Chapter 10: Depressants

Behavioral Effects of Psychoactive Drugs Chapter 10

Depressants

Decrease CNS activity

Sedatives

Used to treat anxiety

Hypnotics

Used to treat insomnia

When were Barbiturates synthesized

1903

Insomnia treatment (barbs)

Short acting, rapid onset, high doses

Anxiety treatment (barbs)

Long acting, delayed onset, low doses

Concerns (barbs)

Rapidly decrease respiratory rate (overdose), short acting (high abuse potential)

When were benzodiazepines synethsized

1960

Why are benzos more common than barbs

Higher safety margin, less drowsy, less respiratory depression

Benzo concerns

Cold turkey leads to life threatening withdrawals, high physical dependence possibility

Best selling prescription drug 1972-78

Valium/daizepam

GHB Structure

Similar to GABA, naturally occurs in body

GHB effects

Similar to Alcohol

GHB use

Date r*pe drug

GHB schedule

Schedule 1, except xyrem

Xyrem purpose

used to treat narcolepsy

Barb MoA

GABA agonist

Barb behavioral effects

Sedation/sleep

Barb Absorption

Oral/IV

Barb duration (short acting)

3-4 hours

Barb duration (IM)

6-8 hours

Barb duration (long acting)

10-16 hours

Barb ½ life (short acting)

5-15 minutes

Barb ½ life (IM)

15-40 hours

Barb ½ life (long acting)

53-118 hours

Barb Elimination (short acting)

100% metabolized

Barb Elimination (long acting)

50-75% metabolized

Benzos MoA

GABA agonist

Benzos behavioral effects

Drowsy/callm

Benzos absorption

Oral/IM/IV

Benzos duration (short acting)

2-6 hours

Benzos duration (IM)

6-24 hours

Benzos duration (long acting)

24-72 hours

Benzos ½ life (short acting)

1.5-2.5 hours

Benzos ½ life (IM)

10-20 hours

Benzos ½ life (long acting)

20-100 hours

Benzos elimination

100% metabolized (no parent compound found in urine)

GHA MoA

Binds to GABA receptors

GHB behavioral effects

Euphoria, drowsy, confusion

GHB absportion

Oral

GHB duration

1.5-3 hours

GHB ½ life

30-60 minutes

GHB elimination

Less than 5% excreted

Alcohol MoA

Enhances GABA activity and inhibits glutamate receptors, disrupts serotonin and acetylcholine

Alcohol behavioral effects

Uninhibited, aggression, violence, sexual activity

Alcohol absorption

Oral

Alcohol duration

1-3 hours per drink

Alcohol ½ life

4-5 hours

Alcohol elimination

90-98% metabolized