PSY 607 Lecture Notes - Sympathetic Nervous System, Hindbrain, Acetaldehyde
Document Summary
Toxic effects that arise after repeated doses (i. e. , long-term) are referred to as chronic toxicity: the most common form of acute toxicity is overdose. This is the primitive region of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system. Recall that the autonomic nervous system acts to regulate heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and other basic functions essential to life. The impact of overdose on the hindbrain is similar for drugs within the same general class (e. g. , cns stimulants) but distinct from that of drugs from other classes. Overdose due to cns stimulants is reflected by over-arousal in the cns and by hyperactive sympathetic nervous system function. The symptoms of overdose thus include: seizures (rapid, uncoordinated neuronal discharge in the brain) stroke (ruptured blood vessels in the brain due to excess blood pressure) cardiac arrhythmia (uncoordinated heart rate) cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) hyperthermia (overheating) Along with heroin (and other opiates), the major cns depressants are alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.
