Pharmacology of Addictions Flashcards
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According to DEA drug scheduling, Schedule I substances are characterized by:
Answer: High potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the US
Schedule I drugs (e.g., heroin, LSD) have the highest abuse potential, no accepted medical use in the US, and lack accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
Naltrexone reduces alcohol cravings and consumption primarily by:
Answer: Blocking opioid receptors involved in alcohol's reinforcing effects
Alcohol's reinforcing effects are partly mediated through the endogenous opioid system; naltrexone's opioid receptor blockade reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol and decreases cravings.
Which substance withdrawal syndrome is most likely to be life-threatening without medical management?
Answer: Alcohol withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal can progress to delirium tremens with life-threatening seizures and cardiovascular instability; opioid and cannabis withdrawal, while uncomfortable, are rarely fatal.
Acamprosate (Campral) is used in alcohol use disorder treatment primarily to:
Answer: Reduce post-acute withdrawal symptoms and cravings by modulating glutamate activity
Acamprosate modulates NMDA glutamate receptors to reduce the neurological hyperexcitability that causes post-acute withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol cravings.
Which route of drug administration generally produces the fastest onset of action?
Answer: Intravenous injection
Intravenous injection delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, bypassing absorption barriers, and produces effects within seconds, making it associated with high addiction potential.
Pharmacokinetics refers to:
Answer: How the body processes a drug through absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Pharmacokinetics (ADME) describes how the body handles a drug — how it is absorbed, distributed throughout the body, metabolized (broken down), and excreted.
The phenomenon of 'sensitization' (reverse tolerance), where repeated drug use leads to enhanced rather than diminished effects, is most commonly associated with:
Answer: Repeated use of stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines
Sensitization is a well-documented phenomenon with psychostimulants like cocaine, where repeated exposure leads to progressively greater behavioral and neurochemical responses.