PS263 Chapter Notes -Drug Tolerance, Coronary Artery Disease, Hypotonia
Document Summary
Pharmacological: pertaining to the scientific study of drugs & principles. Psychoactive drugs: drugs that influence subjective experience & behaviour by acting on the nervous system: oral ingestion: preferred; once swallowed they dissolve fast in stomach fluids which carry them to the intestine & into the bloodstream. Hard to regulate & lung damage: absorption through mucous membrane: through the nose, mouth & rectum (i. e. , cocaine is administered through nasal membranes with no damage) Once a drug enters the bloodstream it is carried to the blood vessels of the cns; the blood-brain barrier makes it hard for dangerous chemicals to pass. Some drugs act on neural membranes through cns (alcohol) while others bind to a particular synapse receptors, influence synthesis, transport, etc. Drug metabolism: actions of most drugs are terminated by enzymes synthesized by the liver; these enzymes stimulate the conversion of active drugs to non-active forms; eliminates ability to pass through lipid membrane.
