Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alcohol.
TEXEBOOK: Meyer & Quenzer 2nd edition Psychopharmacology, Drugs, The Brain and Behavior.
OBJECTIVE 1: EXPLAIN THE PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF ALCOHOL.
Alcohol is both the most socially used and most hazardously used legal drug on the market today and still represents the largest single category of substances for which individuals are admitted to treatment centers for Substance Use Disorders. Both the pharmacokinetics, especially the biotransformation, and the pharmacodynamics are unique among substances. For instance, although alcohol is primarily a central nervous system depressant, during its initial absorption in the body it exerts a stimulatory effect. The substance abuse counselor must be well versed in both the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alcohol.
LEARNING ACTIVITY #2: ALCOHOL DISCUSSION
Read Chapter 10 of your textbook by Meyer & Quenzer.
Research Central Nervous System Hyperexcitability. When people are physically dependent, i.e. experiencing tolerance and withdrawal on alcohol, and they abruptly stop, they go through alcohol withdrawal. Many of those symptoms are the result of Central Nervous System Hyperexcitability.
Prepare to share in discussion some of the symptoms and why, on a neurochemical basis (what neurotransmitters involved) this occurs
OBJECTIVE 3: EXPLAIN THE PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS SEDATIVE-HYPNOTIC DRUGS.
Originally this class of drugs contained only the barbiturates, a class of drugs that have a very narrow therapeutic window, therefore a very high overdose potential. These drugs have been largely replaced by class of drugs in that produce both rapid tolerance and withdrawal. This class of drugs is known as the benzodiazepines. While initially considered safe and non-tolerance or withdrawal producing, benzodiazepines are now recognized as having some addiction liability. Additionally, because of their unique pharmacodynamic properties, many of the benzodiazepines present a particular challenge to both the patient and the substance abuse counselor when dealing with the protracted withdrawal syndrome that accompanies many of these agents.
LEARNING ACTIVITY #4: BENZODIAZEPINE DISCUSSION
Read Chapter 18 of your textbook by Meyer & Quenzer.
Choose a reputable website (National Institute of Drug Abuse, American Society of Addiction Medicine, or peer reviewed journals) and research the protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
Prepare to share in discussion the implications that this protracted withdrawal syndrome has to patients who are benzodiazepine dependent.
Book link: https://archive.org/stream/
Solution preview for the order on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alcohol.
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