Exam 7: Drugs of Abuse

Question 1

Define drug abuse

Answer 1

Use of an illicit drug, excessive or nonmedical use of a licit drug, deliberate use of chemicals that may be harmful

Question 2

Where does a majority of prescription drug diversion happen?

Answer 2

hospital, pharmacy or prescriber level

Question 3

What do all addictive drugs have in common?

Answer 3

induce strong feelings of euphoria and reward via activation of the mesolimbic system

Question 4

What is pharmacodynamic tolerance?

Answer 4

cellular response to a drug reduced with repeated use

Question 5

What is pharmacokinetic tolerance?

Answer 5

Decreased quantity of the substance reaching the site it affects

Question 6

What is cross-tolerance?

Answer 6

tolerance occurring within 2 systems at the same time- e.g. CNS and respiratory

Question 7

where does the mesolimbic system originate and where does it project to?

Answer 7

ventral tegmental area, projects to: nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex

Question 8

Where do opioids target?

Answer 8

mew, kappa and delta receptors, dopaminergic pathways in the CNS

Question 9

Do abused opioids develop tolerance, dependence, and addiction slowly or quickly?

Answer 9

Rapidly.

Question 10

What is the antidote for a opioid overdose?

Answer 10

Naloxone

Question 11

What are symptoms of an opioid withdrawal?

Answer 11

nausea and vomiting, tremor, muscle jerks, chills, cramps, lacrimation

Question 12

What is the treatment for opioid withdrawal?

Answer 12

substitution therapy: methadone (agonist with less rush), buprenorphine (partial agonist)

Question 13

What sedative-hypnotics are abused?

Answer 13

ethanol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, date rape drungs (flunitrazepam, gamma-hydroxybutyrate)

Question 14

What can result in a withdrawal from a sedative hypnotic (think alcohol)

Answer 14

excessive CNS stimulation: anxiety, tremor, nausea and vomiting. Seizures are not uncommon

Question 15

What is the treatment of withdrawal from sedative-hypnotics and/or alcoholism

Answer 15

Long acting sedative hypnotic (diazepem), naltrexone for alcoholism

Question 16

What are the effects of nicotine?

Answer 16

selective agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor- enhancement of cognitive performance

Question 17

What is the treatment of nicotine?

Answer 17

Varenicline- partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in VTA, occludes rewarding effects of nicotine

Question 18

What are the effects of amphetamines?

Answer 18

Increase dopamine, NE and 5HT in synapse, causing a feeling of euphoria and self-confidence

Question 19

What are symptoms of an ampthetamine overdose?

Answer 19

agitation, restlessness, tachycardia, hyperthermia, hyperreflexia, seizures

Question 20

What are symptoms of amphetamine withdrawals?

Answer 20

abstinence syndrome: increased appetite, sleepiness, exhaustion, mental depression

Question 21

What are the effects of cocaine?

Answer 21

inhibits CNS monoamine reuptake, euphoria, selfconfidence

Question 22

What are the effects of overdoses of cocaine?

Answer 22

arrhythmias, seizures, respiratory depression

Question 23

What is the effects of cocaine withdrawal?

Answer 23

abstinence syndrome (increased appetite, sleepiness, exhaustion, mental depression), depression of mood

Question 24

What do cannabinoids target?

Answer 24

CB1 receptors

Question 25

What is the neuronal signaling like with cannabinoids?

Answer 25

Backward signaling, the cannabis is released from post synaptic terminals to interact with presynaptic neurons

Question 26

What are the effects of cannabinoids?

Answer 26

euphoria, disinhibition, uncontrollable laughter, changes in perception, vasodilation occurs, pulse rate is increased