ECON 1 Lecture Notes - Acamprosate, Acetaldehyde, Choline
Document Summary
When is a drug a drug: how do alcohol and tobacco work, how are drugs classified, how do we use them, what is addiction, how does it work, neurotransmission, most important neurotransmitters. Ethanol breaks down in body to produce acetaldehyde, has to be broken down by aldh2 enzyme (oxidation process) -->switches off brain parts involved in staying awake, switches on drowsiness and sleeping. Alcohol enhances the actions of the brain"s main inhibitory system by acting on gaba receptors --->reduced anxiety and motor coordination. Low concentrations: alcohol increases the ability of gaba receptors to open the chloride channel (cl-) so that more chloride ions enter the cell and the inhibition becomes larger (indirect) Higher concentrations: direct action on gabaa receptor causing a prolonged gaba independent opening of chloride channel. Alcohol also effects the brain"s excitatory system by acting on nmda receptors which are activated by the amino acid glutamate. Under certain circumstances magnesium ion leaves channel and influx of chloride ions.
