5. Explain the neuropharmacology of cocaine, meth, amphetamines, or ecstasy. You

Question

5. Explain the neuropharmacology of cocaine, meth, amphetamines, or ecstasy. Your description does not need to include 100% of lecture material. Include 1-2 strong examples from assigned reading to support your answer a. What is the biochemistry of the drug? b. What is the basic pharmacokinetics? C. What areas of the brain are involved? d. What NT's, stimuli, ligands and corresponding receptors transmit signs? e. hat is the basic signaling pathway (EPSPs? IPSPs?) f.What are pathologies associated with system? g. What are treatment options?

Explanation / Answer

cocaine

cocaine is a drug used as local anesthetic .cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is a central nervous system stimulant. it's derived from coca plant and it's in a form white powder.its used as a recreational drug and is highly addictive the way it affects brain .

pharmokinetics

cocaine travels through the blood stream and reaches the brain. When cocaine is taken user experience euphoria and energy with increased heart rate and blood pressure .

It has the risks of heart attack stroke seizure abdominal pain respiratory failure and finally death.

cocaine increases the levels of dopamine in brain. dopamine is associated with pleasure and movement.

The euphoric feelings are attributed to increasing levels of dopamine.

cocaine addiction for a long time changes the reward system of brain. it constricts blood vessels dilates pupils increase heart rate etc.

treatment .

behavioural therapy may be used to treat cocaine addicts.

cognitive behavioural therapy.

contingency management

therapeutic communities drug .

researches are going on drugs like used to treat cocaine addicts like disulfiram, modanifil, lorcaserin.

The part of brain cocaine affects includes key memory centres that help recalling the source of pleasure ..

cocaine concentrate in the central link of reward circuit ( ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens).cocaine also affects structures like caudate nucleus.

signalling pathway

in normal neural communication process dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse where it can bind to dopamine receptors on neighbouring neurons. then dopamine is recycled back into the transmitting neuron by a special protein called dopamine transporter

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