depressants

Question 1

depressants

Answer 1

diminishes physiological activity and cortical arousal
- act directly or indirectly on GABA

Question 2

GABAA Receptor

Answer 2

5 subunit ionotropic receptor
- allow Cl- into neuron
- 2 binding sits for GABA
- allosteric binding sites for GABA, barbs, benzos, alcohol

Question 3

barbs

Answer 3

synthesized from barbital synthesized from barbituric acid

• used in psychiatric hospitals
• can cause respiratory depression
• increase duration of Cl- channel opening (direct)
• dose-dependent response

Question 4

types of barbs

Answer 4

• ultra short acting: high lipid
• short acting: medium lipid
• long acting: low lipid

Question 5

benzos

Answer 5

librium, diazepam, PAM

• increase frequency of channel opening (indirect)
• if no GABA no effect therefore less CNS depression
• larger TI than barbs
• slower tolerance

Question 6

alcohol

Answer 6

most used depressant (ethanol)

Question 7

alcohol by volume (ABV)

Answer 7

grams of alcohol per 100mL of solution

Question 8

proof

Answer 8

double ABV

Question 9

issues with j-shaped curve

Answer 9

1. health issues lead to reduced alcohol consumption
2. old people drink less
3. moderate drinks have healthier lifestyles
4. don’t include those who have died
5. poor measurement of what is heavy drinker vs. abstainer

Question 10

alcohol and CNS

Answer 10

• GABAA: positive modulator (indirect) + direct
• glutamate antagonist
• Ca2+ channels: inhibits NT release
• increases dopamine + serotonin
• CB1

Question 11

where does alcohol metabolism occur?

Answer 11

stomach AND liver

Question 12

BAC

Answer 12

g of alcohol in 100mL blood

Question 13

how is alcohol eliminated

Answer 13

zero order kinetics until all enzymes saturated, then first order

Question 14

narcotics/opioids

Answer 14

most effective pain-relieving + most addictive

• inhalation, IV, oral
• natural (opium) + synthetic

Question 15

opium wars

Answer 15

british trade of indian opium to china led to widespread addiction - emperor tried to ban opium

Question 16

opioids mech of action

Answer 16

3 key receptors

• Mu, delta, kappa
• most act at Mu
• pure agonists + antagonists
• partial agonists
• mixed

Question 17

addiction potential of opioids

at neural level

Answer 17

Mu opioid receptor binding inhibits GABA neurons which usually suppress dopamine release ∴ very rewarding

Question 18

how does naloxone work

Answer 18

temporarily displaces opioids due to stronger receptor affinity