Schizophrenia amphetamine

Antipsychotic medications are indicated in the treatment of acute and chronic psychotic disorders. These include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and manic states occurring as part of a bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder. The co-adminstration of antipsychotic medication with antidepressants has also been shown to increase the remission rate of severe depressive episodes that are accompanied by psychotic symptoms. Antipsychotic medications are frequently used in the management of agitation associated with delirium, dementia, and toxic effects of both prescribed medications (e.g. L-dopa used in Parkinson s disease) and illicit dtugs (e.g. cocaine, amphetamines, andPCP). They are also indicated in the management of tics that result from Gilles de la Tourette s syndrome, and widely used to control the motor and behavioural manifestations of Huntington s disease. 

The postulation of a possible role of trace amines in the context of schizophrenia was kindled early on by the structural similarity between PEA and amphetamine. Symptoms such as hallucinations and paranoid episodes caused by a prolonged amphetamine intoxification are reminiscent of patients suffering from acute schizophrenia. Further support for a role of trace amines in the context of schizophrenia comes from clinical studies... 

Nonetheless, the amphetamine-1ike actions of PCP are of considerable interest for the following reasons. Malfunction of the dopaminergic system has been implicated as having considerable importance in schizophrenia. PCP s interactions with this system may be responsible in large measure for its schizophreniform manifestations in humans. Like amphetamines, PCP would be expected to exacerbate schizophrenia, and users with this or related disorders, or with latent psychiatric diseases, may be at... 

Amphetamine Clinically used for narcolepsy (sudden day-time onset sleep) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) formerly used as a short-term slimming agent, as an antidepressant and to boost athletic performance recreational use widespread tolerance develops readily highly addictive regular users suffer many health problems and a reduced life expectancy amphetamine psychosis may develop, with similar symptoms to acute paranoid schizophrenia. 

Psychosis, often clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia (a mental disorder)—this is the most serious sign of amphetamine addiction. 

Breier, A., Su, T. P., Saunders, R. et al. Schizophrenia is associated with elevated amphetamine-induced synaptic dopamine concentrations evidence from a novel positron emission tomography method. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 94 2569-2574,1997. 

Trulson, M. E., and Jacobs, B. L. (1979) Long-term amphetamine treatment decreases brain serotonin metabolism Implications for theories of schizophrenia. Science, 205 1295-1297. 

Although amphetamine itself is not a hallucinogen after acute administration, it provokes a syndrome analogous to schizophrenia, including pseudohallucin-... 

Amphetamine and cocaine psychoses mimic subtypes of schizophrenia, but there is no classic thought disorder and there are no negative symptoms. 

In addition to the acute ingestion of these hallucinogenic drugs, the chronic use of alcohol, amphetamines, or cocaine can lead to paranoia that in many respects resembles the psychosis of schizophrenia. In these cases, the psychotic symptoms may persist long after the substance use has been stopped. 

As drugs of mixed action, amphetamines activate adrenergic receptors and simultaneously release endogenic catecholamines (norepinephrine and dopamine) from neurons of the brain and periphery. Sympathomimetic effects on the periphery are very similar to those of ephedrine. Amphetamine elevates systolic and diastolic blood pressure and has weakly expressed, broncholytic action. These effects are more prolonged, yet less expressed, than with epinephrine. The distinctive feature of amphetamines is their psychostimulatory activity. Larger doses can cause hallucinations and mental conditions similar to paranoid schizophrenia. As a sympathomimetic, amphetamine is sometimes used for uterine inertia. Synonyms of amphetamine are phenamine and benzedrine. 

Manifestations of chronic intoxication Severe dermatoses, marked insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity, and personality changes have occurred. Disorganization of thoughts, poor concentration, visual hallucinations, and compulsive behavior often occur. The most severe manifestation of chronic intoxication is psychosis, often clinically indistinguishable from paranoid schizophrenia. This is rare with oral amphetamines. 

Stimulant), act directly on dopamine transmission. Both cocaine and amphetamine block reuptake of dopamine, which means that more dopamine is available to activate postsynaptic receptors. Due to the links between excessive dopamine and schizophrenia, it comes as no surprise that the use of cocaine, amphetamine, and similar drugs such as crack (a form of cocaine) often lead to symptoms strongly resembling schizophrenia. 

Van Kammen DP, Docherty JP, Marder SR, et al Lithium attenuates the activation-euphoria but not the psychosis induced by d-amphetamine in schizophrenia. Psychopharmacology 87 111-115, 1985... 

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