Pharmacology of Addictions Flashcards

Which statement best distinguishes physical dependence from addiction?

Answer: Physical dependence involves withdrawal symptoms upon cessation; addiction involves compulsive use despite harm

Physical dependence is a physiological adaptation resulting in withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation, while addiction (substance use disorder) involves compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite negative consequences.

Buprenorphine is effective in treating opioid use disorder primarily because it is:

Answer: A partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors with a ceiling effect

Buprenorphine's partial agonist activity suppresses withdrawal and cravings, while its ceiling effect on respiratory depression makes it safer in overdose compared to full agonists.

Tolerance to a drug is best defined as:

Answer: The need for increasing amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect

Tolerance develops when repeated drug exposure leads to diminished effects, requiring higher doses to achieve the original response, often through receptor downregulation or metabolic adaptation.

Cannabis exerts its primary psychoactive effects by binding to which receptor system?

Answer: Endocannabinoid (CB1 and CB2) receptors

THC (the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis) binds to CB1 receptors in the brain and CB2 receptors in peripheral tissues, mimicking endogenous cannabinoids like anandamide.

Compared to opioid withdrawal, alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal is considered more dangerous because it can cause:

Answer: Life-threatening seizures and delirium tremens

Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can produce potentially fatal grand mal seizures and delirium tremens due to CNS hyperexcitability when GABA inhibition is suddenly removed.

Which of the following is an FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for treating nicotine dependence?

Answer: Varenicline (Chantix)

Varenicline is a partial agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, reducing withdrawal symptoms and blocking nicotine's rewarding effects, making it one of the most effective smoking cessation treatments.

The term 'cross-tolerance' means that:

Answer: Tolerance developed to one drug reduces the effect of a pharmacologically similar drug

Cross-tolerance occurs when tolerance to one substance confers tolerance to another in the same pharmacological class (e.g., tolerance to alcohol reduces the sedative effect of benzodiazepines).