Stimulants, misuse

True. Many prescribed drugs, when misused, can produce non-therapeutic recreational effects such as stimulation, intoxication or sedation. If used for excessive periods of time or in excess dosage, addiction can also result. 

Vickroy, T.W., and Johnson, K.M. In vivo administration of phencyclidine inhibits 3H-dopamine accumulation by rat brain striatal slices. Subst Alcohol Actions Misuse 1 351-354, 1980. Vickroy, T.W.,and Johnson, K.M. Similar dopamine-releasing effects of phencyclidine and nonamphetamine stimulants in striatal slices. J. Pharmacol Fxp Ther 223 669-674, 1982. 

When acute overuse or chronic misuse of saline or stimulant laxatives is suspected, it may be necessary to check for electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hyperphosphatemia, or hypocalcemia). 

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy ) is an illicit drug used by young adults who attend rave dance parties in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. The allure of MDMA is related to its unique psychoactive effects, which include amphetamine-like stimulant actions, coupled with feelings of increased emotional sensitivity and closeness to others.1-2 Epidemiological data indicate that MDMA misuse among children and adolescents is widespread in the U.S.3-4 In... 

Anabolics are testosterone derivatives (e.g., clostebol, metenolone, nan-drolone, stanozolol) that are used in debilitated patients, and misused by athletes, because of their protein anabolic effect. They act via stimulation of androgen receptors and, thus, also display androgenic actions (e.g., virilization in females, suppression of spermatogenesis). 

Erythropoietin release is stimulated by hypoxia (low PO2). Within hours, the hormone ensures that erythrocyte precursor cells in the bone marrow are converted to erythrocytes, so that their numbers in the blood increase. Renal damage leads to reduced erythropoietin release, which in turn results in anemia. Forms of anemia with renal causes can now be successfully treated using erythropoietin produced by genetic engineering techniques. The hormone is also administered to dialysis patients. Among athletes and sports professionals, there have been repeated cases of erythropoietin being misused for doping purposes. 

Amphetamine is a racemic mixture of phenylisopropylamine (Figure 9-4) that is important chiefly because of its use and misuse as a central nervous system stimulant (see Chapter 32). Pharmacokinetically, it is similar to ephedrine however, amphetamine even more... 

Phenolphthalein is thought to exert its effect by inhibiting the movement of water and sodium from the colon into the blood and by stimulating mucus secretion. If misused on a prolonged basis, a consequential loss of mucus may lower the plasma protein level. Caster oil is hydrolyzed to ricinoleic acid, the active cathartic. It has an onset of action of 2 to 6 h. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that there were approximately 900,000 Americans age 12 and older misusing prescription stimulants in 1999. Because of its popularity as a treatment for ADHD, adolescents are at a special risk for misusing dextroamphetamine drugs. 

Health officials are concerned with a trend of young people misusing stimulants that are used to treat attention deficit disorder. A survey of students, ages 11 to 18, suggest that many young people seek to obtain ADD medication without a prescription. 

Death due to the use or misuse of ketamine is rare. Only severe overdoses present substantial risk, and such incidents are usually treated in the intensive-care unit. The most dangerous effects of ketamine are behavioral. Individuals may become withdrawn, paranoid, and very uncoordinated. Physicians can only treat overdoses of this type symptomatically, by offering calm reassurance and an environment with little stimulation. 

Q7 Laxatives are often misused/abused, for example in slimming disorders, to increase gut transit rate and so limit absorption of foods. Side effects which may occur include flatulence, and abdominal distension or discomfort with bulk-forming and osmotic laxatives. Other adverse effects may include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, weakness, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, for example hypokalaemia. The most prominent side effect of the powerful stimulant/irritant laxatives is abdominal cramping, which is due to increased peristalsis. 

SCREENING FOR ABUSE OF LAXATIVES Colonic stimulants are the most commonly misused laxative preparations. These include bisacodyl, danthron, oxyphenisatin, and phenolphthalein. Some vegetable laxatives, for example aloes, cas-... 

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