Addicting drugs exam 1

Pharmacology

studry of interactions of chemical with biological systems

Therapeutics

branch of pharmaology that deals with chemicals that are beneficial to health

Psychopharmacology

study of substanes that infleunce mental states

Generic name

eg: ibuprofen

Brand name

name company gives to its products, many different names refer to same chemical

Class name

ex: NSAIDS, groups several chemicals that have similar effects or structure

Dose

amount of chemical adminitered

Dose response relationship

intensity of response to a drug in terms of the dose

Threshold dose

lowest dose that produces an observeable effect

Max effect

greateswt intensity of response a particuar drug elicits

Efficacy (Emax)

how big of a response a drug can produce, often related to max response

Potency

comparative amount of drug neeeded to produce an effect

More potent

effective at small doses

Less potent

effective at high doses

LD50

measure of the toxicity of the drug, dose lethal to 50% of recipients

Therapeutic index

measure of safety margin, greater therapeutic index= margin of safety

Tolerance

response associated with drug decreases with use

Cross tolerance

Use of 1 drug produces tolerance in response to other

Pharmacokinetics

study of amounts of rug in various parts of body as a function of time, involves absorption distribution, metabolisim, and excretion, what body does to drug

Routes of administration

various paths for getting into the body, ex: oral, injectionm transdermal

Absorbtion

moving drug fro administration site to bloodstream

Metabolism

when the body chemicalky changes a drug, makes drug more water soluble to pass through kidneys (metabolite)

Metabolite

may be more or less active than original compound, liver does most metabolizing

Blood brain barrier

anatomical structure stopping drugs from entering brain, no space between cells

Distribution

description of where the drug goes in the body, chemistry of drug determines this

Excretion

process of removing a drug from the body, major path is urine

Half life

how long it takes for levels ti decrease by 1/2, measure of duration, low half life = taken frequently

Pharmacodynamics

study of drug interactions with receptors and regulation of biological events (what drug does to body)

Receptor

molecule on which a drug act within a biological system, most are proteins

Agonist

drug that activates a receptor and produces an effect like normal horone/neurotransmitter for receptor

Antagonist

drug that interacts with a receptor in a way that prevents normal hormone/neurotransmitter from activating receptor

Variability in effects

due to genetic differences, histories, etc,

-sometimes explained by pharmacokinetics of pharmacodynamics

Multiple effects

b/c same receptor in different body part mediates different functions and most drugs act on more than 1 receptor

Drug

substance other than food that causes a change in a person

Natural drugs

occur in nature, ex: poppy-opium

Synthetic drugs

made in lab ex: oxycodone, marinol

Pharmacokinetics

what the body does to the drug (absorbtionm, distributuion, metabolism, excretion)

magnitude of drug effects depends on

concenration at site of action

Routes of administration

oral, iv, inhalation, snorting

Bioavailability

how much drug in the right form gets into the bloodstream (good bioavailability means a lot is in the bloodstream)

Metabolism

drug broken down into metabolites

Membrane solubility

things that pass through are small and nonpolar (fat soluble)

Excretion

how drugs leave (usually through kidneys but an be through breath, sweat, etc)

-important to know how long drug was in body

Pharmacodynamics

interaction of drugs with cellular proteins to control changes in physiologocal functions (what drug does to body)

binding

drug receptor interactions

signal transduction

mechanism of action

dose response

effect

What happens after binding

cascade reaction (signal transeuction) occurs creating a response

Why does our body respond to drugs

the body recognizes things that are already there, they modify existing functions of the cell

Endogenous Ligand

naturally in body

Agonist

binds to receptor and activates it to produce a biological repsonse

Antagonist

blocks recepor

Ion channels

allow ions to flow quickly

G protien coupled receptors

slower

Substance use disorder

drug seeking and use that is compulsive

-persistent, drug use is relapsing

Tolerance

response associated with drug decreaeses after repeated use

Cross tolerance

use of one drug produces tolerance in response to another drug

Dependence

component of biological system relies on presence of drug to function normally, leads to withdrawal when no longer in body

-can also happen with drugs used in healthcare

Why individuas take drugs

to feel good, to feel better, to do better, curiosity and social pressure

Problem with drugs

after drug use, other activities are less enjoyable and the drugs are needed to feel normal, also can be dangerous, decreases self control, causes physical changes to areas of brain

Most used illegal substance

marajuana

Why we struggle with drugs in the US

our culture celebrates getting drunk and high through entertainment

Example of proper use

using cough medicine per label instructions to treat a cough

Example of misuse

mistakenly taking more than recommended to treat a cough

Example of abuse

deliberately taking more than recommended for other purposes than to treat a cough

Drug of abuse

-taking a drug to change the way one thinks or behaves

-psychoactive changes brain

Scheduling system for drugs

-classification of controlled substances into Schedules I-V based on abuse potential, accepted medical use, and dependence risk

-Lower number means higher abuse potential and tighter control.

Classes of addicting drugs

stimulants, opioids, depressants

Addiction

chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences

Withdrawal symptoms

physical: fatigue, sweating, vomiting, sesiures

psychological: anxiety, depression

impulsivity, compulsivity

impulsivity

acting without regard for consequenes, beginning of drug use, positive reenforcement

Compulsivity

irresistible urge to behave in way against ones conscious wishes (negative reinforcement)

Initiation

social or envionmental factors progression to SUD

-associated with neurobiological factors

Dopamine Drive

logic and reasoning, emotion and motivation, memory

Unique aspects of addiction

wanting and liking of drug change over repeated use

Wanting

sensitizes with repeated drug use, cravings increase

Liking

tolerance develops with use, pleasure decreases

Neuron

made of dendrites, cell bodies, and axons

Myelin Sheath

helps signal go faster

Neurotransmission and Receptors

-neurons dont touch

-chemicals released in synapse

Neurotransmitters

-dopamine, seratoin, adrenlaine, Gaba, acetylcholine, glutamine, endorphins

Glutamine

excitatory, helps with learning and memory, problems witht this occur in autism, OCD, schizophrenia, and depression

-Drugs that affect: PCP and Ketamine

Gaba

Drugs that impact this: Barbituates, valium, tranquilziers, alcohol

Targets/receptors

-drugs mimic what bind to receptors

-some block the dopamine pump

-some activate or inhibit channels

Forebrain

higher thinking

Midbrain

reward and motivation, survival instincts

Hindbrain

survival, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing

Forebrain

prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, basal ganglia

midbrain

VTA, mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Reward circuit

VTA responsible for first release of dopamine in brain, dopamine VTA sends out travels throguh mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways

Mesolimbic Pathway

most important part of reward circuit, where the rush of happiness occurs

-connects VTA with nucleus accumbens and tells nucleus accumbens that pleasant behavior is a good idea

Mesocortical Pathway

connects vta and cerebral cortex, where we process knowledge and remember feeling

Neuroplasticity

allows us to learn no things, not beneficial for drugs

Basal Ganglia

reward center and forms habits

Extended amygdyla

withdrawal (anxiety and stress)

Prefrontal Cortex

executive function

Addiction cycle

binge and intoxication, withdrawal, pre occupation and anticipation

binge and intoxication

individual engages in substance and experiences pleasureable effects

withdrawal/negative effects

individual experiences negative emotional state in absence of substance

-diminished reward circuit

Preopccupation/anticipation

stage where one seeks substances after period of abstinence