin, impaired sexual function, brain damage, high bp and irregular heart rhythm, changes to nasal mucosa

Question 21

Abuse potential and dependence of cocaine

Answer 21

high abuse potential due to rapid and powerful euphoria, tolerance develops to mood-elevation but not psychosis, strong dependence and addiction develops

Question 22

Therapeutic uses of cocaine

Answer 22

local anesthetic for mouth and throat but are rarely therapeutically used

Question 23

Nicotine and its pharmacology

Answer 23

naturally occurs in tobacco; small particles absorbed when smoked and also absorbed through the GI tract, oral mucosa and across the skin to rapidly gain access to the brain

Question 24

Effects of Nicotine on CNS

Answer 24

stimulates nicotinic receptors to increase dopamine and serotonin release and increases psychomotor activity, cognitive function, attention and memory and can lead to agitation, tremors and seizures in large doses

Question 25

Short-term effects of smoking

Answer 25

regular user: mild euphoria, enhanced arousal, increased relaxation and concentration, small increase in HR, bp and appetite suppression
non-smoker: dizziness, headache, nausea, cramps, coughing and gagging

Question 26

Long-term effects of smoking

Answer 26

cardiovascular disease caused by nicotine and CO, lung disease caused by combustion products, cancers

Question 27

Abuse potential and dependence of Nicotine

Answer 27

powerful reinforcer and a high degree of abuse liability, not a great amount of tolerance, dependence and addiction both occur

Question 28

Caffeine and its pharmacology

Answer 28

rapidly and completely absorbed with peak blood levels after 2 hours; freely cross brain and placenta; blocks adenosine receptors that stimulate GABAnergic neurons in the brain, causing an increase in dopamine release

Question 29

Short-term effects of Caffeine

Answer 29

CNS: mild mood elevation, reduced fatigue, increase in performance and can cause irritability nervousness, rambling in high doses
Cardiovascular: vasoconstriction of cerebral vessels, increased HR, arrhythmia in high doses
Respiration: dilation of airways and stimulation of respiratory rate (used in newborns)
metabolism increased in smokers and reduced in pregnancy women

Question 30

Long-term effects of Caffeine

Answer 30

restlessness, insomnia, increased urinary output, gastric upset, rambling speech and thought

Question 31

Abuse potential and dependence of Caffeine

Answer 31

low abuse liability, mild reinforcer, low inherent harmfulness, some tolerance can develop, mild dependence and addition can occur

Question 32

Amphetamines in sports

Answer 32

increase alertness, feeling of power, reduced fatigue, increased aggression, responsiveness, HR and bp; increase endurance and speed by masking pain/fatigue

Question 33

MOA of Anabolic steroids

Answer 33

anticatabolic lock the use of protein from their muscle for fuel training, anabolic results in protein production, can cause increased aggression or “roid rage”

Question 34

Effects of Anabolic steroids

Answer 34

increase in lean body mass, body weight, strength, aggressive behaviour and can cause more masculinized features in females

Question 35

Toxicities of Anabolic steroids

Answer 35

mood swings, severe acne, cardiovascular disease (increased LDL), altered liver function (hepatitis, liver failure and liver cancer)

Question 36

GH and GF in sports

Answer 36

increase muscle mass and strength and not as easily detected as it is cleared rapidly from the body

Question 37

Benzodiazepines in Sports

Answer 37

e.g. valium are used to reduce anxiety during competition

Question 38

Blood doping and EPO

Answer 38

blood doping is the reinfusion if ones own RBC and EPO increases the amount of RBC produced by the body to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood but can lead to heart attack and stroke

Question 39

Diuretics in Sports

Answer 39

enhanced secretion of salt and water through kidneys to reduce body water and allow athlete to compete at lower weight class