Study Set Content:
Together with GHB and ecstasy, amphetamines are often referred to as () because they are increasingly popular in the club scene.
"club drugs,"
• Amphetamines are
neurotoxic
The exact mechanism is not known. Taken initially in pill form by abusers but can also be
smoked or injected
Heavy users often progress rapidly to
intravenous administration
Within hours after oral ingestion, amphetamines increase alertness and cause
euphoria, agitation, and confusion.
may occur. when taking amphetamine
Bruxism (tooth grinding) and skin flushing
with increasing dosage these agents often lead to
tachycardia and dysrhythmias.
Hypertensive crisis and vasoconstriction may lead to
stroke
. Spread of HIV and hepatitis infection in inner cities has been closely associated with needle sharing by intravenous users of
methamphetamine
With chronic use, amphetamine tolerance may develop. Withdrawal consists of
dysphoria, drowsiness (in some cases, insomnia), and general irritability.
A class of drugs that includes variety of derivatives of the amphetamine-related compound
ECSTASY (MDMA)
was originally used in some forms of psychotherapy, but no medically useful effects were documented.
MDMA
The main effect of ecstasy appears to be to foster feelings of () without impairing intellectual capacities.
intimacy and empathy
MDMA causes release of () by reversing the action of their respective transporters
biogenic amines
has a preferential affinity for the serotonin transporter (SERT) and therefore most strongly increases the extracellular concentration o
SEROTONIN
This release is so profound that there is a marked intracellular depletion for 24 hours after a single dose. With repetitive administration, serotonin depletion may become permanent, which has triggered a debate on its
neurotoxicity
TOXIC EFFECTS:
Hyperthermia
• Dehydration (
serotonin syndrome
seizures
Following warnings about the dangers of MDMA, some users have attempted to compensate for () by drinking excessive amounts of water, causing water intoxication involving severe hyponatremia, seizures, and even death.
hyperthermia
Withdrawal is marked by a mood() characterized by depression lasting up to several weeks. There have also been reports of increased aggression during periods of abstinence in chronic MDMA users
"offset"
COMMON MEDICINAL CONDITIONS INVOLVING THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT (GIT
PEPTIC ULCER
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)
3. MOTILITY DISORDERS
