Drugs of abuse and nicotine Flashcards
What are the common effects of stimulant drugs?
Stimulants cause increased motor activity, alertness, decreased fatigue, sympathomimetic effects, and some induce euphoria.
What are some examples of stimulant drugs?
Amphetamines, cocaine, methylphenidate, MDMA (phenethylamine hallucinogen), pseudoephedrine, nicotine, caffeine.
How is cocaine pharmacologically classified?
Cocaine is a DEA Schedule II drug with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, rapidly absorbed, stored in fat tissue, and metabolized in the liver.
What are the peripheral effects of cocaine?
Cocaine causes constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
What are the central effects of cocaine?
Cocaine induces euphoria, increased alertness, energy, mental clarity, restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.
How is cocaine used medically?
Cocaine has been used as a local anesthetic, for treating intestinal disorders, as a mental stimulant, endurance enhancer, addiction treatment, and even for asthma.
What are the main uses of methylphenidate (Ritalin)?
Methylphenidate is used for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy.
How does methylphenidate (Ritalin) and cocaine affect the synapse?
Methylphenidate blocks the dopamine transporter, leading to the accumulation of dopamine in the synapse and enhanced neuronal activity.
How do amphetamines, such as d-amphetamine and methamphetamine affect the synapse?
Reverse dopamine reuptake, release stored dopamine, and inactivate MAO (preventing dopamine degradation).
What is the difference between d-amphetamine and methamphetamine in terms of duration and use?
d-Amphetamine is more potent, used for appetite suppression, narcolepsy, and depression. Methamphetamine has a longer duration (8-12 hours) and is used for ADHD and narcolepsy.
What is “Meth Mouth”?
“Meth Mouth” refers to severe tooth decay and gum disease caused by methamphetamine use, leading to black, stained, rotting, and crumbling teeth. It is caused by drug-induced dry mouth and poor oral hygiene.
What are the acute dangers of psychomotor stimulants?
Acute dangers include cardiac arrest, seizures, stroke, and paranoia.
What are the chronic dangers of psychomotor stimulants?
Chronic dangers include addiction, paranoid psychosis, nasal tissue damage, HIV/hepatitis risk, and fetal effects.
What are the acute and chronic toxic effects of MDMA?
Acute effects include hypertension, cardiac effects, hyperthermia, renal failure, and seizures. Chronic effects include 5-HT neuronal damage and paranoid psychosis.
What is MDMA (Ecstasy) and how does it work?
releases/inhibits reuptake of serotonin (5HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE). At low doses, it’s a stimulant; at high doses, it becomes a hallucinogen.
How does nicotine affect the body?
acts as a direct agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, indirectly enhancing dopamine release in the brain. It causes vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure.
What are smoking cessation medications and their side effects?
Varenicline (Chantix): Partial nicotinic receptor agonist, side effects include nausea, and possible links to suicidal thoughts and cardiovascular risks.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban): Antidepressant and norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor, side effects include insomnia, hypertension, and liver damage.
How does vaping affect oral health?
Vaping results in similar nicotine blood levels as smoking, reduces gingival blood flow, produces carcinogens from heating e-liquids, and glycerin increases microbial adhesion, reducing enamel hardness.
What are hallucinogens and their mechanism of action?
Schedule I that activate 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, causing altered perceptions, mood, and cognition.
What are the acute sympathomimetic and psychological effects of hallucinogens?
sympathomimetic: increased heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, psychomotor, pupillary dilation, euphoria
psychological: labile moods, altered perception, impaired judgment
What are the adverse events associated with hallucinogens?
Adverse events include bad trips, psychotic reactions, flashbacks, neurotoxicity, and possible fetal risks.
What is LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), its potency, and effects?
LSD is a potent lipophilic hallucinogens, requiring 50-100 µg per dose. It causes slight increases in heart rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation, and increased body temperature, with effects lasting 8-12 hours.
What are other common hallucinogens?
Psilocybin/Psilocin: Found in “magic mushrooms.”
Bufotenine: Found in Bufo toads and certain trees/mushrooms.
Mescaline (Peyote): Found in cactus.
Myristin & Elemicin: Psychoactive spice ingredients with toxic effects.
What are PCP and Ketamine, and how do they affect the body?
PCP and Ketamine are dissociative anesthetics that antagonize NMDA glutamate receptors, causing detachment, disorientation, and altered body perception.
