CHAPTER 10

the most common term for morphine and similar acting drugs is .........which is a derivation of the Greek word for stupor

• 1. generally has sedative-hypnotic and analgestic properties
• 2. it acts stereospecificly in endorphine/ enkephalin receptors
• 3. its actions are antagonized by naloxone

• in essence narcotics are restricted to
• a. extracts of opium (opiates)
• b. opiate derivatives
• c. synthetic drugs with opiate properties
• d.(all three of the above may be referred to as .......)

5 amino acids

16-30 amino acids

17 amino acids

believed to function as neurotransmitters, neurohormones, or neuromodulators, their physiological role is not well understood.

receptors are localized in pain modulating brain regions are morphine- and naloxone -selective mediate the euphorigenic properties of typical opiates (such as morphine)

• these receptors are more enkephalin selective
• they enduce spinal analgesia

• 1) these receptors have a high affinity for dynorphin and may mediate spinal analgesia as well as sedation
• 2) They also probably mediate aversive psychosis mimicking opiate effects

a number of other drugs with very similar properties but, vary dissimilar structures have also been synthesized

the most prominent Clinically useful effect of opiates is to

intravenous administration or "mainlining" results in what subjectively referred to as a

• 1. decrease in the rate and depth of breathing (respiratory depression)
• 2. a suppression of the cough reflex (antitussive effect)
• 3. the induction of nausea and vomiting

narcotics also have peripheral actions most notably they include marked pupillary construction

opiates ..... the rate of neuronal firing in most areas of the brain but some groups of neurons increase their rate of firing possibly because they are released from the inhibitory control by other neurons whose rate of firing has been directly depressed by opiates

the euphoria tranquility and other mood changes induced by ....... agonists have been linked to their ability to indirectly activate dopaminergic neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens

for example withdrawal from .... which induces a rapid and intense effect of short duration is relatively intense, but dissipates within a few days

on the other hand, withdrawal from ...which induces a gradual and mild effect of long duration is relatively mild, but the syndrome takes several days to weeks to subside

• Naloxone
• Naltrexone

one disadvantage of ...... its short duration of narcotic block

this compound has a blocking action of up to 3 days and eliminates the need for several daily administrations

the substitute narcotic has more socially acceptable qualities and fewer disruptive effects on the individual

• methadone is used either as a .... or as a ........ to gradually reduce the addicts physical dependence on narcotics
• (most studies indicate that the former approach is more satisfactory in decreasing illicit narcotic use.

another opiate drug used in the treatment of narcotic dependence is ..... which does not induce dangerous respitatory depression

many of those who do not seek treatment may eventually become abstinent on their own a process called

one possible cause of death is an interaction between an opiate and another drug (e.g alcohol cocaine= ......) or sedative hypnotic

possible narcotics related deathes are due to ........ an immediate extreme allergic reaction

....... has been proposed as a factor (if the person takes a drug in a novel environment the CR is not present to counteract the UR)