Chapter 2

Lethal dose

Also known as "drug toxicity" This is the quantity of the dose required to kill a given amount of the population LD50 (means that dose is known to cause death in 50% of the population) -amount of drug that will kill you - if ED is close to LD it has a low safety margin -barbiturate, cousin of alcohol

Effective dose

Also known as "active dose." This is the dose of a given drug that is required to produce a given effect ED50 (means effective dose causes that effect in 50% of the population) -intended effect, how much you need to produce a given effect

Physical effects

you drink alcohol and then your blood alcohol level rises Ataxia: you drink & become uncoordinated. sloppy, slurred Comatose: you pass out from drinking

Inhalation

- Most rapid, and quickly addicting form -most efficient form of route of administration -most efficient because it is the most rapid way to get to the brain, where there are many vessels -lungs have tons of blood vessels,

Oral administration

- Oral is the safest route of administration - Takes more time to take into effect -majority of drugs 5-30 min -into mouth, digested into the stomach, into the liver, goes into the blood stream, then that's when it takes effect -a lot more time to help someone in case of overdose -the feeling of throwing up while drinking is the stomach protecting you from drinking more -you lose a lot of the drug during oral administration, because of the route. It goes through the stomach and intestines -ex. having a martini on an empty stomach vs. having a martini after just eating -a lot of things interfere with absorption -oral is safer but not as productive -heroin, cocaine, insulin cannot be taken orally

Injection/IV

-10-15sec to react -difficult to stop overdose -gives you exact dose without interruption -injecting a drug hypodermic syringe and goes right to blood stream -need less drug because it reaches the blood stream and brain right away -very effective with heroin, cocaine, insulin -difficult to stop an overdose because it gets to the body quickly -bad veins, danger with infection -takes effect rapidly so it's easy to overdose Intramuscular -putting in the muscle -goes into body(muscle), fertility & steroids, -not as efficient as entering right to the blood stream -3-5 min to be -diseases through the needle -HIV, hepatitis

Importance of route of administration

-The same drug taken with a different route can have very different drug effects -The route of administration impacts how dangerous the drug is perceived to be -impacts the drug action & effects -some are more efficient than others -some drugs can only be taken with certain routes of administration

How is caffeine used in medications? For what purpose?

Caffeine belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It is used to help restore mental alertness when unusual tiredness or weakness or drowsiness occurs. Caffeine's use as an alertness aid should be only occasional. It is not intended to replace sleep and should not be used regularly for this purpose. Caffeine is also used in combination with ergotamine (for treatment of migraine and cluster headaches) or with certain pain relievers, such as aspirin or aspirin and acetaminophen. When used in this way, caffeine may increase the effectiveness of the other medicines. Caffeine is sometimes used in combination with an antihistamine to overcome the drowsiness caused by the antihistamine

How does caffeine relate to headaches? help and cause?

Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter headache medications (see list below). Caffeine additives make pain relievers 40% more effective in treating headaches. Caffeine also helps the body absorb headache drugs more quickly, bringing faster relief. By adding caffeine and, in turn, taking less medication, you can reduce the risk for potential side effects and possible drug addiction.

Stimulants

Drug action: CNS stimulant, excite the nervous system, speed things up Psychoactive effect: PROS- Arousal, elevated mood, high self-confidence, stronger sense of well being CONS- paranoia, lowered mental functioning Examples of drugs: cocaine, ritalin, amphetamine Things to consider: high pleasure, high compulsive, use medical problems, continue to want to use, associated with crime, aggressive, paranoid, not a calming drug

Drug action

Drug action: How the drug's chemical structure interacts with the biological organism, How the drug interacts with the body -Once the drug enters the system what part of the brain does the drug operate with -How the drug goes into the brain & interacts with the receptors & tissues to create certain effects -Some drugs can effect respiration, and can kill you if they cut off your breathing Example: Alcohol can negatively impact your respiration Heroin can also Example: with marijuana it won't kill you but it will negatively impact your memory

Depressants

Drug action: Inhibit or slow down signals passing through the Central Nervous System, inhibit a wide range of bodily functions Psychoactive effect: cause relaxation, inhibit anxiety, less anxiety, drowsiness, sleep, mental cloudiness Examples of drugs: Alcohol, barbiturates, ludes, GHB, valium Things to consider: Slows function and bodily functions, can shut down breathing at high levels, impairs thinking, associated with violent crimes. Narrow safety margin, death by

Sedatives

Drug action: Inhibit or slow down signals passing through the central nervous system, Inhibit a wide range of bodily functions Psychoactive effect: cause relaxation, inhibit anxiety, less anxiety, drowsiness, sleep, mental cloudiness Examples of drugs: Alcohol, barbiturates, ludes, GHB, Valium Things to consider: Slows function and bodily functions, can shut down breathing at high levels, impairs thinking, associated with violent crimes. Narrow safety margin, death by

THC -Marijuana -Hashish (dried resin of the cannabis plant more potent than marijuana)

Drug action: N/A Psychoactive effect: N/A Examples of drugs: Pot, hash Things to consider: used frequently by people who commit violate law, but relationship is not known, not powerfully reinforcing, not highly addictive

Hallucinogenics (psychedelics)

Drug action: effect central nervous system but not sure how, not easily classified as a stimulant or depressant, sleep & wake stage cycle Psychoactive effect: vivid visuals, seeing sounds, mood shifts Examples of drugs: LSD, Mescaline (cactus), Psilocybin (mushroom) Things to consider: Not associated with violent crime, not powerfully reinforcing, not highly addictive

Marijuana drug action & drug effects

Drug action: marijuana mimics or looks like the key that monitors/controls the short term memory, also mimics the key that controls the movement and coordination Drug effect: I can't remember anything, I have a bad short term memory -Marijuana binds with the brain that impacts how people think, the cortex, those are all areas -effects the short term memory, is a physiological objective trait that is not up for debate

Narcotics

Drug action: pain inhibiters, pain killers, also depressants Psychoactive effect: mental cloudiness, euphoria Examples of drugs: Opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, Oxycontin Things to consider: overdose, highly addictive, criminalized and therefore associate with crime, can't get the drugs but wants the drugs

Ecstasy

Drug action: serotonin Psychoactive effect: Empathogen- strong feeling of closeness, induces empathy, trust, peaceful serenity Examples of drugs: MDMA Things to consider: no compulsively used, Not strongly associated with crime, depletes serotonin the neurotransmitter in the brain regulating emotion, mood, cognition, sex and sleep, club drug

Drug effects & drug actions

Drug effects and drug actions are 2 physiological effects of drugs -

Drug effects

Drug effects: the effect a drug has or produces on the body. What happens once the drug interacts with your body Example: marijuana negatively effects short term memory, difficulty Example: alcohol negatively impacts your respiration NEGATIVE -Medical costs(cost to society) tobacco & alcohol, legal drugs create the biggest most negative effects -because their accessible, the more accessible the more damaging -strongest predictor of drug use is accessibility Loss of function, family, jobs Some drugs lower inhibitions and behavior and caused people to engage in crime

Green, Kavangh, & Young and Placebo

Individuals reported context has an effect. If more than 4 people, they reported more elation, euphoria, laughter. If alone reported relaxation, more tired Implications: Shows support for the idea that drug effects can be based on non-specific or placebo effects (different from the actual drug action)

How does caffeine negatively impact the fertility and pregnancy?

Multiple studies have suggested that caffeine consumption increases the risk of miscarriage. A study published last year demonstrated an increase in the risk of miscarriage with increasing caffeine intake. Women consuming greater than 200 mg of caffeine per day had twice the miscarriage rate (25.5%) as compared to nonusers (12.5%). Moreover, pregnant women may be more sensitive to caffeine as it is metabolized or broken down slower during pregnancy. An additional concern in pregnancy is the ability of caffeine to cross the placenta and directly affect the developing baby. While studies suggest the importance of limiting caffeine use during pregnancy, caffeine may also impact the ability to become pregnant. Several studies have shown that caffeine increases the length of time it takes to conceive. One study showed that women who drank more than one cup of coffee a day were half as likely to become pregnant per cycle as compared to women who consumed less. Another study in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) demonstrated that women who consumed even modest amounts of caffeine (50 mg) were likely to have decreased live birth rates. While the exact mechanism by which caffeine affects fertility is unknown, the answer may be related to the ability of caffeine to influence the quality of the developing oocyte (egg). Preliminary studies in mice and monkeys suggest caffeine inhibits oocyte maturation. An immature oocyte does not fertilize and therefore is unable to produce a pregnancy.

The Marijuana Study (2005) aka the Freed Marijuana Study

Purpose: to examine the cognitive effects (drug effects) of marijuana use Procedure: researchers asked participants about their marijuana smoking behavior & verified their smoking behavior using urine samples. Classified people into the following categories: current marijuana users, former marijuana users, never used marijuana Results: current heavy users scored lower on memory & IQ measures Implications: study demonstrates support for the drug action of marijuana -Prospective study (real time, current) -Demonstrates the drug action of

Green, Kavangh, & Young (2003)

Purpose: to see if studies show people consistently reporting the same drug effects from marijuana Procedure: researchers reviewed studies that asked information about self-reported cannabis use Results: individuals reported opposite effects being experienced from cannabis -Go to sleep better/can't sleep -Sedative effects/stimulant effects -Memory improved/memory worse -Higher sex drive/lower sex drive -More sociable/less sociable

Testing for placebo effects

Results: depression improves if given a sugar pill (placebo) or an anti-depressant drug

Synergistic Effects

The addition of 1 unit of the drug equals more than 2x the effects of the other drug -taking drugs/pills with alcohol

Additive effects

The addition of 1 unit of the drug equals the effect of the second unit of the drug - 1+1 =2

Toxicity

The degree of danger for an organism who ingests the drug. This is the ratio of ED/LD

Therapeutic Index (safety margin)

The degree of danger for an organism who ingests the drug. This is the ratio of the ED/LD

Tolerance

The diminished effect of a drug over time because of repeated doses -the more you take the drug the more I need it -compare the dose needed for an experienced heroin user to get high versus a new user

Cross Tolerance

The diminishing effect of a drug in one category applies to a different drug in the same category -Alcohol and barbiturates -cocaine and Ritalin

Antagonistic effects

The effect of one drug cancels the other drug out -Ritalin increases blood pressure -Taking a blood pressure drug to lower BP then taking cocaine will cancel each other out and BP will rise -Cocaine(stimulant) and alcohol(depressant)

Route of Administration

The method of taking a drug (injecting, smoking, snorting, oral) -impacts the drug action and the drug effect -some routes of administration are more efficient and more dangerous than others -some drugs can only be taken in certain forms or more dangerous routes which then adds to our concern about drug safety -the route of the drug administration can cause the drug

Placebo (non-specific effects)

When the effects of a drug do not depend only on the chemical interactions with the body. Anything except the chemical activity of the drug -Expectancy -Experience -Setting (who you're with, environment)

Is caffeine present in other drugs like OTC drugs?

YES, Common Over-the-Counter Drugs Containing Caffeine Actamin Super: 65.4 mg Anacin Maximum Strength: 32 mg Anacin Tablets and Caplets: 32 mg Aspirin-Free Excedrin Caplets: 65 mg Bayer Select Maximum Strength Headache Pain Relief: 65.4 mg Dristan Capsules: 16 mg Excedrin Caplets: 65 mg Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets and Tablets: 65 mg Goody's Extra Strength Tablets: 16.25 mg Goody's Headache Powder: 32.5 mg Midol Menstrual Maximum Strength Caplets: 60 mg Midol for Cramps Maximum Strength Caplets: 32.4 mg NoDoz: 200 mg Vanquish Caplets: 33 mg Vivarin: 200 mg

Psychoactive effects

impacts how you think (cognition) -lowers your inhibitions -more aggressive -many people on alcohol become more aggressive

Acute effects

short term effects of the drug, take place within the period of administration and immediately after use acute: psychoactive & physical effects -Dry mouth

Indirect effect

side effects: unintended drug effects -took the drug but didn't intend/plan on getting addicted

Chronic effects

the long term effects of drug use -sarosis of the liver -lung cancer