PHR2400 Exam 1

Pharmacology

branch of medicine concerned with the study of chemical agents affecting the biological system

Pharmacokinetics

what the body does to drugs

Pharmacodynamics

what drugs do to the body

target effects of drugs

drugs have an intended, therapeutic effect occuring through interactions with the drug’s targets in the body

Adverse effects of drugs

Unwanted effect that accompanies the desired effect of a drug

Quickest route of administration

inhalation - goes right into the oxygenated blood right into lungs then brain

slowest route of administration

oral - goes from intestines through liver then into circulation

drug definition

a substance that causes a physical or emotional change in a person

withdrawal definition

illness that occurs when a stop or decrease in use of a drug after the body has adjusted to the presence of the drug

tolerance definition

increased amounts of a drug needed to achieve intoxication or a diminished drug effect of continued use of the same amount of a drug

what is addiction

chronic relapsing brain disease that is characterised by compulsive drug seeking and use

SUD definition

substance problems, including substance use and addiction

Compulsive behavior definition

a set of actions that an individual engages in repeatedly in an unhealthy way

Binge/Intoxication stage

stage at which an individual consumes an intoxicating substance and experiences its rewarding or pleasurable effects. Involves activity in the nucleus accumbens

Dorsal striatum

a second sub-region of the BG, involved in habit formation

withdrawal/negative affect (extended amygdala)

stage at which an individual experiences a negative emotional state in the absence of the substance

What 2 sources that give negative feelings are associated with withdrawal

diminished activation in the reward circuitry of the BG. Activation of the brain’s stress systems in the extended amygdala

Preoccupation/anticipation

stage at which one seeks substances again after a period of abstinence. like and go and stop system

How is information transmitted throughout the nervous system?

neurons are arranged into pathways between different parts of the brain that act as highways from neurotransmitters between areas of the central nervous systems

How do neurons send information with and between cells?

occurs through the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine/noradrenaline

What is the role of dopamine?

motivating behavior, rewards us for beneficial behaviors and motivates us to repeat them

What is the role of norepinephrine?

Concentration

What is the role of serotonin?

Relaxation

What is the brain’s reward pathway, what parts of the brain play important roles

repeated stimuli, rewire these reward pathways so the behavioral cues result in release of dopamine reward. continues use strengthens these associations of reward with behavior

What factors affect dopamine release from the reward pathway during the drug use cycle?

speed of action, drug mechanism, conditioned cues, tolerance and sensitization, withdrawal state, individual vulnerability

What is neuroplasticity?

the ability of the CNS to adapt in response to changes in the environment. makes it possible to learn new skills

Extended Amygdala

involved in the dark side of addiction, triggers motivation to take the drug to relieve these negative emotions (stress, negative effects)

Dorsal Striatum

involved in the formation of habits and routines

Prefrontal Cortex

responsible for decision making, impulse control, planning

Pros of using animals to study addiction?

understanding neural mechanisms, modeling behavioral patterns, testing treatments and relapse prevention, habit formation, controlled environment

Cons of using animals to study addiction?

failed treatments, lack of predictive power, species differences, ethical concerns, limitations on translations to human behavior

What are the major types of animals studies?

the skinner box, drug self administration, reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior, conditioned place preference, drug discrimination

drug self administration animal study

trained to push lever to receive drug

reinstatement of drug seeking behavior animal study

animal self-administers then behavior is extinguished by changing the paradigm

conditioned place preference animal study

animals learn to prefer drug-paired environment

drug discrimination animal study

lever where drug is given, different lever with no drug, inject with a different drug to see which lever is pushed

Electroencephalography (EEG)

measures the brain’s electrical activity through the scalp

computerized axial tomography (CT or CAT scan)

passes x-rays through the head in a circular pattern to get a 3-D image of the brain. provides a picture of the brain but reveals nothing about its functioning

MRI

Strong magnetic field, is passed through an individual’s head. radio waves generated, which cause the molecules of the brain to emit energy of different frequencies

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

imaging technique that looks at where radioactiverly-labeled molecules distributed in the brain

Functional MRI (fMRI)

rapid imaging, enables measuring of oxygen levels in blood vessels of the brain

Combination Imaging

these imaging techniques can be combined to provide more information or special views

Pros of conducting addiction studies in humans?

understanding human-specific behavior, direct assessment of subjective effects, advanced imaging and neurobiology, testing efficacy of new treatments, capturing social and environmental influences, understanding comorbidities, reducing stigma, individualized medicine

Cons of conducting addiction studies in humans?

Impaired consent capacity, risk of overdose and withdrawal, coercion and vulnerability, confidentiality risk, reliance on self-report, high cost/time, stigma/misinterpretation

What types of medications are available for addiction to opioids

methadone, buprenorphine, extended-release naltrexone, lofexidine

What types of medications are available for addiction to nicotine

nicotine replacement therapies, bupropion, varenicline

What types of medications are available for addiction to alcohol

naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

helps patients recognize, avoid and cope with situations in which they are most likely to use drugs

Contingency Management

uses positive reinforcement for attending and participating in counseling sessions or taking treatment medications as prescribed

motivational enhancement therapy

uses strategies to make the most of people’s readiness to change their behavior and enter treatment

family therapy

helps people with drug use problems and their families address influences on drug use patterns and improve overall family functioning

limitations to individual therapies

more expensive, doesn’t provide peer interaction and engagement with others, requires individual motivation

benefits to individual therapies

one-on-one attention, confidentiality, develop stronger alliance with counslor, flexible, better communication skills

benefits to group therapies

inspiration for others, sense of connection and solidarity, support from members, hear/learn from each other, develop communication/social skills

limitations to group therapy

less confidentiality, less focused therapeutic alliance, less flexibility, may not be right fit

Potential barriers to therapy?

Finances/cost, geographic location, stigma, co-occurring disorders and treatment availbility, issues for women, discrimination

What are the physiological effects of cocaine use?

euphoria, increased alertness, anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, tremors, seizures, cognitive impairment, reduced blood flow, increased risk of violent behavior

What is cocaine’s MOA

binds and blocks monoamine and reuptake transporters with equal affinity. Monoamines accumulate in the synaptic cleft resulting in enhanced and prolonged sympathetic effects

What are the different types of cocaine products produced?

cocaine hydrochloride, free-base cocaine, crack cocaine, rack cocaine combined with PCP, cocaine combined with heroin, cocaine combined with heroin and LSD

Does cocaine have potential medical uses?

Local anesthetic, to stop nosebleeds, produces anesthesia by blocking Na+ ion channels, thus blocking axon consuction

What are the effects of chronic use of cocaine?

Schizophrenic-like symptomes, physical deterioration of nasal membranes if used intranasally

What are the common types of amphetamines?

amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, smokable methamphetamine, methcathinone

What are medical uses of amphetamines

narcolepsy, nasal congestion, ADHA, asthma, depression

amphetamines MOA

Increasing synaptic concentrations of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. triggers neurotransmitter release and inhibits their reuptake by revesting monoamine transporters leading to enhanced focus motivation and appetite suppression.

Physiological effects of amphetamine use

arousal, antidepressant, appetite suppressant, insomnia, paranoia, irritability, slurred speech, confusion, hallucinations, panic attacks

What are the uses of caffeine?

painkillers, energy supplements, dietary supplements, focus pills, PMS medications

Physiological effects of caffeine use?

improved concentration, increased adrenaline, enhanced energy, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, increased blood pressure/heart rate

Caffeine’s MOA

antagonist at receptors for adenosine. caffeine binds to these receptors, preventing adenosine from binding and inducing tiredness

What are the effects of chronic caffeine use

withdrawal syndrome (headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, dysphoria), increased functional sensitivity to adenosine during abstinence

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

very front of the frontal lobe: decision making, impulse control

Basal Ganglia (BG)

Subcortical nuclei located at the base of the forebrain and top of the midbrain: rewards & motivation, forming habits & behaviors

Extended Amygdala

Basal forebrain: stress & anxiety, fight or flight response

How common is nicotine/tobacco product in the US?

about 1 in 5 adults

Why do people use nicotine products despite the known risks?

nicotine addiction, social and psychological factors, appear mature, cool, parents smoke

Nicotine’s MOA

agonist at acetylcholine receptors in the brain, located on axon terminals, regulate amount of neurotransmitter released

physiological effects of chronic nicotine use

cardiovascular strain, CNS addiction, severe respiratory disease and cancer, significant alterations in brain reward pathways, lung damage, metabolic changes, impairs fertility

how is nicotine dependency/addiction treated?

behavioral counseling, nicotine replacement therapies, prescription medications, combining methods, lifestyle adjustments, support systems

What are e-cigarettes/how do they work

battery-powered devices that heat a liquid into inhalable aerosol. a battery powers a heating element that turns liquid into aerosol.