...Understanding how opioids work in the brain is essential. Opioids connect to receptors in the brain, then they send signals to the brain of the opioid effect which blocks pain, slows breathing, and has a general calming and anti-depressing effect. The chemical structure of opioids mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter which is why the activation occurs. However, opioids are unable to activate nerve cells as natural neurotransmitters do, leading to abnormal messages being transmitted through the synapses ("How do opioids work in the brain?", 2018). As we do certain tasks throughout the day, such as eating, the reward circuit becomes activated, the brain is then able to recognize that something important occurs, it remembers and reminds...
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...antispasmodic. While opium is made up of a “cocktail” of drugs, the most active is morphine. In recent years, other derivatives for example heroin have been widely used.(IC) Studies have shown that as many or up to 50 alkaloids can be derived from opium and further processed. It distinctively originates from two groups, phenanthrones and morphine, in which I morphine is the most prevalent alkaloid, formulating up 10-16% of the entire drug(IC). Opioids are primarily used to treat pain, but if often abused for a euphoric feeling it causes. Opium can be consumed several different ways, the most common and traditional way is by ingestion. Smoking opium allows for the effects to be more controlled, as it is not really smoked, but vaporized. Another common method of administration requires making opium in the form of a tea and drinking it. This method is more dangerous than inhalation...
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...from clandestine laboratories are mixed with or sold as heroin or cocaine. Due to its extreme potency this has lead to many accidental overdoses in recent years. Fentanyl is a very strong µ-opioid receptor agonist, meaning that fentanyl will bind to and active the µ-opioid receptor....
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...HurtingHealing & Rough Draft Peggy Matthews COM/172 6/9/2014 Mrs. Clarke Healing & Hurting Rough Draft Marijuana and opiates help when there’s pain you cannot naturally fight. But when abused they both get you higher than a kite. Medical Marijuana and opiates are used for pain relief, but are widely used for substance abuse. What is Marijuana? Is it an illegal drug? Or is marijuana a medical breakthrough? The United States Government contradicts itself everyday with this issue. The United States Government allows all states to pass bills if they so choose to, allow medical marijuana to be used as treatment for patients with chronic pain and recreational use. The other states are absolutely against the legalization of medical marijuana, saying “it is immoral”. What is the history behind Marijuana? I am going to take you on a journey ten thousand years ago in ancient civilization. Marijuana also called Cannabis was used for fiber. The humans in this time period also used the hemp seed for food. It was only natural that they discovered the medical properties of the plant. Cannabis was actually used for a list of reasons such as hemorrhoids, insomnia, headaches, pain, and even childbirth. But that was some time ago. In the 1970’s scientist were able to extract the THC from the plant. Thus making a synthetic version of the plant, and calling it Marinol. Marinol was approved from the Government and the FDA to be prescribed to patients. It was used to treat anorexia...
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...EFSA Scientific Report (2009) 231, 1-107 SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF EFSA Review of the potential health impact of β-casomorphins and related peptides 1 Report of the DATEX Working Group on β-casomorphins (Question N° EFSA-Q-2008-379) Issued on 29 January 2009 WORKING GROUP MEMBERS Ivano De Noni, Richard J. FitzGerald, Hannu J. T. Korhonen, Yves Le Roux, Chris T. Livesey, Inga Thorsdottir, Daniel Tomé, Renger Witkamp. 1 For citation purposes: Scientific Report of EFSA prepared by a DATEX Working Group on the potential health impact of β-casomorphins and related peptides. EFSA Scientific Report (2009) 231, 1-107 © European Food Safety Authority, 2009 Review of the potential health impact of β-casomorphins and related peptides SUMMARY Proteins are a very diverse family of large organic compounds involved in many important biological processes. Following their enzymatic hydrolysis during food processing or digestion, proteins may release fragments from their primary amino acid sequence. These fragments are called peptides, and many of them are known to be physiologically active. The possible beneficial effects of bioactive peptides have attracted increasing interest in recent years. On the other hand, there are also reports suggesting that some food-derived peptides might adversely affect human health. Among these, β-casomorphin-7 (BCM7), a peptide sequence present in the milk protein β-casein, has been suggested to...
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...A Comparison of Methadone and Suboxone in Opioid Treatment Program Julien Nougarou Upper Iowa University Abstract Addiction to opioids is a common problem throughout the world. Maintenance treatments such as Methadone and Suboxone are effective in lessening the desire to consume illicit drugs, but they are not perfect options for drug treatment as each has negative effects, too. In this paper, both the positive and negative effects of the drugs Methadone and Suboxone will be determined and evaluated in order to better ascertain the better treatment. It was concluded that the effectiveness of each treatment can only be determined on a case-by-case basis, as the factors of success are often dependent on the patient receiving the treatment. There are various criticisms for both modes of treatment, but no other means of treating opioid addiction have yet to be found. There are improvements that could be made for both treatments, but regardless of improvements each mode of treatment is risky as there is no miracle cure for opioid addiction. Introduction In 1864, The New York State Inebriate Asylum, the first in the country, opened in Binghamton, NY. It was the first of a growing network of inebriate asylums that treated alcoholism and addiction to drugs such as opium, morphine, cocaine, chloral, ether, and chloroform. Today, when talking about opioid addiction and dependency treatments, two controversial but efficient treatments stand out from the lot: Methadone and Suboxone...
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...The opioid crisis has reached a fever pitch as Surgeon General Jerome Adams is on the record stating,"The call to action is to … keep within reach, know how to use naloxone.” on NPR’s Morning Edition. By issuing this advisory for more people to become familiar with the overdose-reversing drug Naloxone, the Surgeon General is acknowledging the fact that in many parts of the country use of Naloxone by first responders has become as ubiquitous as providing CPR. When considering pseudoscience, particularly C.P Snow’s focus the “gulf of mutual incomprehension” between the humanities and sciences, there is no better current example than how pharmaceutical marketing lead to the misinformation about opioid addictiveness, overprescription opioids, and...
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...evidenced by bradypea, elevated temperature, and a pulse under 90 bpm. Sepsis caused further damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. CVVH was then implemented for this unstable patient. Fluid and solutes were eradicated. The CVVH was initiated to help with kidney filtration. CTE was also a possible concern as evidenced by the patient participating in contact sports for several years. Several contusions or injuries to the brain can cause a degenerative brain disease. A heroin overdose and alcohol toxicity provoked the mentioned complications. Opioid overdose is a leading cause of accidental death among adult in the United States. Prescription opioids are believed to serve as a gateway to the use of heroin, which is more accessible and more affordable than prescribed medications. According to Volkow & McLellan’s...
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...Vicodin is an orally taken painkiller composed of a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, classifying it as an opioid pain reliever. In this capacity, Vicodin will bind to opioid receptors and reduce the sending of pain messages to the brain 1. Opioid receptors are used to control pain, slow breathing, and have a general calming affect. In a regular Vicodin tablet, there is 5mg of hydrocodone, which reacts with the 300mg of acetaminophen 2. Individually, hydrocodone and acetaminophen are medically used drugs that are used to relieve pain, however when employed together they having a much more hard-hitting effect. The combined drug works similar to other opiates by travelling along neurological pathways and increasing dopamine levels, resulting in euphoria and pain relief 3. Currently, Vicodin is classified as a level three controlled substance due to its tendency to cause psychological dependence, potential abuse, and its acceptance for medical treatment in the United States. As of 2006, more than 6.4 million people reported that they had misused Vicodin 3. The issue of Vicodin abuse is extremely relevant to my age group, due to it being a popular prescription for young adults after having their wisdom teeth removed and other common surgical procedures. Hydrocodone: The hydrocodone in Vicodin, similar to other opiates, relieves pain by binding to receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which block the reuptake of dopamine, and therefore...
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...The opioid epidemic was announced by President Donald Trump, as a national health emergency on July 2017. It is not a recent issue, but it is the deadliest drug crisis in American history. The overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1999 when it was surveyed in 2015, the numbers could be greater now. Although opioids come in different forms, they are most often used in pain killers that are prescribed from medical professionals. Examples of opioids are hydrocodone, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, and heroin. When an opioid is ingested it binds to the receptors in the body that controls a person's pain, doctors generally prescribe them to alleviate pain from accidents, surgeries, stressed muscles, etc. During World War II is where opioids...
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...Abstract This investigation explores both short and long term effects of psychedelic drugs on the brain, citing research from fifteen peer-reviewed sources. Within the paper are biological explanations of how psychedelics trigger various effects by interacting with serotonin and dopamine receptors. Following this are case studies in psilocybin mushrooms, salvinorum A, and dextromethorphan. Medical studies administering these psychoactive substances to participants illustrate classic hallucinogenic symptoms in the short term, as well as a heightened state of well-being in the long term. Given no pre-existing disorders and a controlled environment, one dosage of each drug generally made a positive impact in the subjects’ lives, even months later. Further research into the subject reveals the potential of psychedelic therapy in fields such as addiction rehabilitation, depression, and anxiety management. However, with these benefits comes a risk of temporary intense fear and substance addiction. Knowing this, patients should weigh the pros and cons before deciding to try any drug....
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...Medication Sheet Medication/Dose/RouteClassificationGeneric/Trade Name | Action | ContraindicationAdverse Effects | Nursing Considerations | Acetaminophen/500mg/ By MouthAntipyretic& Analgesic (nonopioid)Acetaminophen/TylenolCarvedilol/6.25mg/By MouthAlpha- and beta-adrenergic blocker & AntihypertensiveCarvedilol/CoregDocusate Sodium/100mg/By MouthLaxative stool softenersDocusate Sodium/ColaceFurosemide/40mg/By MouthLoop diureticsFurosemide/Lasix | Reduces fever by acting directly on the hypothalamic heat-regulating center to cause vasodilation and sweating, which helps dissipate heat.Carvedilol causes vasodilation by blocking the activity of α-blockers, mainly at alpha-1 receptors. It exerts antihypertensive effect partly by reducing total peripheral resistance and vasodilation. It is used in patients with renal impairment, NIDDM or IDDM.Promotes incorporation of water into stool, resulting in softer fecal mass, may also promote electrolyte and water secretion into the colon. It increases the amount of water and fat absorbed by the feces, softening the stool and making it easier to pass.Inhibits the reabsorption of sodium and chloride from the loop of Henle and distal renal tubule. Increases renal excretion of water, sodium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. | Contraindicated with allergy to acetaminophen. Use cautiously with impaired hepatic function, chronic alcoholism, pregnancy, lactation. Adverse effects CNS: Headache CV: Chest pain, dyspnea, myocardial...
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...treatment, and others have received low quality and ineffective treatment. The approach to treating pain and illness depends on the culture and geographical location of the professional appointed to treat pain. In Western Tradition, physicians are considered to be experts on treating illness and pain by utilizing chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, physical therapy and synthetic medicines. In Navajo tradition, medicine men are the experts on curing illness and pain with religious ceremonies and the use of natural herbs and remedies. Today, the most advanced practice in the health industry is pain management because of the combination of herbal medicines created by Navajos, and synthetic medicines created by Western Scientists. The study of medicine all began in the 1700s when Christopher Columbus came in contact with Indian people in the 1700s. The Indians and Europeans traded food, weapons, shelter and worked together, in a sense, to discover land and natural resources. Shortly after, Small pox, measles, and tuberculosis broke out and killed many people. This encouraged Western Scientists and Navajo People to try and discover cures for infectious diseases. Western Scientists engineered micro-organisms that would search and destroy harmful bacteria and viruses, later to be named “antibiotics“. Navajo people appointed medicine men who learned to prepare and create medicines from natural vegetation. Both proved to be effective. Navajo Medicine Men discovered many several...
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...Edition, by John P.J. Pinel. Published by Allyn & Bacon. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. 76 Chapter 4 ■ Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission hapter 3 introduced you to the anatomy of neurons. This chapter introduces you to their function—how neurons conduct and transmit electrochemical signals through your nervous system. It begins with a description of how signals are generated in resting neurons; then, it follows the signals as they are conducted through neurons and transmitted across synapses to other neurons. It concludes with a discussion of how drugs are used to study the relation between synaptic transmission and behavior. “The Lizard,” a case study of a patient with Parkinson’s disease, Roberto Garcia d’Orta, will help you appreciate why a knowledge of neural conduction and synaptic transmission is an integral part of biopsychology. C The Lizard, a Case of Parkinson’s Disease “I have become a lizard,” he began. “A great lizard frozen in a dark, cold, strange world.” His name was Roberto Garcia d’Orta. He was a tall thin man in his sixties, but like most paClinical tients with Parkinson’s disease, he apImplications peared to be much older than his actual age. Not many years before, he had been an active, vigorous business man. Then it happened—not all at once, not suddenly, but slowly, subtly, insidiously. Now he turned like a piece...
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...medication abuse? Prescription medication abuse is when someone takes medication prescribed by doctor in a manner or dosage other than prescribed, or when someone takes prescription medication from somebody else and uses it in a manner or dosage other than prescribed (na, 2011). Abuse can include taking a friends or relatives’ prescription to get high, to relieve pain, or help with medical issue without seeing a physician. There is a reason why prescription medications are prescribed by a doctor, prescription medications are dangerous when taken with other medications or not taken properly. In many cases this may cause severe illness or even death. The most common abused medication is opioids. Opioids include pain relievers such as: Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet’s. These opioids are dangerous because not only do they get you high they are highly addictive. In some cases opioids can be administered in more ways than oral. “Most prescription drugs come in pill or capsule form. Sometimes,...
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