MEDICINES and DRUGS Depressants

Medicines and Drugs 1

MEDICINES andDRUGS

Depressants


What are depressants?

• Substances that calm and relax (depress) the central nervous system by interfering with nerve impulse transmission.

They slow down brain activity They slow down heart activity They reduce breathing rate They dull emotional responses

How do depressants work?• Depressants change the communication

between brain cells by altering the concentration or the activity of chemicals called neurotransmitters

• Depressants causes a depression, or a decrease in brain activity.

• Depressants can be categorized by dosage effect – this categorization includes tranquilizers, sedatives and hypnotics.



What are anti-depressants?

• Antidepressants are drugs used to treat the clinical condition known as depression (mood changes, insomnia, fatigue, despair, inability to concentrate)


It’s the dose…..not the drug… Low doses

Little or no effect

Moderate doses Sedation Soothing Reduction of anxiety

High doses Sleep Slurred speech

Extremely high doses Coma Death


Tranquilizers

Mild action Relieve anxiety and tension Ethanol & Valium


Sedatives

Soothing of distress Not producing sleep at normal

doses Barbiturates


Use and abuse of ethanolDoses

30-50mg /100ml of bloodEuphoria

100mg / 100ml of bloodSlurred speech, staggering, aggressive behavior

200mg / 100ml of bloodDifficult movement and vision

400mg / 100ml of bloodComa, death


Use and abuse of ethanolSocial effects

Sickness, death- Cost of treatment

- Lost productivity

Violent crimes Car accidents Alcoholism, family problems


Use and abuse of ethanolPhysiological effects

Short-term effectseuphoriasociabilityrelaxationdecreased inhibitionsloss of judgementimpairment of perception/memoryincreased reaction timeviolent behaviordizzinessloss of balancenausea, vomittingdeath


Use and abuse of ethanolPhysiological effects

Long-term effects:cirrhosis of liverliver cancercoronary heart diseasehigh blood pressurestrokesgastritispeptic ulcersanxiety/depressionfetal abnormalitiesphysical dependence/tolerance


Use and abuse of ethanolSynergistic effects

Alcohol + aspirinrisk of stomach bleeding

Alcohol + sedativesheavy sedationcomma, death

Alcohol + cocainehigh blood pressureirregular heart beat


Detection of ethanolBreathalyzer

Road-side test Ethanol in breath Oxidation of ethanol to ethanoic

acid Use of acidified K2Cr2O7 Orange to green color Transfer of electrons > current >

voltage measured



Detection of ethanolChromatography (GLC)

Ethanol in breath, blood and urine Inert gas through liquid or solid Compounds separated by b.p. Different retention times recorded Amount = area under peak Other drugs can be detected, too




Detection of ethanolIntoximeter (infra-red spectroscopy)

Ethanol in breath Transmittance versus wavenumber=IR spectrum Characteristic peak of -OH @

3340cm-1

Comparison of sample and reference

Amount = size of peak



Other depressantsDiazepan (Valium)

Sedative


Other depressantsNitrazepan (Mogadon)

Sleeping pill


Other depressantsFluoxetin hydrochloride (Prozac)

Anti-depressant Amine+HCl=hydrochloride:

water soluble

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MEDICINES and DRUGS Depressants