Posted by linkadge on August 3, 2003, at 16:35:27
In reply to The effects of illegal drugs..., posted by Rickson Gracie on August 3, 2003, at 7:50:31
The actions of all these drugs are very complex and they may not be restricted to what we have discovered. But here is some of it.
LSD invokes visual hallucinations by stimulation of the 5ht2a receptor. It invokes the stimulant effect and the alerting effect by enhancement of noradrenic transmission, and it evokes its effects of mystecism, position and importance in the universe by influence on the dopamin d2 receptor, I beleive.MDMA directly enhances the relase of serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin by itself reduces irritability and facilitates higher order social
social functioning. Dopamine, at certain receptors D2 etc, promotes the sensation of position and importance in the universe. Dopamine is an important love chemical because it spices up pysical apperance, making things seem more real, more beautiful, more enchanting. Dopamine also has effects on empathy, and understanding of others' conditions. SSRI's can make people apathetic and slightly self centered (not in a crude way) by decreasing dopamine neurotrasmission.GHB directly enchances the effects of GABA an inhibitory neurotrasmitter. It decreases inhibition by decreasing forebrain activity. It calms overactive neurons and makes thought somewhat less complex. It promotes feelings of euphoria somewhat indirectly by allowing the ID part of the brain to rome freely without restiction from the conscience.
Alchohol is similar to GHB in that it increase GABA neurotramission. Its actions are however more complex. It lowers certain protein kinases which make the body more sensitive to its own calming neurosteroids. It causes a release in serotonin, increases cortisol, and increases glutimate activity. The glutimate in certain areas of the brain can promote sociability.Cocane is a reputake inhibitor of dopamine and norepinephrine and serotonin (to lesser extents)
it also enhances their release.Heroin acts as an agonist at the opiate receptors. Mimicing the natural pain killing properties of endorphins. A certain 'runners high' is achieved from vigorous exercise when the body release endorphins. These chemicals calm and relax the body, and simpify and elevate the mood.
Kind of like the feeling you get from running a marathon times 1000.Most of the illegal drugs available were at some point considered remedies for various mental states, however their effects on the brain long term are somewhat less desirable. Alcohol/GHB impairs the sences, cocaine produces dependance and possible psychosis. LSD - psychosis and impariment.
It is an interesting question why regular antidepressants aren't really abused. Higher doses don't make one feel any better. I believe it is in the mechanism of how the neurotrasmitters are elevated. Also illigal drugs and drugs of abuse tend to act on different parts of the brain entirely. They go directy to the pleasure reward centers of the brain, while antidepressants only indirectly affect reward centers. Kind of like how the normal brain recieves pleasure from doing enjoyable things.
Check out the site
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/refs/index.html
for more info
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:247730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/247807.html