Nicotine & Caffeine: Fatal Attraction

These flashcards cover key concepts related to nicotine and caffeine, their effects, pharmacokinetics, and public health implications.

Nicotine

The primary psychoactive ingredient found in tobacco plants.

Nicotiana tabacum

The species of tobacco most commonly used.

Smokeless tobacco

A type of tobacco that includes chewing tobacco, snuff, and dipping tobacco.

E-cigarettes

Electronic nicotine delivery systems that have gained popularity, especially among teens.

Cotinine

An active metabolite of nicotine, which has pharmacological effects similar to nicotine.

Cholenergic nicotinic receptors

Receptors in the nervous system that nicotine binds to, resulting in various physiological effects.

Acute tolerance

A decreased response to a drug's effects after a single administration, commonly seen in tobacco users.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a substance.

Caffeine

A mild psychostimulant found in various plants, widely consumed for its energizing effects.

Caffeinism

A condition resulting from excessive caffeine, characterized by anxiety, insomnia, and rapid heart rate.

Caffeine withdrawal

Symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritability experienced when a person stops consuming caffeine.

Nicotine dependence

A condition where the body becomes reliant on nicotine, leading to withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of their action.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

A treatment method that provides a low dose of nicotine to help users quit smoking.

Zyban (bupropion)

A non-nicotine drug used for smoking cessation that targets the brain's reward center.

Chantix (varenicline)

A partial nicotinic agonist-antagonist used to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms during quitting.

Epidemiology of tobacco use

The study of how tobacco use behaves across different populations and the trends associated with it.

Secondhand smoke

Smoke that is inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others.

Health effects of smoking cessation

Positive changes in health such as reduced heart disease risk and improved lung function after quitting smoking.

Habitual vs Naïve users

Differences in experiences and effects between long-term users and first-time users of nicotine.