PSYB65H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Dysphoria, Codeine, Paracetamol
Document Summary
Gaba: primary inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter in the brain. Barbiturates will bind to the gaba receptors in the brain. Will inhibit and decrease excitability in the brain. Synergistic: if we put the two drugs together, they are additive. Barbiturate + beer is like drinking 3 beers. Mixing barbiturates and alcohol is extremely dangerous - potentially lethal. Also synergistic with anxiolytic drugs: drugs that calm us down. All of these mechanisms are those by which we slow down these neurons. Traditionally the biggest group that used these drugs were the elderly. As one gets older: the sleep cycle is very erratic. Waking up at odd times and cannot get back to sleep. Without this sleep, they wake up very discombobulated. They may be the ones dependent on it. Since this is one of the strongest depressants we have, when we come off it we will be likely to get seizures and convulsions.
