Lecture #17, 3/20/96

In August 1995 - Chicago Poice seizure.
    Mixed media sculpture Artwork - "10,000 Doses"
    Artist grinded morning glory seeds - contains lysergic acid amide
      artist put in liquid - got arrested & later acquitted.
    Police mixed up test results & shows the paranoidness of LSD.

Some methylenedioxyphenethylamine psychedelics:
MDMA
  
   Notes: first synthesized by Merck (Germany) in 1914.
          *  Merck had patent and shelved it away.
          Rediscovered in 1970s by Alexander Shogan? (pharmaceutical organic
                                                      chemist.)
          *  taught here on how to detect chemicals
          *  wrote PICAL
          MDMA became associated with rave scene.
	  *  1985 -> became Schedule I drug.
	  *  Then, led by Lester Ginberg (psychologist) & others, sued
	     FDA and drug did not become schedule I temporarily.
          *  However, drug again became schedule I and then Ginberg sued 
             again, and again drug temporarily did not become schedule I.
          *  In 1989, MDMA permanently became Schedule I.


3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
aka: ecstasy, XTC, MDM, adam, M, E, X
subjective effects unlike those of the "classical psychedelics" (eg) LSD,
psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, STP, etc.
rarely produces perceptual distortions or cognitive disorganization
amphetamine-like euphoria
intensification of emotions
increased introspection and self-insight
increased feelings of intimacy and trust
increased facility with translating feelings into words
typical dose: 100 to 125 mg
duration of action: 4 to 5 hours
may produce anxiety reactions
may produce toxic sympathomimetic effects:
tachycardia
blood pressure increases
hyperthermia
after effects may include sleep disturbances, muscular ache, dysphoria 
(depression)
increased prevalence of use, especially in the rave/dance scene
in England, between 15 to 20 deaths from rave scene (hyperthermia)



MDA:

3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
similar to action and effects to MDMA
Primary differences:
longer duration of action (around 8 hours)
less smooth, more "speedy, wired" effect


Charles Grove used MDMA for research
Phase I done
Phase II - use with cancer patients and try to show psychotherapy can
work with MDMA


Neurochemistry of MDMA and MDA.

Release of 5HT(1A&2) from presynaptic axon terminals
Release of dopamine from presynaptic axon terminals (lesser release
than that which occurs for serotonin)
Animal studies:
decrease in CNS serotonin level which persists for several months
following MDMA or MDA adminstration
also decreased serotonin nerve terminal density in the cortex 
(degenertaion of axon terminals)
both of the above are blocked by serotonin reuptake system (eg) prozac
Maybe toxic serotonin go to terminals and terminals degenerate
nerve terminals regenerate after several months 
If someone take prozac and MDMA - the person still feels something


Herbal ecatasy
herbalists claim same kind of effects occurs
about 8 different herbs
mah wang(sp?) (stimulant-ephedrine) and cola plant (caffeine) are the
first 2 herbs.


Marijuana
psychoactive preparation from plants of genus Cannabis
species sativa and indica
used by humans for thousands of years for its medicinal and psychoactive
properties:
analgesic (relief from pain)
sedative
appetite stimulant
muscle relaxant
antimemetic (relief from nausea)
psychedelic - like mental state
Cannabis plant also used as a source of fiber to make rope, cloth and
paper
"canvas", from cannabis=hemp (Latin)
Cannabis plant natuve to central Asia
now grows throughout the world as a result of humans
primary historical mode of administration was by oral ingestion
probably smoking was also used as a mode of administration
psychoactive preparation of dried and chopped leaves, flowering tops,
and stems of the Cannabis plan = marijuana, pot, grass, weed, bhara, ganja
concentrated resin produced by Cannabis plant = hash, hashish
resin extracted with alcohol and concentrated into a thick, oily liquid =
lshoil(sp?)
any of these Cannabis preparation can either be smoked or eaten
depends on set or setting in its effects
can even be visual imagery (hallucination)
altered sense of self (with environment)
sedative effect and relaxation
can also be anxiety and panic thoughts
maybe affect psychological defenses (Freud) => allow people to cope and
marijuana can weaken the defenses (can work both ways)
effects of short-term memory -> difficulty to remember
In JAMA - in heavy Cannabis users, found some deficits in memory a day
later - substantial residual effects
altered sense of time perseption - led to loss of memory -> loss of
awareness in memory and time


Psychological/Physiological effects of Cannabis
increased heart rate
no consistent effect on blood pressure
reddening of the eyes
decreased lacrimation (dry eyes) and decrased salivation (dry mouth)
which maybe due to anti-cholenergic effects
increased appetite ("munchies")
possible heightened sexual libido
impaired motor coordiation
no effect on pupil size (ie, no pupil dilation)


delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

the primary psychoactive agent in Cannabis
chemically, among psychoactive compounds, THC & Cannabinals are in
a class by themselves, structurally unlike all other know psychoactive
substances
not alkaloids; do not contain nitrogen
chemically unique
do not look like anything (for instance, neurotransmitters)
5 or 6 years ago, whole new neurochemical pathway discovered.


Lecture #17 on professor's lecture outline.



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