Warm-up!

Drugs and Effects on Neurotransmitters

How drugs work

Drugs achieve their affect by imitating or altering the release or uptake of neurotransmitters.

Drugs may increase or decrease how much of a neurotransmitter is made, how it is transported, stored, released, or how they bind to target cells.

Drugs can also mimic the activity of some neurotransmitters and bind to the receptors instead.

Caffeine

• Blocks the activity of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes us tired or sleepy.

• Because it blocks adenosine, it also causes changes in the balance of other neurotransmitters, increasing levels of dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin.

• Increases muscle activity, relieves depression, and makes you feel relaxed, alert, energetic, and relieves migraine headaches.

• Can also make you jittery, increase anxiety levels, and cause insomnia.

Nicotine

• Imitates the action of acetylcholine and binds to its receptors.

• After binding, it excites the cell then desensitizes the receptors, making it unreactive to any neurotransmitters that might calm the cell.

• Another chemical in tobacco prevents breakdown of dopamine, increasing its activity within the body.

Alcohol

• Binds directly to receptors for acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and glutamate.

• Enhances activity of GABA, effectively turning cells off longer, decreasing their activity.

• Reduces glutamate activity, decreasing efficiency of neural responses and decreasing balance and coordination.

Cannabis (THC)

• Binds to receptors for anandamides, which are responsible for regulating mood, memory, appetite, pain, cognition, and emotions.

• This modifies cellular enzymes and reduces their activity, which decreases the excitability of that neuron.

• Increases release of dopamine, decreases action of GABA.

Meth/Cocaine

• Blocks reuptake receptors for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin by the cell releasing them.

• Increases concentration of these neurotransmitters in the synapse, which increases reactions.

• Increased dopamine causes more receptors to be created, which leads to addiction and withdrawal symptoms when quitting

Heroin

• Mimic the effects of our neurotransmitters affecting pain, mood control, immune response, hunger, thirst, and other processes.

• Reduces excitability of neurons, producing a euphoric feeling.

• Reduces activity of GABA, which increases activity of dopamine.

LSD/Peyote/Mushrooms

• Reacts with serotonin receptors to create similar affects.

• Affects the way the retinas process information and conduct it to the brain.

• Causes increased muscle tremors, sweating, uncontrolled blood pressure

MDMA (Ecstasy)

• Blocks the reuptake pumps for certain neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

• This increases energy and produces a feeling of euphoria.

• A few hours after use, there is a decrease in serotonin leading to depression-like symptoms, causing the user to then want more of the drug.