Psychostimulants: Cocaine & Amphetamines

These flashcards cover key concepts regarding psychostimulants, specifically Cocaine and Amphetamines, including history, pharmacokinetics, behavioral effects, and treatment options.

What is the history of Cocaine and its significant contributors?

Cocaine comes from Erythroxylon coca, used for 5,000-2,000 years; Sigmund Freud wrote about it in 1855 with 'Uber Coca' and conducted the first psychopharmacological experiment.

What is the half-life of Cocaine?

The half-life of Cocaine is 0.5 to 1.5 hours.

What is the mechanism of action of Cocaine?

Cocaine blocks monoamine re-uptake transporters, particularly dopamine reuptake, resulting in increased dopamine levels.

Describe mild to moderate behavioral effects of Psychostimulants.

Mild to moderate effects include euphoria, heightened energy, motor excitement, hyperactivity, talkativeness, and increased libido.

What are the acute physiological effects of Cocaine?

Cocaine causes increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, hypertension, and hyperthermia.

What is the difference in pharmacokinetics between Cocaine and Amphetamines?

Amphetamines have a greater lipid solubility, a longer half-life (7-30 hours), and are metabolized in the liver, detectable in urine for 48 hours.

What behavioral effects are associated with high doses of Amphetamines?

High doses can result in increased respiration, insomnia, agitation, and exacerbation of anxiety disorders.

What are the consequences of Cocaine abuse in terms of withdrawal?

Cocaine withdrawal includes symptoms such as depressed mood, anhedonia, anxiety, and cravings lasting from 1 to 10 weeks.

What are the common treatments for Psychostimulant abuse?

Treatments include Desipramine and Methylphenidate; behavioral therapies that replace drug reinforcement with non-drug reinforcement.

What is the classification and effect of MDMA?

MDMA (Ecstasy) enters re-uptake transporters and releases dopamine and serotonin, causing milder stimulant effects but can lead to fatal neurotoxicity at high doses.

What is the prevalence of ADHD diagnoses in US children?

ADHD is diagnosed in 1 in 10 US children, and about 75%-80% report symptom relief with psychostimulant treatment.

What role does the PFC play in ADHD?

The prefrontal cortex maintains vigilance, arousal, attention, and higher cognitive functions.

Name one non-stimulant medication for ADHD.

Strattera (atomoxetine) is a non-stimulant medication targeting norepinephrine alpha-2 receptors.

What is the impact of Cathinone and related compounds?

Cathinone, derived from the Khat plant, is a synthetic compound with effects similar to amphetamines.

What is the primary difference between crack cocaine and freebase cocaine?

Crack cocaine is a salt that can be smoked, whereas freebase cocaine has removed the HCl salt, allowing it to be smoked.

What are the neuroadaptations observed with Cocaine use?

Neuroadaptations include hypofrontality and reduced metabolism in the frontal cortex, affecting motivation and control.

What defines stereotypy in behavioral responses?

Stereotypy refers to an increase in one specific behavior, such as grooming in rodents or oral repetition in humans.