NROSCI 0080 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Methyl Group, Bath Salts, Xerostomia
Document Summary
Most stimulants also increase the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Leaves have a little cocaine so you need a lot of leaves. Cocaine is extracted from the lead of erythroxylon coca bush. Sigmund freud = prescribed cocaine for depression and morphine addiction. Vaporized at high temp (cant smoke it) Vaporized at a low temp (can smoke) More fat soluable (gets to brain faster) not pure. Gets to the brain in 3-5 min. Cocaine has a similar structure as dopamine (neurotransmitter) The drug is most likely to have an effect on the neurotransmitter that it looks most like. Cocaine blocks the monoamine reuptake transporter (dat- dopamine transporters) The number of dopamine receptors is decreased when cocaine is taken. Cocaine withdrawal (usually opposite of cocaine symptoms) Originally derived from ephedrine from the plant huang. 1924 found to have similar properties to epinephrine. 1930s- 1940s used to treat asthma and narcolepsy, soldiers took it.
