Transcript 315 LECTURE #1

Drug
Classification
Lesson 1
Psychopharmacology
Study of drugs that affect nervous
system
 Study effects of the drug
 e.g. prenatal methamphetamine
 Drugs as tools to study functions of
nervous system
 e.g., cocaine & reward systems ~
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My Interests
Prenatal & postnatal consequenses
 Drugs of abuse
 Environmental teratogens
 Prenatal
 effects on neural development
 Postnatal behavior
 Postnatal
 Addiction ~
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Drug effects are variable!
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Course Goal: Understanding
factors that produce variability
1. Pharmacological
2. Neurophysiological
3. Psychological
4. Survey of specific drugs ~
Psychoactive Drugs
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Drug
 Biologically Active
 chemically alters cell structure/function
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Exclude: Natural Foods/Water
Alters function of nervous system
 Consciousness
 Emotions
 Perceptions
 Behavior ~
Drug Names
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1.
2.
3.
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At least 3 names
Chemical name

describes molecular structure
Generic name

official legal name
Trade name

brand name
Street name
~
Example: Amphetamine
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chemical
dl-2 amino-1
phenylpropane
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generic
dl-amphetamine
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trade
Benzedrine
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street
speed, bennies,
whites, etc.~
Example: Valium
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chemical
7-chloro--1-methyl-5-phenyl-3H1,4-benzodiazepin-2[1H]-one
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generic
diazepam
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trade
valium
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street
tranks, downers, blues, yellows
Example: Lunesta
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chemical
(+)-(5S)-6-(chloropyridin-2-yl)-7-oxo6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]
pyrazin-5-yl 4-methylpiperazine-1carboxylate
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generic
eszopiclone
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trade
Lunesta
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street
?
Drug Equivalence
Important to know when prescribing
 Chemical equivalence
 identical chemical compounds
 e.g., Miltown & Equanil (meprobamate)
 Biological equivalence
 different chemical compounds
 affect the same systems in same way
 e.g., Prozac vs. Zoloft ~
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Drug Equivalence
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Clinical equivalence
 same behavioral effect
 different chemical compounds
affecting different systems
 e.g., thorazine vs. lithium ~
Drug Classification
Several schemes
 use depends on goals
 Not easy to classify
 each drug wide range of properties
 Psychopharmacology:
CNS & Behavioral ~
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Text: CNS & Behavioral Effects
CNS Stimulants
 Cocaine, amphetamine
 CNS Depressants
 Barbiturates, alcohol
 Analgesics
 Morphine, codeine
 Hallucinogens
 Mescaline, LSD, psilocybin
 Psychotherapeutics
 Prozac, thorazine ~
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Drug laws & legal classification
Controlled Substances Act of 1970
 5 schedules
 abuse potential
 medicinal value
 Schedule I
 high abuse potential
 no accepted medicinal value ~
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Drug laws & legal classification
Schedule II
 high abuse potential
 accepted medicinal value
 Schedule III
 moderate abuse potential
 Schedule IV - low abuse potential
 Schedule V - abuse potential < IV ~
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Drug Schedules & Regulation
Schedule I
 Cannot be prescribed
 Research: tightly regulated
 Schedule II
 Can prescribe, but no refills
 Research: yearly registration
 Schedule III, IV, V
 Prescribe up to 5 refills over 6
months ~
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Classification Problems
Alcohol effects
 General nervous system depressant
 Effects depend on dose
 Low dose  behavioral excitation
 High dose  behavioral inhibition
 What are the effects of alcohol?
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It depends! ~
Another Example
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Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
hyperkinesis
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Treatment: Ritalin
Methylphenidate
classified as a sedative?
 No, a stimulant ~
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No Magic Bullets!
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Drug delivered into system
 Affects all cells that have receptors
Desired effect
= therapeutic effect
All other effects
= side effects
All drugs have multiple effects ~
What are a drug’s effects?
IT DEPENDS
 Many sources of variability
 A focus of this course
 Deciding to use a drug
 weigh benefits vs. risks
 there are always risks ~
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