PSYB65H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Central Nervous System Depression, Barbiturate, Methanol
Document Summary
Anything that causes the cerebral cortex to go into a more relaxed state ( the eeg shifts to a more relaxed/drowsy state) Barbiturates bind to gaba receptors and activate them! By activating these receptors; it slows down the activity in the brain (turning on the inhibitory centre) Most will prevent the withdrawal effects of the other e. g. barbiturates + alcohol = synergistic but deadly. Barbiturates are prescribed normally for: sleep induction as a sedative. Most commonly used in elderly individuals (sleep-wake cycles become erratic as we grow old) Used to treat epilepsy! (e. g. valium derivative) Acts as an anti-anxiety drug. (calms you down) When person comes off of it: brain becomes hyper-excitable! This may result in seizures and death depends on how much and how long. Life threatning! (never take off of depressants directly!) Alcohol will stop the withdrawal symptoms from barbiturates (b/c alcohol is synergistic with barbiturates) Made by yeast - yeast digests sugar and secretes alcohol.
