FRSC 1011H Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Vasoconstriction, Ketamine, Paresthesia
7 May 2018
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Drugs
What is a drug: Narcotics
● A drug can be defined as a natural or synthetic substance that is used to produce
physiological or psychological effects in humans or other higher order animals
Marijuana
● Marihuana refers to a preparation derived from the plant cannabis
● The chemical substance largely responsible from the hallucinogenic properties of
marijuana is known as tetrahydrocannabinol or THC
● The THC content of cannabis varies in different parts of the plant, generally
decreasing in the following sequence:
○ Resin
○ Flowers
○ Leaves
○ With little THC in the stem, roots or seeds
● The THC rich resin is known as hashish
Ergotism
● Convulsive Symptoms
○ Convulsive symptoms include painful seizures and spasms, diarrhea,
paresthesias (tingling) itching, mental effects including mania or
psychosis, headaches, nausea and vomiting
○ Usually the gastrointestinal effects precede central nervous system effects
○ Hallucinations resembling those produced by LSD although ergot
hallucinations more strongly resemble a delirious and psychotic state.
● Gangrenous Symptoms
○ The dry gangrene is a result of vasoconstriction induced by the
ergotamine- ergocristine alkaloids of the fungus
○ Affects more poorly vascularized extremities- fingers and toes
○ Symptoms include desquamation or peeling, weak peripheral pulses, loss
of peripheral sensation, edema and ultimately the death and loss of
affected tissues
● Several drugs have been derived from ergot chemicals
Stimulants
● Cocaine, extracted from the leaves of Erythroxylon coca, causes increased
alertness and vigor, accompanied by the suppression of hunger, fatigue, and
boredom
Document Summary
A drug can be defined as a natural or synthetic substance that is used to produce physiological or psychological effects in humans or other higher order animals. Marihuana refers to a preparation derived from the plant cannabis. The chemical substance largely responsible from the hallucinogenic properties of marijuana is known as tetrahydrocannabinol or thc. The thc content of cannabis varies in different parts of the plant, generally decreasing in the following sequence: With little thc in the stem, roots or seeds. The thc rich resin is known as hashish. Convulsive symptoms include painful seizures and spasms, diarrhea, paresthesias (tingling) itching, mental effects including mania or psychosis, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Usually the gastrointestinal effects precede central nervous system effects. Hallucinations resembling those produced by lsd although ergot hallucinations more strongly resemble a delirious and psychotic state. The dry gangrene is a result of vasoconstriction induced by the ergotamine- ergocristine alkaloids of the fungus.
