Intro

Question 1

What are drugs?

Answer 1

Drugs are chemicals that can affect biological processes which work by interacting with endogenous proteins such as receptors, enzymes, ion channels and transports.

Question 2

What are psychotropic drugs?

Answer 2

Chemicals that alter chemical levels in the brain which impact mood and behaviour.

For example antidepressants and antianxiety agents.

Question 3

What are hallucinogenic drugs?

Answer 3

Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that alter perception, thoughts and feelings. They cause hallucinations, or sensations and images that seem real though they are not.

All inhibit 5HT, distorting messages carried in CNS.

For example LSD, mescaline, psilocybin

Question 4

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 4

Pharmacokinetics, sometimes referred to as what the body does to the drug, refers to the movement of a drug into, through and out of the body.

Question 5

How are pharamacokinetic properties of a drug affected?

Answer 5

Influenced by method of administration and dosing schedule.

Question 6

List the pharamacokinetic factors

Answer 6

• Drug absorption
• Drug distribution
• Drug excretion

Question 7

How can these factors be further affected?

Answer 7

Further affect by individual variation such as genetic predispostion and pattern of use.