PS268 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Sodium Bicarbonate, Dopamine Transporter, Cocaine Dependence
Pharmacology of Cocaine
2 chemical forms of cocaine:
-hydrochloride
-freebase
-coca (erythroxylum coca) is from Erythroxylaceae family native to north-western South
America and is know because of it alkaloids including cocaine
-resembles blackthorn bush and grows to 2-3m tall and flowers of plant mature into red
berries
-coca leaves contain oil that gives them flavour and active chemical cocaine (up to almost
2%)
-simple, cheap processing of 500kg of coca leaves yield 1kg of cocaine
-chemical structure is a complicated molecule which doesn't resemble any known
neurotransmitters
-coca leaves mixed with organic solvent like kerosene or gasoline and after soaking,
mixing, and mashing the excess liquid is filtered out to form coca paste
-in SA, this paste is often mixed with tobacco and smoked
Cocaine hydrochloride:
-most common form of pure cocaine
Document Summary
Coca (erythroxylum coca) is from erythroxylaceae family native to north-western south. America and is know because of it alkaloids including cocaine. Resembles blackthorn bush and grows to 2-3m tall and flowers of plant mature into red berries. Coca leaves contain oil that gives them flavour and active chemical cocaine (up to almost. Simple, cheap processing of 500kg of coca leaves yield 1kg of cocaine. Chemical structure is a complicated molecule which doesn"t resemble any known neurotransmitters. Coca leaves mixed with organic solvent like kerosene or gasoline and after soaking, mixing, and mashing the excess liquid is filtered out to form coca paste. In sa, this paste is often mixed with tobacco and smoked. Paste can be made into a salt that mixes easily in water and is so stable it cannot be heated to form vapours for inhalation. Extract cocaine into volatile organic solvent like ether which can be heated and inhaled.
