Lecture 4: Drug Effects

Question 0

What are the effects of cocaine on the brain?

Answer 0

After 3-4 mins, Cocaine starts to bind to striatum (the major input system of the basal ganglia)
After 10 mins, high feeling is gone
Whole experience is gone in 20-30mins

Question 1

What are the two large classes of the long term effects of amphetamine?

Answer 1

Social and emotional behaviour

Depression

Question 2

What is ecstasy?

Answer 2

A.k.a MDMA, EXC, Adam
Derivative of amphetamine (similar structure)
Synthesised in lab- make up varies from lab to lab

Question 3

What are the short term effects of ecstasy?

Answer 3

Increase in serotonin -> reinforced feeling -> more likely to take again
Heightened perceptions
Effects on the basal ganglia causes Stimulation
Elevated mood
Effects on the hypothalamus causes a Reduced appetite

Question 4

Which brain areas are affected by ecstasy?

Answer 4

Thinking, memory, hallucination, anxiety,
Connected to others, empathetic
Neocortex- cognition, memory and altered perceptions
Amygdala- limbic system - emotion
Hippocampus- memory
Basal ganglia
Hypothalamus- changes emotions
Serotonin nerve pathway (sleep, anxiety, mood, emotions, memory)

Question 5

What are the two major pathways affected by ecstasy?

Answer 5

1) Brainstem -> neocortex -> limbic system

2) Spinal cord -> muscle activity

Question 6

What is the primary target for ecstasy?

Answer 6

Serotonin transporters

Question 7

What effect does ecstasy have on the hippocampus?

Answer 7

Memory and mood

Question 8

What are short term effects of ecstasy?

Answer 8

Sustained activation of more serotonin receptors, leads to elevated mood (antidepressant drug)

When ecstasy is gone, only a few of the serotonin receptors are activated, resulting in depression and anxiety

Feelings of restlessness, sleeplessness

Ecstasy users experience lost of serotonin receptors, transporters and nerve terminals

Question 9

What are the adverse effects of ecstasy?

Answer 9

Clouded thinking
Disturbed behaviour
Hyperthermia - due to disruption of temperature regulation
Jaw clenching

Question 10

What are life threatening effects of ecstasy?

Answer 10

Hyperthermia- high temperature can cause brain damage resulting in death
Arrhythmia- irregular heart beats, muscle breakdown
Renal failure- fluid depletion, reduced kidney function

Question 11

What are long term effects of ecstasy?

Answer 11

Brain chemistry changes:
Reduced serotonin and serotonin metabolites

Brain structure changes:
Reduced serotonin transporters
Degeneration of serotonin terminals

Question 12

What are teratogens?

Answer 12

Environmental agent that causes damages during prenatal period

The genetic makeup of the mother or developing organism may enable or hinder their ability to withstand harm

Question 13

What are the effects of teratogens on a 3-8 week old foetus?

Answer 13

Toxic environmental agents can cause serious defects as this is the period when foundations are laid down (heart, eye, arms etc)

Question 14

What did thalidomide result in?

Answer 14

Thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness in mothers, however it caused severe limb deformities in the babies

Question 15

What is diethylstilbestrol (DES)

Answer 15

Drug which prevented miscarriages and did not seem harmful at first,
Baby later found to have problems with conception (miscarriages)

Question 16

What are the effects of heavy caffeine intake during pregnancy?

Answer 16

Miscarriage,

Withdrawal symptoms from baby and mum

Question 17

What are the effects of aspirin intake?

Answer 17

Infant death, poor motor development

Question 18

What are the effects of illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, homeback, MSTI, methadone?

Answer 18

Cocaine babies have a higher risk of genital urinary tract, kidney and heart deformities as well as brain seizures

Cocaine daddy’s : can have defects in some

Question 19

What are the effects of tobacco during pregnancy?

Answer 19

Increased concentration of CO -> reduced nutrient uptake -> low birth weight, premature babies, miscarriage, infant death, developmental risks (long term impairments of learning etc)

Question 20

What are the effects of alcohol intake during pregnancy?

Answer 20

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder FASD
- low birth weight, 
Small head circumference
Organ dysfunction
Facial abnormalities
Wide eye space
Poor coordination
Smaller size overall
Poor social learning behavioural problems
DRaws a lot of oxygen to metabolise self