Administration, routes smoking

Adverse effects of cocaine include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Cocaine induces several immediate euphoric effects, such as hyperstimulation, reduced fatigue, and mental clarity, all of which depend on the administration route. The faster the absorption of cocaine, the more severe the effects. In contrast, faster absorption limits the duration of action. For example, the effect from snorting cocaine may last 15 to 30 minutes, whereas effects from smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Increased use can reduce the period of stimulation, as addicted humans may develop tolerance. In rare instances, sudden death may occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. 

Many variables affect the psychoactive properties of cannabis, including the potency of the cannabis used, the route of administration, the smoking technique, the dose, the setting, the user s past experience, the user s... 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been classified as human carcinogens because they induce cancers in experimental animals and because smoking and exposure to mixtures of chemicals containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the workplace increase the risk of lung cancer in exposed individuals. In experimental animals, benzo(a)pyrene induces cancer in different organs depending on the route of administration.Furthermore, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons commonly occurs in occupations related to traffic (use of diesel engines in transportation and railways). 

The high-dose transition is defined as a transition phase in which the individual suddenly increases the doses of stimulants or switches to smoking (e.g., cocaine crack ) or IV route of administration (Gawin and Ellinwood 1988). This change leads to a rapid escalation of plasma levels and intense euphoria (i.e.. rush) often with subsequent increase in dosing frequency. In its most severe form, the high-dose pattern is characterized by binges of... 

Opioids are administered in several ways. Opium was most commonly taken recreationally by smoking, but intravenous administration has become most common since the isolation of opium alkaloids and invention of the hypodermic needle. The development of heroin from morphine at the turn of the twentieth century led to more intense euphoric effects and greater risk for addiction. Heroin may also be snorted, or it can be smoked when added to a medium such as tobacco. Medically, opioids are commonly given through oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, transdermal, or rectal routes. 

The effects of cannabis on cognition is a complicated issue. Numerous studies have been conducted to measure the mental effects of cannabis, but many of these are fraught with methodological problems. Several variables must be controlled in this type of research, including the dosage and potency of cannabis used, route of administration (e.g., smoking, oral, etc.), chronicity of dose, and the subject population (nonusers, occasional users, chronic users) employed (table 10.7). Population makeup has a large effect on outcome because there have been differences demonstrated between naive and experienced cannabis users (Murray 1986). 

In opiate abuse, smack ( junk, jazz, stuff, China white mostly heroin) is self administered by injection ( mainUning ) so as to avoid first-pass metabolism and to achieve a faster rise in brain concentration. Evidently, psychic effects ( kick, buzz, rush ) are especially intense with this route of administration. The user may also resort to other more unusual routes opium can be smoked, and heroin can be taken as snuff (B). 

Information on the mutagenic potential of SNA Is almost completely lacking. A single abstract reported the cytogenetic effect of chronic use of the drug over 2-3 yr by one male and four females 18-26 yr old. The most frequent route of administration was Inhalation of smoke from a blend of SNA and marijuana. No chromosomal abnormalities were found In this limited investigation. 8... 

One particular feature of plant-derived cannabinoids is their high lipid solubility, which indicates that limited gastrointestinal absorption and bioavailability are significant barriers to their development as therapeutics. For this reason cannabis is traditionally smoked, providing the most predictable and titratable route for administration. For therapeutic development pulmonary deliveries of cannabinoid aerosols are under investigation as an alternative. 

Drugs may be atomized or volatilized and inhaled as droplets or particulates in air a common example is the smoking of drugs. The advantages of this route include rapid transport into the blood, avoidance of first pass hepatic metabolism, and avoidance of the medical problems associated with other routes of illicit drug administration. Disadvantages include local irritant effect on the... 

When indicated for therapeutic use, 5 to 60 mg or 5 to 20 mg of amphetamine or methamphetamine, respectively, are administered orally. An oral dose of amphetamine typically results in a peak plasma concentration of 110 ng/ml.2 When abused, amphetamines may be self-administered by the oral, intravenous, or smoked route. The last route of administration is common for methamphetamine. With heavy use, addicts may ingest up to 2000 mg per day. 

Perez-Reyes et al.8 estimated that only 32% of a dose of cocaine base placed in a pipe is actually inhaled by the smoker. Cone9 compared the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cocaine by the intravenous, intranasal, and smoked routes of administration in the same subjects. Venous plasma cocaine concentrations peaked within 5 min by the intravenous and smoked routes. Estimated peak cocaine concentrations ranged from 98 to 349 ng/ml and 154 to 345 ng/ml after intravenous administration of 25-mg cocaine hydrochloride and 42-mg cocaine base by the smoked route, respectively. After dosing by the intranasal route (32 mg cocaine hydrochloride) estimated peak plasma cocaine concentrations ranged from 40 to 88 ng/ml after 0.39 to 0.85 h.9 In this study, the average bioavailability of cocaine was 70.1% by the smoked route and 93.7% by the intranasal route. Jenkins et al.10 described the correlation between pharmacological effects and plasma cocaine concentrations in seven volunteers after they had smoked 10 to 40 mg cocaine. The mean plasma... 

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