Drug

Classification
Lesson 1
 Psychopharmacology
 Study of drugs that affect nervous
system
 Study effects of the drug

e.g. prenatal methamphetamine
 Drugs as tools to study functions of
nervous system

e.g., cocaine & reward systems ~
 My Interests
 Prenatal & postnatal consequenses

Drugs of abuse

Environmental teratogens
 Prenatal

effects on neural development

Postnatal behavior
 Postnatal

Addiction ~
 Drug effects are variable!
 Course Goal: Understanding
factors that produce variability
1. Pharmacological
2. Neurophysiological
3. Psychological
4. Survey of specific drugs ~
 Psychoactive Drugs
 Drug

Biologically Active

chemically alters cell structure/function

Exclude: Natural Foods/Water
 Alters function of nervous system

Consciousness

Emotions

Perceptions

Behavior ~
 Drug Names
 At least 3 names
1. Chemical name

describes molecular structure
2. Generic name

official legal name
3. Trade name

brand name
 Street name ~
 Example: Amphetamine
 chemical dl-2 amino-1
phenylpropane

dl-amphetamine
 generic

Benzedrine
 trade
speed, bennies,
 street whites, etc.~
 Example: Valium
 chemical 7-chloro--1-methyl-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-
benzodiazepin-2[1H]-one

 generic diazepam

 trade valium

 street tranks, downers, blues, yellows

 Example: Lunesta
 chemical (+)-(5S)-6-(chloropyridin-2-yl)-7-oxo-
6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]
pyrazin-5-yl 4-methylpiperazine-1-
carboxylate

 generic eszopiclone

 trade Lunesta

 street ?
 Drug Equivalence
 Important to know when prescribing
 Chemical equivalence

identical chemical compounds

e.g., Miltown & Equanil (meprobamate)
 Biological equivalence

different chemical compounds

affect the same systems in same way

e.g., Prozac vs. Zoloft ~
 Drug Equivalence
 Clinical equivalence

same behavioral effect

different chemical compounds
affecting different systems

e.g., thorazine vs. lithium ~
 Drug Classification
 Several schemes

use depends on goals
 Not easy to classify

each drug wide range of properties
 Psychopharmacology:
 CNS & Behavioral ~
Text: CNS & Behavioral Effects
 CNS Stimulants

Cocaine, amphetamine
 CNS Depressants

Barbiturates, alcohol
 Analgesics

Morphine, codeine
 Hallucinogens

Mescaline, LSD, psilocybin
 Psychotherapeutics

Prozac, thorazine ~
Drug laws & legal classification
 Controlled Substances Act of 1970
 5 schedules

abuse potential

medicinal value
 Schedule I

high abuse potential

no accepted medicinal value ~
Drug laws & legal classification
 Schedule II

high abuse potential

accepted medicinal value
 Schedule III

moderate abuse potential
 Schedule IV - low abuse potential
 Schedule V - abuse potential < IV ~
Drug Schedules & Regulation
 Schedule I

Cannot be prescribed

Research: tightly regulated
 Schedule II

Can prescribe, but no refills

Research: yearly registration
 Schedule III, IV, V

Prescribe up to 5 refills over 6
months ~
 Classification Problems
 Alcohol effects

General nervous system depressant
 Effects depend on dose

Low dose  behavioral excitation

High dose  behavioral inhibition
 What are the effects of alcohol?
It depends! ~
 Another Example
 Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
 hyperkinesis

 Treatment: Ritalin
 Methylphenidate


classified as a sedative?
 No, a stimulant ~
 No Magic Bullets!
 Drug delivered into system

Affects all cells that have receptors
 Desired effect
= therapeutic effect
 All other effects
= side effects

 All drugs have multiple effects ~

 What are a drug’s effects?
 IT DEPENDS

Many sources of variability

A focus of this course
 Deciding to use a drug

weigh benefits vs. risks

there are always risks ~