FSC402H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Hyperventilation, Central Nervous System Depression
Document Summary
Classification system: depressants and stimulants, drugs that affect the cns are classified by the physiological/pharmacological effects, arousal= uppers , stimulation, increase wakefulness & energy. Inhibition= downers : calming, slow down neuronal activity, distortion in perception, sensory distortion from incoming stimulus, visual, auditory, sensational, hallucinations, perception in absence of external stimulus. Structure in lower half of brain stem. Relays signals between brain & spinal cord. Mediated mainly by chemoreceptors in mthe carotid arteries. When co2 level increases, chemoreceptor rely signal to medulla & initiates increased breath rate & volume. Intense feelings of well-being and happiness: natural endogenous peptide neurotransmitters, enkephalins, endorphins, dynorphins. Receptors located throughout cns & gi tract. 3 major receptors family- each family has varying specificity for drug it binds. Meant to be non-addictive substitute for morphine (common cough suppressant in past: administration- injected, snorted, smoked, enters the brain rapidly (high lipid solubility), converted to 6-mam, then morphine, analytically- morphine & 6-mam.
