Drugs- Types, Action

TYPES OF DRUGS

Drugs are four types:

1. Depressants:

Depress encephalon activity. They include

• Sedatives: Give calmness as well as relaxation. High doses create sleep. E.g. Barbiturates (sleeping pills).
• Tranquilizers: Lower tension as well as anxiety without inducing sleep. E.g. Benzodiazephines (e.g. Valium).

2. Opiate narcotics (pain killers):

- Drugs which bind to specific opioid receptors inwards CNS as well as gastrointestinal tract.

- They are analgesic & depressant (lower tension, anxiety, B.P as well as respiration charge per unit of measurement as well as trim down visual activity).

- E.g. Opium as well as its derivatives (Opiates or Opioids).

- Opium is obtained from dried latex of unripe capsules of Poppy found (Papavar somniferum).

Opium derivatives:

• Morphine: Strong analgesic as well as sedative extracted from the latex of poppy plant. Useful during surgery.
• Brown sugar
• Heroin (Diacetyl morphine/smack): Most dangerous, white, odourless, bitter crystalline chemical compound produced yesteryear acetylation of morphine. It is a depressant as well as slows downward trunk functions. It is taken yesteryear snorting & injection.
• Codeine: Mild analgesic. Used inwards coughing syrups.

3. Stimulants:

- Stimulates CNS.

- E.g. Cocaine, Caffeine (cardiac stimulant), amphetamines (synthetic. Used inwards pep pills).

- Amphetamines & anabolic steroids are misused yesteryear roughly athletes.

- Coca alkaloid (Cocaine or coke/crack):

• Obtained from coca found (Erythroxylum coca)
• Interferes the carry of neurotransmitter dopamine.
• Cocaine is commonly snorted.
• Stimulate CNS producing euphoria as well as energy.
• Excessive dosage causes hallucination.

4. Hallucinogens:

Atropa belladona

- They displace colourful hallucinations, alter thoughts, feelings as well as perceptions.

- E.g. Mescaline, Psilocybin, Cannabinoids & LSD (Lysergic Acid diethylamide).

- Atropa belladonna & Datura are plants amongst hallucinogenic property.

Cannabinoids:

• Drugs that interact amongst cannabinoid receptors inwards brain.
• Generally taken yesteryear inhalation as well as oral ingestion.
• Natural cannabinoids are obtained from Cannabis sativa (Hemp plant). Its bloom tops, leaves & resin are used to arrive at bhang, ganja, charas (hashish), marijuana etc.
• Affects cardiovascular system.

Skeletal construction of cannabinoid molecule

Addiction as well as Dependence

• Addiction: It is a psychological attachment (euphoria as well as a temporary feeling of good being) amongst drugs as well as alcohol. With repeated utilization of drugs, the tolerance degree of the receptors increases. Thus the receptors response solely to higher doses leading to greater intake as well as addiction.
• Dependence: It is the vogue of the trunk to manifest a feature as well as unpleasant withdrawal syndrome if regular dose of drugs/alcohol is abruptly discontinued. This results inwards anxiety, shakiness, nausea as well as sweating. Dependence leads to social adjustment problems.