Drugs of Abuse

Question 1

ketamine, LSD, MDMA are all

Answer 1

less addictive cuz they dont affect nigrostriatal pathway, they affect serotoninergic pathways

Question 2

examples of stimulants

Answer 2

cocaine, methamphetamine

Question 3

examples of depressants

Answer 3

benxodiazepines, barbiturates, heroin
opioids
cannabinoids
ethanol

Question 4

desensitization

Answer 4

(mins to hrs)

aka acute tolerance. involves receptor internalisation and deactivation

Question 5

tolerance

Answer 5

(days to weeks)

a decrease in the apparent effectiveness of an opioid agonist with continuous or repeated administration

Question 6

dependance

Answer 6

is a state of adaptation with withdrawal syndrome upon cessation of a drug or administration of an antagonist

Question 7

addiction

Answer 7

is a behavioral pattern characterised by a compulsive use/craving of a drug

Question 8

factors controlling addiction are

Answer 8

drug
user
environment

Question 9

physical dependance

Answer 9

is the rearrangement of homeostatic processes controlling specific systems.
this is why you should taper off drugs so that the body remembers what homeostasis is

Question 10

two features of an addicted state

Answer 10

the use of the drug becomes compulsive

there is a loss of control over drug use damaging the person and the environment

Question 11

tachyphylaxis

Answer 11

is a rapid development of tolerance and is defined as the rapid loss of response of tissues to a drug following repeated or continuoud administrations of that drug (occurs in amphetamines and cocaine)

Question 12

sensitization

Answer 12

need less drug post clean state to have a severe effect

Question 13

MOA cocaine

Answer 13

blocks reuptake of neurotransmitters (DA at the VTA, 5-HT, NA)

Question 14

MOA amphetamines

Answer 14

inhibit MAO at presynaptic terminals
block dopamine transporter so theres less reuptake
stimulate increase presynaptic release of DA

Question 15

which drugs cause pharmacodynamic tolerance and what is it

Answer 15

amphetamine and cocaine

- they can reduce the expression of DA receptors in the nucleus accumbens

Question 16

morphine metabolism

Answer 16

undergoes extensive first pass effect
M3G is inactive
M6G is active

Question 17

withdrawal syndrome characteristics

Answer 17

• craving
• restlessness
• pain/cramps
• diarrhea
• tachycardia
• fever
• anxiety/insomnia
• increased BP

Question 18

treatment of opioid abuse

Answer 18

• maintenance phase (methadone, buprenorphine,

Question 19

signs of serotonin syndrome

Answer 19

delirium, hyperthermia, headache, hyper/hypotensin, rigidity, convulsions, coma, death