UCSB PSY 134 - Psychopharmacology Final

Common Alcohols

*Ethanol

*Isopropyl

*Methanol

*Butanol

Which alcohol is consumable

Ethanol

How is alcohol derived

Through the Fermentation of glucose and water, and through heat with yeast.

-Byproducts of ethanol and CO2

What percentage of alcohol can natural yeast produce

12%

-Can be increased through the process of distillation

Define:

-Current Use

-Binge Use

-Heavy Use

-Drink

-Current use: one drink in past 30 days

-Binge Use: 5+ drinks (male) 4+ drinks (female) on same occasion in past 30 days

-Heavy Use: 5+ drinks on same occasion on 5+ days in past 30 days

-One Drink: 12 oz beer or wine cooler, 5oz glass of wine, 1.5oz 80 proof spirits

What is Korsakoff's syndrome?

A memory disorder induced by alcohol (dementia).

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?

A condition resulting from alcohol exposure during pregnancy that causes developmental issues.

What are the effects of low doses of alcohol on reproductive toxicity?

Reduced sexual inhibition and increased risky behavior.

What are the effects of high doses of alcohol on males regarding reproductive toxicity?

Increased erectile dysfunction, feminization, and gynecomastia.

What are the effects of high doses of alcohol on females regarding reproductive toxicity?

Sexual dysfunction, anovulation, amenorrhea, early menopause, and spontaneous abortions.

What is the nature of the dose-response relationship for alcohol's subjective effects?

Subjective effects are dose-dependent.

What is acute tolerance in relation to alcohol consumption?

Intoxication is felt more strongly when Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is rising, and less when it is falling, despite the same BAC.

What is chronic functional tolerance in relation to alcohol?

Performance can remain relatively stable despite higher BACs due to associative and instrumental learning.

Pharmacokinetics of alcohol, does food make a difference?

Alcohol is water-soluble

-absorption:

-20% stomach

-80% small intestine

-passive diffusion from high concentration in GI to blood

absorption occurs within 30-60 minutes

food in stomach reduces absorption for up to 4-6 hours after meal

Why do females have a higher concentration of alcohol in their blood compared to males?

Females have less body fluid, leading to more concentrated alcohol.

What is the role of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in alcohol metabolism?

ADH helps metabolize alcohol, and females have lower levels of ADH.

How does aspirin affect alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in females?

Aspirin inhibits ADH more strongly in females.

Are there sex differences in BAC when alcohol is administered intravenously?

No, there are no sex differences when alcohol is administered IV.

What is the first step in alcohol metabolism?

Ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde via alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).

What is the second step in alcohol metabolism?

Acetaldehyde is converted to acetate via aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).

What are the effects of mutations in ALDH?

Mutations in ALDH lead to poor metabolism, resulting in flushing and cardiovascular responses.

How does a breathalyzer work

5% alcohol exhaled unmetabolized

-multiply this my 2100 to estimate arterial BAC

Higher prevalence of toxicity in Ethnicity

40-50% japanese, chinese, and vietnamese, 40% south americans ALDH mutations --> poor acetaldehyde metabolism from even one drink

MEC for Aanbuse (disulfiram) for treating alcohol

inhibits ALDH = ALDH buildup

causes: flushing, nausea, aversive cardio, discourages alcohol use

Microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) contributes to development of tolerance to liver damage in alcoholism

Liver P4502E1 (CYPE 2E1)

Induced by regular alcohol consumption

- metabolic tolerance

-toxic metabolites

Alcohol has anxiolytic properties that contribute to the high rate of alcohol abuse in individuals with anxiety disorders, as a form of self-medication. True or False.

True

Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are considered dissociative anesthetics. True or False

False

Individual differences exist in sensitivity to certain benzodiazepines and this relates to the specific subunit composition of the GABA A receptor. True or False

True

Women tend to have higher blood alcohol concentrations than males because they have lower activity of one of the major enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). True or False

True

An alcohol-induced increase in the activity of certain cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver contribute to the development of metabolic or pharmcokinetic tolerance to alcohol. True or False

True

Acute tolerance can develop to the intoxicating properties of alcohol. True or False

True

The early stage of alcohol withdrawal in high-dose chronic alcohol-drinkers is characterized by delirium tremens. True or False

False

The chronic administration of non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists can induce a massive down-regulation in the number and function of NMDA receptors. True or False

False

Because of their ability to inhibit NMDA receptors, barbiturate drugs are often used to treat severe physiological symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. True or False

False

High fever is a symptom that may be observed during detoxification from an overdose of alcohol or a barbiturate drug. True or False

True

The elimination half-life of heroin is very short, under 5 minutes. True or False

True

When administered intravenously, the rate of opioid infusion is a major factor contributing to the magnitude of the subjective drug effect and the liking of the drug. True or False

True

Opioids produce their depressant effects by stimulating the GABA A receptor. True or False

False

In the cases of opioids and other depressant drugs discussed in class, longer acting drugs tend to produce physiological withdrawal symptoms that are later in onset and less severe than drug with a shorter duration of action. True or False

True

Tolerance develops to the immediate "rush" (euphoric state) that heroin users report experiencing upon intravenous (IV) injection of the drug. True or False

False

Relative to amphetamine-type stimulants, cocaine has a relatively short half-life of approximately 1 hr due to the presence of metabolizing enzymes in the blood and liver. True or False

True

The D-isomer and L-isomer of methamphetamine are equally potent at producing an increased sense of well-being and high. True or False

False

mphetamine-type stimulants produce their psychoactive effects by acting as reuptake inhibitors at the dopamine transporter (DAT). True or False

False

Which of the following is NOT an acute effect of methamphetamine?

Sedation

toxic compound is created from combining cocaine with alcohol.

cocaethylene

Following prolonged cocaine self-administration (e.g., long-access self-administration paradigm), rats exhibit a reduction in ICSS (intracranial self-stimulation) thresholds, indicative of dysphoria. True or False

False

The biggest hurdle in designing anti-cocaine vaccine therapy (or any other drug-directed vaccine) is achieving sufficient antibody titers to target the drug. True or False

True

Individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) or methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) exhibit:

Reduced dopamine transporter (DAT) expression within the striatum.

Withdrawal from amphetamine-type stimulants produces an abstinence delirium syndrome that is more mild than that observed during alcohol withdrawal. True or False

False

What is used to describe the goal-directed but often purposeless activities exhibited by individuals on higher doses of stimulant drugs.

Punding

D2 dopamine receptor partial agonists (e.g., Abilify/aripiprazole) are effective at reducing both cocaine-primed and cue-primed reinstatement of cocaine-seeking in animal models. True or False

True

Psychomotor activation develops tolerance following repeated, intermittent, stimulant administration in laboratory animals. True or False

False

Cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants are poorly absorbed when administered orally. True or False

True

Blocking action potentials and neurotransmitter release will prevent the effects of cocaine. True or False

True

Mixing what drug with anti-depressant SSRI's can induce a serotonin syndrome?

Cocaine

Based on the therapeutic benefits of Chantix for smoking cessation, the reinforcing properties of nicotine are theorized to relate primarily to the activation of the homomeric α7 nicotinic ACh receptor. True or False

False

The mounting evidence that cannabis can produce psychological and physiological signs of dependence have resulted in the inclusion of Cannabis Use Disorder in the DSM V. True or False

True

The metabolism of delta 9-THC results in several active metabolites with very short (approximately 1 h) half-lives. True or False

False

A molecule that exhibits the properties of opiates is referred to as a cannabinoid. True or False

False

Naltrexone is a commonly prescribed treatment for nicotine/tobacco use disorder. True or False

False

The tobacco plant and the cannabis plant both contain many harmful or toxic chemicals as a deterrent to grazing animals. True or False

True

According to the nicotine lecture, the older term "chipper" refers to an individual who tends to exhibit controlled drug self-administration. True or False

True

Which of the following is one of the psychotropic phytocannabinoids found in cannabis?

Delta 9-THC

Which of the following receptors is key to the psychedelic properties of most hallucinogenic drugs?

5-HT2A

The half-life of nicotine is approximately....

2 hours

What receptor is involved in the hallucinogenic effects of Salvinorin A?

Kappa Opiod

What drug is considered an empathogen

MDMA

What drug is a partial agonist of 5-HT2C receptors

2-CB

What drug is likely to enhance subjective effects of THC

alcohol

What term best describes nicotine?

Sympathomimetic psychostimulant

What are early stage behavioral clues of a drinking problem?

Drinks to relieve tension, increased tolerance, memory lapses, tardiness, overreaction to criticism.

What are middle stage behavioral clues of a drinking problem?

Sneaking drinks, tremors, guilt, vague ailments, avoidance of coworkers, minor injuries, inconsistent work performance.

What are late middle stage behavioral clues of a drinking problem?

Unable to discuss problems, drinks alone, neglects food, frequent absences, serious financial or family problems, repeated hospitalizations.

What are terminal stage behavioral clues of a drinking problem?

Prioritizes drinking over work, unpredictable absences, physical deterioration, incompetent work performance.

What are early stage symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

Anxiety, anorexia, insomnia, tremors, disorientation, convulsions, elevated BP and HR.

What are late stage symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

Delirium tremens, marked tremor, paranoia, disorientation, severe autonomic overactivity, hallucinations, agitation, risk of death.

What evidence suggests psychological withdrawal in animal studies?

-Increased intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) thresholds indicate reduced reward.

-Anxiety-related behaviors increase.

Major binding sites for alcohol in the brain

-GABA-A receptors

-NMDA receptors

-mGluR1/mGlueR5 receptors

How does the activation of GABA-A receptors and inhibition of NMDA receptors contributes to reinforcing and subjective effects of alcohol

GABA-A receptor agonist: enhances alcohol’s reinforcing effects; blocked by GABA-A antagonists in some brain regions.

NMDA receptor antagonist: shares discriminative stimulus properties with other NMDA antagonists (PCP, ketamine).

What is the mechanism of action of Disulfiram in the treatment of alcoholism?

Disulfiram blocks ALDH, leading to aversive symptoms when alcohol is consumed.

What is the mechanism of action of Naltrexone in the treatment of alcoholism?

Naltrexone is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist that reduces reward and craving.

What is the mechanism of action of Ondansetron in the treatment of alcoholism?

Ondansetron is a 5-HT3 antagonist that may reduce craving in early-onset alcoholism.

What is the mechanism of action of Acamprosate in the treatment of alcoholism?

Acamprosate is an NMDA receptor modulator that reduces withdrawal symptoms.

What is the mechanism of action of Benzodiazepines in the treatment of alcoholism?

Benzodiazepines are GABA-A agonists that reduce physiological withdrawal symptoms.

What receptors are critical for suppressing physiological withdrawal in alcoholism?

GABA-A receptors are critical for suppressing physiological withdrawal.

What receptors are key in psychological withdrawal and craving in alcoholism?

NMDA receptors are key in psychological withdrawal and craving.

What is the role of GABA-A receptor activation in alcohol reward?

GABA-A receptor activation leads to reinforcement.

What is the effect of NMDA receptor inhibition related to alcohol?

NMDA receptor inhibition leads to subjective effects and withdrawal.

What happens to NMDA receptors during alcohol withdrawal?

There is NMDA upregulation during withdrawal.

What is a method used in relapse models for alcohol dependence?

Receptor manipulations in the nucleus accumbens, such as injecting receptor antagonists.

Experimental designs to determine role of receptor as mediator for alcohol's behavioral effects

Testing the effects of site-specific receptor manipulations on alcohol consumption or relapse.

What are the general properties of anxiolytics?

Anxiolytics reduce anxiety and induce relaxation.

What are examples of anxiolytics?

Benzodiazepines, barbiturates, buspirone.

What are the general properties of sedatives?

Sedatives produce calmness and drowsiness; they reduce excitement.

What are examples of sedatives?

Benzodiazepines, barbiturates.

What are the general properties of hypnotic drugs?

Hypnotic drugs induce sleep or unconsciousness.

What are examples of hypnotic drugs?

High doses of barbiturates, benzodiazepines.

How do anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotic drugs affect the CNS?

All of these drugs depress the CNS but differ in dose-response.

What is the progression of effects from anxiolytics to hypnotics?

The progression is from anxiolysis → sedation → hypnosis.

General trends in abuse of non-prescription and prescription anxiolytic/sedative-hypnotic abuse, particular groups at risk?

-Non-prescription (licit) drugs: alcohol, inhalants, dextromethorphan (cough medicine), antihistamines

-prescription drugs: barbiturates, benzodiazepines(Xanax), non-benzodiazepine (Ambien) anxiolytics, ketamine --> most involved multiple drugs consumed

Groups at risk:

*youth (12-17 year olds)

*older adults

*women

-1 million ED visits in 2009 involved in prescription drug abuse

-Benzodiazepines most common CNS depressants