Amphetamine Flashcards
What family are amphetamines in?
- ephedrine
- alkaloid
What is the botanical origin of amphetamines?
- sympathomimetic
- bronchial dilation (treat asthma)
- increase blood pressure
What is the street name for amphetamine?
- speed
How is amphetamine administered?
- orally
What is benzedrine?
- bennies, white crosses
- decongestant
- appetite suppressant
What are the streetnames of amphetamines used to treat ADHD?
- black beauty, cadillac, dexies, vitamin R
- left-handed and right-handed
What are the street names for methylated amphetamine? What is unique about it?
- methamphetamine
- crank, ice, crystal, meth
- quicker passage across BBB
What is the mechanism of amphetamines?
- causes leaky vesicles
- reuptake inhibitor (norepinephrine, dopamine)
- inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO)
What is the problem with amphetamine being a reuptake inhibitor?
- increasing dosages create agonistic effects with 5-HT
What does a monoamine oxidase inhibitor do?
- increase dopamine
- acts like anti-depressant
Does amphetamine result in dependence?
- psychological “craving”
- depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances
- meth associated with allostatic/degenerative changes (wanting)
Does amphetamine result in tolerance?
- tachyphylaxis (less response after one dose for a few hours)
What results did Comer et al. (2001) find on tolerance and amphetamine?
- 15-day residential study
- days 4-6 and 10-12 received meth
- reported positive effects on first day of meth, flu-like symptoms on third
- sleep disrupted and food intake decreased
Does amphetamine result in withdrawal?
- lethargy, dysthemia (depressed mood)
- amphetamine psychosis
What is amphetamine psychosis?
- chronic use/toxicity: panic and paranoia, formication, compulsive/repetitive behaviours
- wild/bizarre delusions, hallucinations (dopamine release in limbic system)
- “tweaking”: irritability, paranoia, violent behaviour
