Chapter 4 Psych 4250 Depressants
Withdrawal effects of
- opiates -body aches and pains caused by a reduction in natural endorphins - insomnia - intestinal/ bowel problems - cramping/ hyperactivity in muscles -chills, fever, sweating, etc - increased blood pressure - decreased dopamine levels long term
Tolerance to pain medication
-develops rapidly as much as 10 x prescribed amount needed for the same effect just 10 days - " Unlimited tolerance" there is no limit to the amount the body and liver can metabolize resulting in extreme intake levels
Typical process of addiction
-initial injury leads to otc prescription
Benzodiapenes
Characteristics -developed in the 1960's - developed in response Barbiturates many high profiles in the 1950's and 1960's -Lower therapeutic index ( 30x more more needed for overdose compared to Barbiturates
Benzo increase what neurotransmitter
GABA
They mimic endorphins and increase the body's ability to tolerate pain
Heroin and Morphine
false
Heroin and morphine are considered long acting opioids
false
Heroin was first developed to be a non addictive medical alternatives to morphine
true
Historically speaking most drug laws were made for political rather than medical considerations.
GABA
a neurotransmitter responsible of slowing down neuronal firings -means less brain activity and a feeling of relaxation - increase GABA and slows down Neural firings
Allodynia
a painful response to a normally pain free stimulus often as a result of long term use of opiates/opiods
Hyperalgesia
a temporary increase in the sensitivity to painful stimuli that is experienced during the long term use of opiates/opioids used to treat pain
pain reduction leads to
abuse
true
acute withdrawal from heroin is not as life threatening as acute withdrawal from alcohol or sedative hypnotics.
correctly lists the three major classes of depressants
alcohol, opiates, sedative hypotics
Nociceptive o means pain cause by
external stimuli of pain receptors
the majority of heroin available in the united states comes from Afghanistan
false
the stop switch in the brain, which tell your mind and body that it has had enough and functions to turn the brain go switch, is located in the brain stem
false
How long can withdrawal symptoms following detoxification and abstinence from long acting opioids such as methadone persist?
for 14 days or more after detoxification
which of the following statements is true about opioids
most heroin abusers began by abusing prescription opioids
endorphins are responsible for what
numbing the body pain
Opiates
second oldest psychoactive drug (after alcohol) - opium was eventually refined to (10 x stronger)and Codeine (2 x stronger) -morphine was eventually refined into Heroin ( 5 x stronger than morphine)
Consumption of opiates
smoking is very popular - injection is very common as well ( primarily heroin) - Snorting ( 50% of those in treatment started snorting first) - Orally ( taking pills)
What happens when no pain is present when taking opiates
the numbing sensations turn into euphoria
Which of the following is true about opioids
there is almost no limit to the level of opioid tolerance a human can develop.
complications of benzodiazepines
traffic accidents are 50 percent higher among those who drive within 7 hours after dose -may result in blackouts( anterograde insomnia) - may result in neurological impairments months after discontinuation - may increase thoughts of suicide -should never be combined with other depressants
Human beings have naturally occurring endogenous opioids, which cause many of the same effects as those caused by taking opioids drugs ( exogenous opioids)
true
Opiates limit the release of and block receptors for substance P, which is the name of the neurotransmitter that transmits pain messages from nerve cell to nerve cell"
true
Most common Benzo's
vallium , xanax, klonopin , lorazapem
What was Heroin originally developed for
was originally developed by the bayer company in an effort to make pain medication that was not addictive
opiates
also known as narcotics - common types include - Codene - hydrocodene -oxycodone, Fenotyl, Heroin, Dilaudid
Tolerance of Benzodiazepines
can happen rapidly -not necessarily physical it is more psychological - eight weeks is the recommended continual use -some users reportedly use 100x the initial use
opiates numb what
physical and emotional pain - abuser will seek additional prescription - individual will start buying pill individually - abuser will not likely be able to afford pills which will lead to resort to heroin use
withdrawal metabolites
produced by benzodiapenes -end up affecting withdrawal - because of metabolites , and the fact that benzos get stored in body tissues, withdrawal can be severe. -Benzos should always be tapered down - withdrawal can lead to death and seizures - symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, confusion, nightmares, agitation, psychosis - 50 percent of individuals experience withdrawal symptoms
Most common withdrawal symptom from benzodiazepines
rebound anxiety process where anxiety increases to higher than initial levels as drugs exits the body -with increase of neural communication and anxiety, most individuals will consume benzos more often, and for longer than initially intended.