PS268 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Sodium Bicarbonate, Ephedra, Levamisole
Document Summary
In 1858 a young phd student named albert neimann purifies cocaine from the coca leaves as part of his thesis in. Mechanisms of action: not a complicated process, raw leaves are made into a paste where it is made into cocaine hydrochloride, which can produce two forms of cocaine: Causes for concern: tainted cocaine linked to 7 cases of illness in alberta. Amphetamines: similar history to cocaine, ephedrine is found in a plant (ma huang) when eaten or steeped into tea, chemist purifies ephedrine to make it amphetamine, making it a psychostimulant. If it is modified again, it is made into methamphetamine: region of waterloo is developing a reputation for its meth production rivals vancouver, demand originates in core production regions such as bc, ontario and quebec. Mechanisms of action: mimics the molecular structure of the natural neurotransmitters in the brain.
