Week 5: Cocaine & Psychomotor Stimulants Flashcards
What’s one thing in common with stimulants
- They all stimulate transmission of monoamines
(eg. epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin) - They are sympathomimimetic
(aka mimic sympathetic arousal - and epinephrine is the primary transmitter in the sympathetic nevous system
sources and history of stimulants
- some stimulants aren naturally-occuring, others are new synthetic drugs
- naturally occurring stimulants have been used for centuries
Amphetamines
- are synthetic stimulants
- there’s two types
1. Amphetamine
2. Methamphetamine - These are used to treat ADHD, Narcolepsy and obesity
- Methamphetamine can be synthesised from legally available materials (sold as meth, ice crystal)
Background of Amphetamines
-Ephedrine (found in the herb ma huang) has been used in china for over 5,000 years
- was isolated from the 1880s
- Propoerties investigated in 1924 by Ko Keui Chem and C.F Schmit. Found the structure and action is very similar to epinephrine
Ephedrine
-Ephedrine (found in the herb ma huang) has been used in china for over 5,000 years
- was isolated from the 1880s
- Properties investigated in 1924 by Ko Keui Chem and C.F Schmit. Found the structure and action is very similar to epinephrine
isolated Ephedrine
- Is more stable than epinephrine (then used to treat asthma). Could be administered in pill form and had a longer duration of action, less toxic
- use became so widespread it was feared that supplies would run out
- so there was a search for a synthetic substitute.
The first synthetic emphetamine was synthesised in 1887. But it remained untested until 1910 and was suggested as a substitute for ephedrine in 1927
Development of synthetic amphetamine history
-Ephedrine (found in the herb ma huang) has been used in china for over 5,000 years
- was isolated from the 1880s
- Properties investigated in 1924 by Ko Keui Chem and C.F Schmit. Found the structure and action is very similar to epinephrine
isolated Ephedrine
- Is more stable than epinephrine (then used to treat asthma). Could be administered in pill form and had a longer duration of action, less toxic
- use became so widespread it was feared that supplies would run out
- so there was a search for a synthetic substitute.
The first synthetic emphetamine was synthesised in 1887. But it remained untested until 1910 and was suggested as a substitute for ephedrine in 1927
History of Amphetamine in the 1900’s
- In 1937 the American Medical Association authorised use of amphetamine for treatment of naroclepsy and as a stimulant for depression
- By 1943, at least half the sales were prescribed for weight loss and diet control, antidepressent and stiulant effects and extended periods of alertness
Amphetamines today
Today many countries strictly regulate the manufacture and marketing of amphetamines
- generally prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy
Not widely used for medicinal purposes today
- most amphetamine and methamphetamine are made in illicit labs
Cocaine
- Extracted from the leaves of the coca bush (Erythroxylum Coca), native to south America.
- For centuries these leaves have been chewed by various south American tribles
- There’s even archeological evidence too show this (with face mask type models showing a lump for the coca leaf being chewed)
- Incas began using the plant when they conquered the region in the 10th century in Peru. The coca was sacred and used by priests and nobility. Also used in ritual human sacrifice as it made people docile. This has been evidenced in mummified human remains
What effect does cocain have when it’s on your tongue
Cocaine numbs your tongue. This is why people test the quality of cocaine by putting it on their tongue
What happened with Cocaine when the Spanish Conquered the Incas?
When the spanish conquered the inacas, they banned coca use;
- picked up on it after they found it useful in commerce
- also found they could work slaves longer and harder and needed to feed them less if on coca. Potosi Silver Mine - Some 8 million incan and African slavees died during the Spanish colonial period
Cocaine after the 1700’s
Cocaine was classified as a stimulant in 1749
- Europeans had no interest in the drug until it was isolated (as they didn’t wan to chew it)
So, Albert Neimann isolated and named the substance cocaine in 1860
People who have used Cocaine
Cocaine has largely been used by professionals and intellectuals
eg. Freud - said it was a cure for many conditions like addiction and depression
eg. Robert Louis Stephenson
eg. Arther Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes
eg. Karl Koller - found cocaine could be a useful as an anaesthetic and is still it’s only medical use
Cocaine has then become widely available in general purpose formulations
eg. toothache drops
eg. hair product for growth and shine
eg. soothing syrup for teething children
eg. as an anti-anxiety, nerve calming drug
eg. the pop used it in his fav wine tonic
Coca Cola and Cocaine
In 1886 John S. Pemberton made a drink of the Kola nut extract, adding soda water etc - he called it coca cola and to this day coca cola is made with coca leaves
Cocaine in the 20th century
- In the early 20th century, there was a growing backlash against cocaine
- included in the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914, effectively banning its use
- Began being used underground where it was used by artists, musicians, and wealthy upper class whites
- After WW2 the ides of stimulants was common
Cocaine use spread and increased
Has gone down in recent years
Appears to be creeping up in NZ
