Tranquilizers and Opiates Flashcards
Identifying traits of indian snakeroot
evergreen shrub, contains reserpine
What does reserpine treat?
chronic psychoses (schizophrenia) and hypertension, and was promoted as a tranquilizer for anxiety
Identifying traits of kava
shrub, native to South pacific islands, a cultigen
Where was kava domesticated first?
Vanuatu
What is kava used for?
socially relaxing body and mind, and medicinally to induce sleep, relieve pain, treat anxiety and insomnia; treating rheumatism, menstrual problems, venereal diseases, and tuberculosis
What part of kava contains the active principles?
the rootstock
What are the various compounds called in kava?
kavalactones (like kavain)
What effects do whole extracts of kava have?
hypnotic-sedative, analgesic, and psychotropic effects
Identifying traits of opium poppy
annual plant, member of poppy family, native to Asia
What is claimed to be the world’s oldest narcotic?
opium, based on Sumerian tablets
Who summarized the medicinal use of opium poppy?
Galen
Who popularized opium use in Renaissance Europe and developed laudanum?
Paracelsus
What was opium mainly used for?
pain relief
What culture introduced opium to India and China?
Arabic traders
How many opium wars were there in China?
two
What are examples of opiate alkaloids?
morphine, noscapine, papaverine, thebaine (the papa no mo)
How do the opiate alkaloids work?
reduce brain arousal to pain stimulation, depress respiratory and heart rates, impair digestion
What does the term ‘soldier’s disease’ refer to?
addiction to morphine
What is the result of boiling morphine with acetic acid?
diacetylmorphine (a semi-synthetic), aka heroin
Facts on methadone
used for overcoming heroin addiction, less crazy than heroin
Facts on codeine
derived from morphine or thebaine; analgesic, used as cough suppressant; potentially addictive
Facts on oxycodone
derived from thebaine; used for extreme cases needing pain relief (cancer)
Facts on fentanyl
50-100 times more potent than morphine; pain relief
What is the ‘Golden Triangle’?
Where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet
Where does the majority of opium production occur?
Afghanistan, Golden Triangle
What is codeine sometimes combined with?
ASA tablets (acetylsalicylic acid)
