psyc 372

exam 3

pharmacodynamics

what drug does to body; receptor binding & effects

pharmacokinetics

what body does to the drug; absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME)

CNS

brain & spinal cord

PNS

peripheral nerves

glial cell dysfunction

addiction, schizophrenia, mood disorders

two main cell types

neurons (signal) and glial (support)

neurotransmission steps

synthesis, storage, release, receptor binding, inactivation (drugs can effect each step) 

neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, GABA) 

mediate signaling across synapses

ligand

molecule binding receptor

affinity

binding strength

potency 

dose required for effect

efficacy

maximum possible effect

ionotropic

fast, short-term, opens ion channels (GABA_A, nicotinic, ACh)

metabotropic

slow, long-term, uses 2nd messengers (GABA_B, dopamine D2)

acetylcholine

movement, memory

dopamine

reward, motivation

serotonin

mood, sleep

norepinephrine

stress, alertness

glutamate

excitation

GABA

inhibition

endocannabinoids

pain, appetite

agonist

activates receptors (morphine)

antagonist

blocks receptor (naloxone) 

inverse agonist

opposite of agonist

partial agonist

weaker activation (buprenorphine)

mixed agonist-antagonists

varies by receptor (aripiprazole) 

tolerance

lowers effect over time (metabolic, pharmacodynamic, behaviorial)

sensitization

higher response with repeated use (common with stimulants)

conditioned tolerance

can trigger overdose, environmental cues associated with drug (common with heroin) 

additive

sum of effects (aspirin & advil)

syngergistic

greater than the sum (alcohol & barbiturates)

potentiation

one enhances another (fluoxetine & cocaine) 

antagonism

one blocks another (naloxone & heroin)

“set”

mindset, mood, expectations (strong influence on heroin or hallucinogens)

setting

physical/social environment (strong influence on heroin or hallucinogens)

metabolic tolerance

faster metabolism of drug (alcohol, liver enzymes)

pharmacodynamic tolerance

receptor adaptation (opioid receptor)

behavioral tolerance

learned compensation (driving “better” when drunk)

cross-tolerance

resistance to similar drugs (alcohol & benzodiazepines)

tachyphylaxis tolerance

rapid (certain antidepressants)

cultural views shape drug response

lithium viewed as detoxifying in China