CNS Depressants

Question 1

Hypnotics

Answer 1

Drugs that have a sleep-inducing effect. (Tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti anxiety drugs, or sedatives.)

Question 2

Sedative-hypnotics

Answer 2

Synthetic compounds, prescribed for use under medical supervision.

Question 3

Barbiturates

Answer 3

-CNS depressants
-Used to treat anxiety, induce sleep, and control seizures.
-Overdose causes death by respiratory failure or seizures.

Question 4

Ultra-short acting barbiturates

Answer 4

With rapid onset of effects used as surgical anesthetics. These drugs produce anesthesia within one minute of intravenous administration.

Question 5

Short-intermediate acting barbiturates

Answer 5

Calming and sleep agents, have an onset effect from 15 to 40 minutes after oral administration.
-Highly abusable.

Question 6

Long-acting barbiturates

Answer 6

Onset times of up to one hour after use, but duration of effects is 16 hours. Used as sedatives, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants. Ex: luminal, mebaral, and Gemini.

Question 7

Withdrawal from barbiturates

Answer 7

Anxiety, tremors, nightmares, insomnia, vomiting, and seizures. Can be life-threatening.

Question 8

LD-50

Answer 8

Lethal dose of a drug that would kill 50% of people who took that dosage.

Question 9

Minor tranquilizers

Answer 9

Depressant drugs used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Antianxiety agents.

Question 10

Diazepam (valium)

Answer 10

One of the most popular minor tranquilizers prescribed by physicians.

Question 11

Benzodiazepines

Answer 11

Ativan, Serax, Centrax, Xanax, etc. Sleep agents and anti-anxiety (anxiolytics) agents. Schedule IV substance, classified according to their half-life.

Question 12

Potentiation

Answer 12

When two CNS depressants are combined resulting in a synergistic process that increases the effects of both substances.

Question 13

What is the difference between opioids and opiates?

Answer 13

Opiates occur naturally (morphine and codeine) opioids are manufactured synthetically (methadone, fentanyl.)

Question 14

What is the most dangerous and addictive options?

Answer 14

Heroin

Question 15

Agonists

Answer 15

Increase CNS effects

Question 16

Antagonists

Answer 16

Block CNS effects

Question 17

Opiate mechanism of action

Answer 17

Elevate production of dopamine by increasing the neuronal firing rte of dopamine-producing cells. They also block substance P, one of the major NT’s responsible for communicating pain from the peripheral nervous system to the brain.

Question 18

What sensations do opiates cause?

Answer 18

Euphoria, relaxation, pain relief, sedation, decreased sexual desire, impaired judgement, constricted pupils, nausea, slurred speech, and memory impairments.

Question 19

Speedballing

Answer 19

Combining opiates and stimulants

Question 20

What is the primary cause of fatalities by overdose for opioids?

Answer 20

Respiratory failure. Narcan or naloxone is an antagonist used to treat opioid overdose.

Question 21

Withdrawal Symptoms for Opioids Use

Answer 21

Watery eyes, runny nose, yawning, dilated pupils, goosebumps, diaphoresis (sweating), gastrointestinal upset, insomnia, anorexia, flushing, hypertension, paresthesia (tingling/pins and needles), headaches, fatigue.

Question 22

Who has the highest rate of opioid overdose?

Answer 22

White non-Hispanic males and young adults aged 20-40

Question 23

How much more potent is fentanyl than heroin?

Answer 23

50 times for potent and 100 times more potent than morphine

Question 24

Barbiturate Mechanism of Action

Answer 24

Increase the activity of GABA, an NT that slows neuronal activity, resulting in sedation.`

Question 25

Barbiturate withdrawal symptoms

Answer 25

Nausea, vomiting, insomnia, sweating, agitation. Severe symptoms include seizures, delirium, high BP, psychosis, loss of consciousness.

Question 26

Are there any FDA approved meds to treat barbiturate withdrawal?

Answer 26

No, but meds can be prescribed to manage the physical and physiological symptoms.

Question 27

Xanax (Benzo)

Answer 27

Manage depression and anxiety.

Question 28

Halcion (Benzo)

Answer 28

Short-term (7-10 day) treatment of insomnia.

Question 29

Diazepam (Benzo)

Answer 29

Muscle spasms and seizures, manages acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Question 30

When can benzodiazepine overdose occur?

Answer 30

If 50 to 100 pills are ingested. Flurazepam and lorazepam block the activation of benzes and can be used to treat/reverse the effects.

Question 31

Withdrawal Symptoms from Benzodiazepines?

Answer 31

Sleep disturbance, anxiety, yawning, paranoia, headaches, seizures, convulsion.

Question 32

Protracted Abstinence Syndrome

Answer 32

Occurs with benzodiazepines, described prolonged withdrawal symptoms (lasting months.)

Question 33

Z-Hypnotics

Answer 33

Non-benzodiazpeine sleep aids used to induce sleep, manage anxiety, and treat seizures and nerve pain.

Question 34

Sleep-hypnotic examples

Answer 34

Ambien (Zolpidem), Zaleplon, Lunesta, immovable, zopiclone

Question 35

Sleep latency

Answer 35

Helping an individual fall asleep

Question 36

Sleep maintenance

Answer 36

Helping an individual stay asleep

Question 37

Illegal Z-Hypnotics

Answer 37

-Chloral hydrate (date rape drug) -GHB (date rape drug) -Gamma-butryolactone -Methaqualone (quaalude), produces effects similar to alcohol