Psychoactive drug/ Stimulant
Benzodiazephines
A depressant that enhance your brain response to GABA, a inhibitory NTS
Opiates
A depressant use to treat pain and also anxiety.
What is a Psychoactive drug?
A drug that alter you consciousness by affecting your perception and mood.
Sympathomimetic
A drug that stimulates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.
Ephedrine (came from Ma Huang)
A sympathomimetic drug used in treating asthma
Amphetamine
A synthetic CNS stimulant and sympathomimetic. It was first use to replace ephedrine in treatment of asthma.
Sympathetic N.S
A system that usually helps you to respond to dangerous situation.
EX: of stimulant
Caffeine Cocaine Amphetamine
This neurotransmitter releases into the brain to elicit feelings of reward and pleasure. It is the neurotransmitter most affected by amphetamines:
Dopamine
What neurotransmitter cocaine affect
Dopamine serotonin adrenaline
Schedule 2 drugs
Drugs that have a high potential for abuse and a potential for severe psychological or physical dependence.
Ex of opiates
Heroin Morphine
Effects of amphetamine
It allows dopamine to float freely in the brain. causes pychosis, heart problem, sudden death Causes chemical imbalance in the brain, of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine. Addiction happen slowly people use more of the drug to improve their mood Affects medial forebrain bundle and RAS.
what does meth and ampheta cause
It causes a feeling of euphoria for 8 hours. however after the drug ware off people become irritable, insomnia, seizures and depressions.
Stimulants
It intensify neural functions and body activity.
what is amphetamine use for today
It is use for treating symptoms of ADHD
What amphetamine use for?
It was use to treat narcolepsy It was also use by soldiers during ww2 Benzedrine inhalers weight control
Depressants
Lowers your body basic function an neural activity. for ex: heart rate, reaction time, processing speed
This neurotransmitter is responsible for the body's fight or flight response. It causes alertness and an increases heart rate:
Norepinephrine
Why is opiates use to treat pain
They act at your body receptor sites for endorphin (endorphin are bodies natural pain reducers)
Alcohol
is a depressant that slows neural processing. It slows your sympathetic nervous system down.
cocaine mechanism of action
it blocks the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin causing a prolonged effect of these neurotransmitter.
Mechanism of action for amphetamine
it increases the activity of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. it increase the activity of these neurotransmitter by stimulating release rather than by inhibiting reuptake. it blocks presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine.
What does it mean alcohol is a dis-inhibitor
it removes your inhibitions, people who normally drink are likely to act their impulses which often leads to impaired judgement and reduce awareness and self-control
side effects of regular cocaine users
suspicion, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure
Why is opiates not considered depressant even though they can be use for anxiety
these aren't consider depressant because unlike other depressant that act on GABA receptors, opiate act on endorphin receptor
Amphetamine and methamphetamine
they also triggers the relaease of dopamine, serotonin etc
Why are amphetamines considered stimulant drugs
they are consider as stimulant because they produce extra brain activity, increase alertness and promote a sense of well-being.
important fact about cocaine and also amphetamine
when a person uses cocaine, these three neurotransmitters are quickly released into the brain. Usually, the neurotransmitters are reabsorbed soon after release. However, cocaine hinders this process. Instead, the chemicals accumulate in the brain. The accumulation causes the person to feel rewarded, euphoric, and energized. However, users can also feel fearful and jittery. Note that each person has a limited supply of neurotransmitters. Once used, the body must take time to produce more. This is why users often end up feeling fatigued and depressed. It's also why first time drug users often achieve a more intense effect than is achieved on repeat uses.