Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Pharmocology > Drugs of abuse 3: alcohol > Flashcards

Drugs of abuse 3: alcohol Flashcards

1
Q

What defines binge drinking?

A

more than 8 units in one sitting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What defines a unit?

A
  • 10ml or 8g of absolute alcohol
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where is alcohol absorbed from?

A
  • the stomach 20%

- the gut 80%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the speed of onset proportional to?

A
  • the speed of gastric emptying

if your stomach is full then gastric emptying is reduced as the stomach metabolises and breaks up your food- the alcohol remains in the stomach for a lot longer rather than moving to the small intestine where it is absorbed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where is alcohol mainly metabolised, by what enzymes and what into?

A
  • the liver (85%)
alcohol dehydrogenase (75%)
mixed function oxidase (25%)

into acetaldehyde

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happens if you drink alcohol in one large dose?

A
  • if you have too much all the metabolising enzymes will become saturated and the level of blood ethanol will rise
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How much of the alcohol is metabolised by the stomach?

A

15%

by alcohol dehydrogenase into acetaldehyde

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the difference between body water in men and women and how does this effect alcohol distribution?

A

Women: 50% Men:59%

Alcohol is very soluble in water s the more body water the more dilute the alcohol will be in plasma

Women also have less alcohol dehydrogenase in their stomach compared to men

This all means that the plasma alcohol concentration will be higher in women compared to men

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How and why is acetaldehyde in the body broken down?

A
  • it is a very toxic metabolite

aldehyde dehydrogenase converts acetaldehyde into acetic acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is disulfiram?

A

it is used in alcohol aversion therapy and blocks the action of aldehyde dehydrogenase. This leads to a build up of acetaldehyde in the body, making the person feel worse after drinking and less likely to drink again due to this feeling.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What will a genetic polymorphism in aldehyde dehydrogenase lead to?

A

you will not be good at metabolising acetaldehyde and as it is a vasodilator this will lead to Asian flush

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why is it important that alcohol has low pharmacological potency?

A

you need a lot more alcohol compared to other drugs such as nicotine to get a response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What determines the effect of alcohol at a low dose?

A
  • CNS agitation occurs but the effect it has depends on the environment and personality of the person
  • in a social setting this can lead to excitability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the primary effect of alcohol and in a high dose?

A

it acts as a DEPRESSANT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the three main CNS targets of alcohol?

A
  • GABA receptors
  • NMDA receptors
  • calcium channels
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How does alcohol enhance GABA function?

A

it has both pre and post synaptic effect

  • increases allopregnanolone production which then facilitates chloride channel opening
  • this increase in chloride influx leads to a depressive effect
17
Q

What impact does alcohol have on NMDA receptors and Ca+ channels?

A
  • decreases NMDA receptor function

- negative impact on calcium channels, decreases calcium influx

18
Q

How does alcohol create euphoric effects?

A
  • enhances GABA

- switches off NMDA

19
Q

Why does alcohol cause flushing?

A
  • vasodilation

- reduced calcium entry and increased prostaglandins

20
Q

Why does alcohol lead to an increase in HR?

A

-centrally mediated decrease in baroreceptor sensitivity which leads to an acute INCREASE in HR

decreasing baroreceptor firing rate leads to reduced parasympathetic stimulation which increases HR

21
Q

What heart condition can chronic alcohol abuse be associated with?

A

-increased blood pressure

22
Q

What is alcohols effect on urine outflow?

A
  • it is a powerful diuretic
  • this diuretic effect is caused by acetaldehyde
  • it acts on the neurohypophysis and inhibits vasopressin release
23
Q

What CNS disease is associated with chronic alcohol use? What does it cause to happen

A
  • dementia

- cortical atrophy and a decrease in the volume of white matter

24
Q

What causes wernike-Korsakoff syndrome?

A

thiamine deficiency

25
Q

What causes Wernicke’s encephalopathy?

A

-some mitochondrial injury

26
Q

What is korsakoffs psychosis?

A
  • there has been a progression from mitochondrial injury in the brain to cell apoptosis
    this is IRREVERSIBLE
27
Q

What is the effect of alcohol on the liver?

A
  • alcohol is metabolised to acetaldehyde, this requires NAD+
  • this depletes the liver of NAD+ and increasing NADH
  • if there is lots of NADH then the beta oxidation of lipids will be inhibited so there is fat build up in the liver

it also interferes with the TCA cycle so you get less ATP production

28
Q

How does alcohol consumption lead to hepatitis?

A
  • alcohol is also metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes
  • if you are chronically using this enzyme then it will produce oxygen free radicals that will contribute to mitochondrial injury leading to hepatitis
29
Q

In what circumstance does cirrhosis develop?

A

-if inflammation persists it will lead to the recruitment of fibroblasts, which lay down connective tissue and hence leads to cirrhosis

  • decreased hepatocyte regeneration
  • increased fibroblasts
  • decreased active liver tissue
30
Q

What are the benefits of alcohol?

A
  • alcohol at safe levels is good for the cardiovascular system
  • increase HDL and decreases platelet aggregation
31
Q

What damage does alcohol cause to the GI tract?

A
  • damages gastric mucosa

- carcinogenic in the stomach

32
Q

What effect will alcohol have on the endocrine system?

A
  • present with cushing type syndromes
  • alcohol causes an increase in ACTH secretion
  • it will also reduce testosterone secretion
33
Q

What are the symptoms of a hangover?

A
  • nausea (irritates the stomach)
  • headache (vasodilation)
  • fatigue (sleep deprivation and rebound)
  • restlessness and muscle tremors (rebound)
  • polyuria and polydipsia (decreased ADH secretion)
34
Q

When are the symptoms of a hangover the worst?

A
  • when blood alcohol levels reach their lowest

Pharmocology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions