PHR 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Axon Hillock, Opioid Overdose, Therapeutic Index
3 Dec 2014
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Addiction- state characterized by intense compulsion to use a drug and by continuing use of drug despite adverse consequences. Previous cocaine addict sweats when exposed to visual of coke injections -> Figured by trial and error: consume a plant to test affects. Opiates = solid/ marijuana = tenuous: 2. Why people may take opiates despite research. Drugs = chemicals: bodies also chemicals, pharmacology -> study how chemicals react with body chemicals. Before 1800, drugs were natural products: generally plant substances. Two branches: therapeutics: how drugs help, toxicology: how drugs hurt. Amount of chemical specified for an effect: effects may vary (sleep, decrease of swelling, death, etc. , more potent- little required for effect, less potent- more required for effect. More potent = 1 pill for death. Dose- amount of drugs a person takes: spectrum of effects = function of dose, intensity of drug = dependent on dose. Threshold dose- where we first experience the effect.
