The Opiates, Smack, H and Tylenol III……. Psychology 3506

Introduction Anything like Opium (Morphine) Opiates are natural Opioids are all Narcotic Analgesics Sleep, no pain Narcotic has a legal meaning, so this is rarely used any more

Introduction So, there are natural and man made ones Sap from poppy seeds Morphine Codeine Heroin diacetylmorphine 10 times as lipid soluble ‘semisynthetic’

Introduction Synthetics Methadone LAHM Levorphanol phenozocine Longer lasting Usually taken orally

A Little History The Sumerians called it the joy plant Used extensively in classical ‘medicine’ In 1644 the Chinese Emperor banned tobacco So everyone started smoking opium! By the early 1800s the Brits loved it They still do……

A Little History 1875 UK consumption was 10 PUNDS / 1000 people! Morphine caught on Temperance movement Only physicians and pharmacists could sell it In the US consumption was higher (13 lb) Civil War

Administration and Distribution Parenterally injected, best route to the brain Oral administration is slow First pass metabolism Easy to keep relatively constant levels Great for analgesia

Administration and Distribution Crosses Blood brain and placental barriers Some metabolites are also psychoactive Heroin is faster Monoacetylmorphine

How’s it work? Even before the receptor was found it was pretty clear there was one Molecular configuration related to effect Must be endorphins too Receptor sites discovered, six month later, enkephalins and endorphins discovered Beta lipotropin in pituitary

How’s it Work? Endorphins are found in vessicles One of the key indications that you have a neurotransmitter on your hands They interfere with NE Ach and DA Modulatory properties

Opiate Receptors Three or four types Mu Throughout limbic system HP and amygdila Thalamus and locus coeruleus Responsible for most interesting effects Weak attraction = great effect

Opiate Receptors Delta Receptor Limbic system too, but do not overlap with mu Cortex Hypothalamus Nucleus accumbens Medulla Many antipsychotic drugs work on delta receptors

Opiate Receptors Kappa Receptor Nucleus accumens VTA Hypothalamus Thalamus Sigma Receptor Not just opioids Psychotic symptoms

Opiate Receptors Periaqueductal Grey area is full of opiate receptors When in pain, these are stimulated Amygdila emotion Respiratory, cough and vomit centres REWARD SYTEM!!!!!!! Well, there has to be some good reason to put a needle in your arm……….

Effects Nausea Constriction of pupils Disrupts digestive coordination Drop in sex hormones Decrease in REM Vivid daydreams though rush

Effects Psychiatric like symptoms Increase in SMA in small does Decrease with large does Spontaneous social behaviour () Low Does FI increase FR decrease High Does Both go down

Effects Monkey, rats, will work for it Can be discriminated from other opiates Can be generalized to other opiates

Tolerance and Withdrawal Tolerance develops quickly No surprise here Withdrawal bad, but not as bad as sleeping pills or martinis 6-30 hr restless Hot flashes Goose bumps Jerky breathing Puking et al Kicking the habit

Self Administration chipping Maturing out Titrated when available Injected, snorted smoked Monkeys will mainline morphine!

If its this fun, it can’t be good for you…… Coma No surprise here OD Cut with bad stuff Loss of tolerance (shooting gallery effect Mixing with other respiratory depressants

More Bad Stuff Constipation Cancer? Lifestyle You get it from criminals You share needles You get AIDS (21% of IV drug users in the States also are HIV positive)

Just Say no to Heroin Reproductive effects Sex hormones drop Low birthweight babies Welcome to Earth, this is your mother, this is your father, the withdrawal symptoms will be over in a couple of days…. More illnesses after birth

Treatement Willpower Synanon Antagonist Therapy Maintenance Methadone British System LAAM