Drug Classification Lesson 1

Psychopharmacology n Study of drugs that affect nervous system n Study effects of the drug l e.g. prenatal methamphetamine n Drugs as tools to study functions of nervous system l e.g., cocaine & reward systems ~

My Interests n Prenatal & postnatal consequenses l Drugs of abuse l Environmental teratogens n Prenatal l effects on neural development l Postnatal behavior n Postnatal l Addiction ~

Drug effects are variable! n Course Goal: Understanding factors that produce variability 1.Pharmacological 2.Neurophysiological 3.Psychological 4.Survey of specific drugs ~

Psychoactive Drugs n Drug l Biologically Active l chemically alters cell structure/function l Exclude: Natural Foods/Water n Alters function of nervous system l Consciousness l Emotions l Perceptions l Behavior ~

Drug Names n At least 3 names 1. Chemical name l describes molecular structure 2. Generic name l official legal name 3. Trade name l brand name n Street name~

Example: Amphetamine dl-2 amino-1 phenylpropane dl-amphetamine Benzedrine speed, bennies, whites, etc.~ n chemical n generic n trade n street

Example: Valium 7-chloro--1-methyl-5-phenyl-3H- 1,4-benzodiazepin-2[1H]-one diazepam valium tranks, downers, blues, yellows n chemical n generic n trade n street

Example: Lunesta (+)-(5S)-6-(chloropyridin-2-yl)-7-oxo- 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b] pyrazin-5-yl 4-methylpiperazine-1- carboxylate eszopiclone Lunesta ? n street n generic n trade n chemical

Drug Equivalence n Important to know when prescribing n Chemical equivalence l identical chemical compounds l e.g., Miltown & Equanil (meprobamate) n Biological equivalence l different chemical compounds l affect the same systems in same way l e.g., Prozac vs. Zoloft ~

Drug Equivalence n Clinical equivalence l same behavioral effect l different chemical compounds affecting different systems l e.g., thorazine vs. lithium ~

Drug Classification n Several schemes l use depends on goals n Not easy to classify l each drug wide range of properties n Psychopharmacology: u CNS & Behavioral ~

Text: CNS & Behavioral Effects n CNS Stimulants l Cocaine, amphetamine n CNS Depressants l Barbiturates, alcohol n Analgesics l Morphine, codeine n Hallucinogens l Mescaline, LSD, psilocybin n Psychotherapeutics l Prozac, thorazine ~

Drug laws & legal classification n Controlled Substances Act of 1970 n 5 schedules l abuse potential l medicinal value n Schedule I l high abuse potential l no accepted medicinal value ~

Drug laws & legal classification n Schedule II l high abuse potential l accepted medicinal value n Schedule III l moderate abuse potential n Schedule IV - low abuse potential n Schedule V - abuse potential < IV ~

Drug Schedules & Regulation n Schedule I l Cannot be prescribed l Research: tightly regulated n Schedule II l Can prescribe, but no refills l Research: yearly registration n Schedule III, IV, V l Prescribe up to 5 refills over 6 months ~

Classification Problems n Alcohol effects l General nervous system depressant n Effects depend on dose l Low dose  behavioral excitation l High dose  behavioral inhibition n What are the effects of alcohol? It depends! ~

Another Example n Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder u hyperkinesis n Treatment: Ritalin u Methylphenidate l classified as a sedative? n No, a stimulant ~

No Magic Bullets! n Drug delivered into system l Affects all cells that have receptors n Desired effect = therapeutic effect n All other effects = side effects n All drugs have multiple effects ~

What are a drug’s effects? n IT DEPENDS l Many sources of variability l A focus of this course n Deciding to use a drug l weigh benefits vs. risks l there are always risks ~