Drugs of abuse II Flashcards
What are the clinical uses for benzos?
Anxiety, sleeping disorders, convulsions etc
What is the MOA of benzos?
Positive modulators of GABA-(A) receptors (increased Cl influx)
How do benzos cause the euphoric effect in the brain?
Inhibit the inhibitory interneurons that connect to dopaminergic neurons
Why don’t benzos also affect the dopaminergic neurons in the VTA of the brain, since these neurons also have GABA-(A) receptors?
These receptors lack the alpha subunit, and are thus less responsive.
What are the two most commonly abused benzos?
Diazepam
Alprazolam
What is the “date rape” drug?
Flunitrazepam
What is Flunitrazepam?
Roofies
What is the antidote to benzos? MOA?
Flumazenil–GABA-(A) receptor antagonist
Why aren’t barbiturates usually abused? Which one is usually abused?
Low margin of safety
Pentobarbital
What is the MOA of barbiturates? How do these produce the increased dopamine in the VTA?
GABA-(A) receptor agonist
Inhibit inhibitory interneurons
What is the street use for gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)?
Date rape drug
What is the MOA of GHB?
GABA-(B) receptor agonist on inhibitory interneurons
What is the relative risk of addiction for CNS stimulants?
5
What is the MOA of cocaine in the CNS?
Inhibits the dopamine transporter (DAT) on synaptic terminals of dopaminergic neurons, causing increased synaptic dopamine and epi levels
What is the MOA of cocaine in the PNS?
In the peripheral nervous system cocaine inhibits voltage-gated sodium
channels resulting in blocked initiation and conduction of action potentials used as local
anesthetic.
What is the street name for methylene dioxy-methyl amphetamine (MDMA)?
Ecstasy
Amphetamine-like CNS stimulants are structurally similar to what endogenous molecule?
Epinepherine
What is the metabolite that the liver turns EtOH and cocaine into?
Cocaethylene
What has a longer half-life: cocaine or meth?
Meth, by a lot: 12 hours compared to 1 hour
What is the MOA of amphetamines?
decreased re-uptake via DAT and inhibits VMAT, causing instant release of dopamine
What are the major adverse effects of CNS stimulant abuse?
MI
Cerebrovascular hemorrhage