Exam 3

Question 1

1. Review the different types of cocaine. How do the routes of administration differ for each type

Answer 1

Coca leaves- chewed
Cocaine paste- Wet and mash coca leaves
Cocaine hydrochloride- salt version; injected, snorted or taken orally (not smoked)
Free base cocaine- converted from salt so it can be smoked by adding Ether/ammonia (smoked)
Crack-cocaine- add baking soda instead of ether (smoked)

Question 2

2. Is cocaine found in a plant or is it synthesized in a lab?

Answer 2

Plant, comes form coca leaves

Question 3

3. What is the difference between crack cocaine and free base cocaine in terms of the how the two drugs are made (just the basics here…)?

Answer 3

Free base cocaine- Cocaine hydrochloride mixed with ether/ ammonia (flammable)
Crack- Cocaine hydrochloride mixed with baking soda

Question 4

4. How was cocaine used in the late 1800s and early 1900s

Answer 4

Originally used for an anesthetic to numb because it blocks pain receptors. Freud used it for depression and to help with heroine addiction and alcoholism

Question 5

5. How is cocaine metabolized and what is the metabolite? How is cocaethylene formed?

Answer 5

Cocaine molecules are metabolized by enzymes in the liver.
Metabolite- benzoylecgonine (inactive)
Cocaethylene- active metabolite formed when cocain and alcohol are used together (similar to cocaine but increases dependence)

Question 6

6. Which neurotransmitters are affected by cocaine and how are the neurotransmitters affected in the brain?

Answer 6

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin (agonist for all 3)

Question 7

7. What are the three primary actions of cocaine

Answer 7

Local anesthetic, vasoconstrictor, psychostimulant

Question 8

8. What is a speedball?

Answer 8

Mixture of heroine and cocaine

Question 9

9. Which drugs are used to treat cocaine dependence and withdrawal?

Answer 9

Ritalin- treat cocaine withdrawals
Zofran- treat cocaine cravings, blocks serotonin 3 receptors
Antidepressants and antipsychotics- help with comorbid disorders
Cocaine vaccine- helps 40% of users

Question 10

10. What is the “crash” observed in cocaine users and what effect does it have on mood?

Answer 10

“crash” is the mania you feel due to lack of cocaine. You feel later than you started so you use more to feel better. This is where physical dependence starts, to avoid the “crash”

Question 11

11. How was amphetamine first discovered and how is it made?

Answer 11

Ma huang- herb used by Chinese contains ephedrine
German Chemist- first isolated ephedrine
Gordan Alles- synthesized amphetamine from ephedrine

Question 12

12. **What are some differences between the different forms of amphetamine? How do the routes of administration differ for each type?

Answer 12

Dextroamphetamine- barley cross bbb
Levamphetamine- least bbb, not clinically, weak psychostimulant
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn- the prescription version)- crosses bbb
Orally (15-30 min to kick in)
intravaneously (rapid peak)
inhaled (immediate onset)

Question 13

13. What is the primary difference between amphetamine and methamphetamine in terms of crossing the blood brain barrier?

Answer 13

Both cross the blood brain barrier, but it is easier for methamphetamine to do so. Methamphetamine also has stronger effects because it crosses the blood brain barrier much more easier

Question 14

14. How is amphetamine metabolized and what are the metabolites?

Answer 14

Amphetamines are broken down in the liver. They aren’t affected by metabolism, they are excreted as amphetamines. A lot of it comes out as its own. Some methamphetamines get converted to amphetamine

Question 15

15. Which neurotransmitters are affected by amphetamine and what effect does it have on the neurotransmitters?

Answer 15

Stimulates the release of dopamine and norepinephrine (agonist); also leak into the synapse and slows reuptake

Question 16

16. What effects does amphetamine have on the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 16

Increase heart rate, hyperthermia, elevated blood pressure, increase respiration, euphoria, increase alertness, and decrease appetite

Question 17

17. What is amphetamine psychosis?

Answer 17

Paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, violence, mood swings, rocking/pacing/weight loss

Question 18

18. Which drugs are used to treat ADHD? What are some basic differences between how the drugs affect neurotransmitters in the brain?

Answer 18

Ritalin- half life= 2-4 (concerta is a new form half life= 4-6 ), Focalin, Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine), vyanse (in the Adderall group), Dexedrine (used in 30s) and Strattera
Ritalin blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine
Strattera is norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

Question 19

19. What are some basic side effects of drugs used to treat ADHD? How do these drugs affect individuals who do not have ADHD when the drugs are taken as “study aides”.

Answer 19

Side effects of Ritalin- (typically minimal) can stunt growth, headaches, sleep problems, reduced appetite, rebound hyperactivity, slight blood pressure increase, and GI irritability
Side effects of Adderall- similar to Ritalin plus weightloss
Side effects of Strattera- potential liver damage, risk of suicide, dry mouth, upset stomach, decrease appetite and mood change
For individuals taking ADHD treating drugs to study/ stay awake, it actually might effect their cognitive performance. It might cause over stimulation and over stimulation (excitement) results in lower cognitive performance. Refer to Yerks Dodson effect

Question 20

20. Review the differences in the amount of caffeine found in various products (e.g. coffee, soft drinks, Red Bull, etc). You do not need to know specific numbers but know roughly which products have high vs. lower amounts of caffeine

Answer 20

Higher amounts- coffee, soft drink, energy drink, Excedrin, no doz, vivarin
Lower amounts- chocolate, tea, decaf coffee, anacin, baking chocolate

Question 21

21. Where might you find theophylline or theobromine?

Answer 21

Theophylline- found in tea

Theobromine- found in chocolate

Question 22

22.Which type of receptors does caffeine affect in the brain?

Answer 22

Adenoside A1 and A2a receptors- blocks receptors so more awake

Question 23

23. How is caffeine metabolized and what are the metabolites?

Answer 23

Cleared from circulatory system during sleep. 88-98% of caffeine gets metabolized and most comes out through urine. Metabolized the CYP1A2 enzyme. Its metabolites are theophylline, theobromine, and paraxanthine. All are axtive metabolites but not as strong

Question 24

24. What are some of the effects that caffeine can have on physiology in the body (e.g. blood pressure, blood vessels, etc.)?

Answer 24

Dilates coronary arteries 
Mildly increases blood pressure 
Diuresis, increased water excresion (dehydrates you) 
Vasoconstrictor for cerebral vessels 
Mildly increases respiration

Question 25

25. Although caffeine is a fairly safe chemical, which demographic in the population (group of people) may suffer adverse effects of caffeine and what kinds of problems can it cause in some individuals?

Answer 25

Older people- osteoporosis
Pregnant women- crosses placenta, decreases birth weight and increases miscarriage
Children- feel effects a lot more because of how small their bodies are

Question 26

26. How might caffeine help to alleviate headaches?

Answer 26

Headaches are caused by vessels becoming very dilated and putting pressure, but because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor for cerebral vessels, those vessels get smaller and relieve the pressure.

Question 27

27. Review some potential dangers associated with energy drinks containing caffeine.

Answer 27

Caffeine in energy drinks boost heart rate and blood pressure
Can cause heart cells to release calcium, which may affect heartbeat, leading to arrhythmia.
Drinks may also disrupt the normal balance of salts in the body, which has been linked to arrhythmia as well.
Exacerbation of anxiety disorder (increasing disorder symptoms)

Question 28

28. What is caffeinism?

Answer 28

Caffeinism is consuming 1,000-2,000mg of caffeine and showing symptoms resembling anxiety
 side effects (restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, tachardyia, and psychiatric effects at very high doses) associated with high levels of caffeine

Question 29

29. What are the major diseases associated with cigarette smoking?

Answer 29

Cardiovascular disease- atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, thrombosis
Pulmonary disease (COPD)- bronchitis, emphysema
Cancer- throat, lung, stomach, colon

Question 30

30. Which type of receptors does nicotine bind to and where are these receptors found in the body?

Answer 30

Ach nicotinic receptors, found in brain (and neuromuscular junction)

Question 31

31. What affects does nicotine have on the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 31

Sympathetic and epinephrine- increase BP and HR
Parasympathetic- increase hydrochloric acid in stomach (leads to chronic heartburn which can cause stomach cancer) and colitis, contraction in bowls= chronic

Question 32

32. Review the basic symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Answer 32

Irritability/anxiety, anger, difficulty concentrating, impatience, increased appetite, weight gain, insomnia

Question 33

33. What is benzopyrene?

Answer 33

Worst carcinogen known to man, main cause of cancer

Question 34

34. What is atherosclerosis? How is it different from arteriosclerosis?

Answer 34

Atherosclerosis- narrowing of artery due to buildup of fat and plaques inside blood vessel
Arteriosclerosis- hardening of the artery walls

Question 35

35. What were some treatment options for nicotine dependence?

Answer 35

Nicotine gum, patches, nicotine vapor, Prescribed drugs- zyban (DA and NE reuptake inhibitor), Chantix (partial agonist for nicotine receptor, increased risk of suicide)

Question 36

36. What is the area postrema and what is its function?

Answer 36

Are of the brain that is activated by Nicotine that regulates nausea and vomiting. It is not protected by blood- brain barrier. Reason you feel light headed when smoking a cigarette

Question 37

37. How do the dangers associated with smoking tobacco from a hookah pipe compare to cigarettes?

Answer 37

1 hr smoking hookah= 100-200x smoking a cigarette

not safer than smoking cigs, gateway to cig smoking

Question 38

What do high doses of caffeine cause

Answer 38

psychiatric symptoms

Question 39

What is adderall made out of?

Answer 39

amphetamine and dextroamphetamine