Amphetamines Flashcards

1
Q

Amphetamines and the 2 deviations?

A

Synthetic psychostimulants.

  • Benzedrine: L-amphetamine.
  • Dexedrine: D-amphetamine.

Taken up orally, IV or Subcutaneous injection.

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2
Q

Characteristics of methamphetamines and amphetamines?

  • Half life?
  • where is it metabolized?
A
  • Long half life: 10 hours-longer:
    • longer lasting high achieved in comparison to cocaine.
  • Metabolized slowly in the liver.

Can experience multiple highs with an injection every 2 hours, for as long as 3-6 days.

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3
Q

Mechanism of action of amphetamines and methamphetamines?[2 marks]

A

Indirect agonists:

  • Enter DA nerve terminal via DAT, allows vesicles release DA by binding to VMAT.
  • DA is reversibly transported out of cell via DAT.

Overall: high level of DA in the synaptic cleft.

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4
Q

Behavioural and neural effects of Amphetamines:

  • How it enhances athletic performance?
  • Adverse effects?
  • Chronic, high dose abuse?
A

Atheltic performance and its reason for high abuse potential:

  • Suppresses appetite and used to treat obesity.
  • heightened alertness, increased confidence , sustained physical effort without rest.

Adverse effects:

  • leading to dependence and withdrawal syndrome.
    • withdrawal may take several weeks to subside.
  • Females are more likely to become more dependent.

Chronic high dosage:

  • visual and/or auditory hallucinations.
    • development of a paranoid state with delusions.
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5
Q

Therapeutic uses of Amphetamines?

A
  • Narcolepsy and ADHD:
    • within low dosages, produce a calming effect in the PFC.
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6
Q

Effects of Amphetamines shown in imaging.

Also the neurotoxicity associated with amphetamines?

A

PET Scans:

  • Reduction in striatal DAT binding in chronic methamphetamine and methcathinone use.

Also damage in the neocortex, hippocampus, and striatum.

Neurotoxicity:

  • oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation.
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7
Q
A
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