Amphetamines

Under construction / Forgotten

This article was marked by its author as Under construction, but the last edit is older than 30 days. If you want to edit this page, please try to contact its author first (you fill find him in the history). Watch the discussion as well. If the author will not continue in work, remove the template {{Under construction}} and edit the page. Last update: Thursday, 25 Jan 2024 at 5.38 pm.

This article contains probably doubtful information.

The article "Amphetamines" contains probably doubtful information. More detail information can be found on its talk page.

WARNING: THE ARTICLE CONTAINS SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES AND WILL BE REWORKED! For further information, use the recommended study materials, or contact me or the editors . Information improbable , factually incorrect , or lacking a citation of a specific party is marked in italics .

• Ice, Krystal, Speed
• Methamphetamine, meth.
• Amphetamine (illegal in Poland, Germany)
• drugs: Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phentermine, phenmetrazine, methylphenidate

Pharmacology

• Mechanism of action – structural similarity to dopamine – phenylalkylamines
• Indirect sympathomimetics - noradrenaline- like effects
• Amphetamines release or replace neurotransmitters on the nerve endings
• Amphetamines - agonists of dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin

Abuse

• Salts (HCl) – p.o., sniffing, i.v.
• Base – inhalation, smoking
• Usual daily doses 2–100 mg
• Repeated doses in chronic conditions, whiplash, up to 5 g/day
• Symptoms
  • euphoria, increased performance (doping)
  • risky behavior, spurts of thought at the expense of accuracy, impaired judgement
  • aggressiveness, irritability, psychological lability, anxiety
  • hypertension , anorexia nervosa – suppression of the feeling of hunger
• Duration of stimulation: 2–4 hours
• Overdose: restlessness, inability to concentrate, hallucinations, convulsions

Chronic abuse

• weight loss
• damage to the cardiovascular system, development of hypertension, cerebral hemorrhage
• psychoses, punishments , depression , suicidal tendencies
• the development of psychological dependence
• development of tolerance

Enantiomer selectivity

• Catecholamines ( dopamine , ...) and amphetamines - asymmetric atom C*
• Number of asymmetries – number of enantiomers
• Endogenous adrenaline and noradrenaline are levorotatory and have higher affinity for receptors and transport proteins than dextrorotatory enantiomers
• Amphetamine acts as an indirect sympathomimetic. It has one asymmetric carbon. The dextrorotatory enantiomer (dextroamphetamine) has about 4 times stronger CNS stimulatory effects than the levorotatory isomer
• Ephedrine contains contains 2 centers of asymmetry and therefore has 4 possible optical isomers:
  • (+) a (–) ephedrine
  • (+) a (–) pseudoephedrine
  • The most biologically effective is (–) ephedrine

=== Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine ===

• The plant Ephedra vulgaris – a thousand-year tradition of use in China
• Ephedrine is found in a number of plants
• Synthetic ephedrine, pseudoephedrine
• Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine components of composite medicinal products:
  • broncholytics
  • antitussive
  • antipyretics
  • analgesics (NUROFEN)
  • venopharmaceuticals
  • anorexic (norpseudoephedrine)
• Ephedrine – direct and indirect sympathomimetic
• Psychostimulant chronic effect - addiction
• Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine – precursors of the illegal synthesis of methamphetamine

KHAT

KHAT

• The leaves of the Catha edulis plant are chewed - Arabia
• They contain cathinone and nor-pseudoephedrine
• Cathinone is metabolized to norephedrine

MDMA, XTC, ECTASY

• 3,4-methylendioxymethamfetamin
• MDMA and similar derivatives – entactogens, stimulants
  • en (Greek) – inside
  • tactus (Latin) – touch
  • gen (Greek) – to produce
• MDMA – pleasant empathetic feelings, penicillin of the soul

Pharmacology

• MDMA – a serotonin agonist
• Sympathomimetic reaction ( hyperthermia , hyperactivity, salivation, mydriasis ))
• Massive release of serotonin from nerve endings into the synapse - decrease in nerve endings - increase in extracellular serotonergic activity, non-specific stimulation of receptors in the CNS - serotonin syndrome
• MDMA also releases dopamine (cytotoxic) which replaces serotonin in nerve endings – cell damage triggers unwanted biochemical reactions – neurotoxicity of MDMA
• Repeated use – sensitization, allergy
  • prolongation and intensification of serotonergic syndrome
  • increasing the toxicity of further doses

Abusus

• Tablets po – different logos, shapes, sizes, colors, unknown content
• Effective single doses of 50-200 mg
• Pleasant desirable symptoms: empathy, stimulation (dance drug)
• Side unpleasant symptoms:
  • dry mouth
  • trismus (difficulty opening the mouth)
  • perspiration
  • fainting

Chronic abuse

• depression
• insomnia
• psychosis
• psychological dependence
• tolerance

* development of sensitization ( allergy )

Health complications

• tachycardia , arrhythmia , cardiac collapse
• serotonin syndrome – sweating, tremors, hyperthermia , rhabdomyolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation ( DIC ) – death
• dehydration, hyponatremia , circulatory failure
• liver failure (rare)
• in chronic patients – cognitive disorders, psychoses, hypertension, vascular events

Risk factors

• unknown contents of illegal tablets, drug cocktails, ethanol
• individual state of health, receptivity

Ecstasy tablets

• Tablets po – different logos, shapes, sizes, colors, unknown content
• Dance drugs, New Synthetic Drugs (NSDs), "Designer drugs"
• Expected Effect – Stimulant and Psychedelic (Empathy)
• Psychedelics – natural hallucinogens (mescaline, DMT, etc.)
• MDMA, a controlled psychotropic substance

NSD - small change in structure - other pharmacological action - dangerous !!!

Linkes

Related articles

• Substance Abuse • Drug Addiction and Illicit Production and Possession of Narcotic Substances • Opioid Abuse
• Amphetamines • Cocaine • Cannabinoids • Hallucinogens • LSD • Psychotropic drugs • Barbiturates • Benzodiazepines • Ethanol
• Cannabinoid use disorders • Opioid use disorders