DEPRESSANTS ALCOHOL /SLEEPING PILLS

Mode of action Interfere with transmission of nervous impulses Low doses: calming effect Higher doses: drowsiness or sleep Very high doses: coma or death WARNING: very often called antidepressants as they reduce depression (temporarily!)

ALCOHOL Most commonly (ab)used depressant Dilates blood vessels gives the drinker a “warm feeling’ Gives the (WRONG) impression that everything is happening in slow motion and gives the person confidence that they can actually do things (like dance or drive) better. (they can’t)

Alcohol(2) Speech and general coordination becomes progressively impaired Passing out/death is possible Women have smaller livers than men…cannot detoxify alcohol as quickly. Some groups (native Americans) more susceptible to alcohol than others.

Alcohol (3) Short term: raises blood pressure; increases response time; can assist in uptake of some chemicals in stomach Long term: Addiction leading to permanent liver damage (cirrhosis), but also problems associated with increased blood pressure (strokes/ heart attack/enlarged heart)

Social side effects Health of drinker/partner/relationship, including the actions that the drinker undertakes under the influence. Cost of alcohol as % of family budget: working class often spend a far greater % of income on alcohol than middle class/upper class Insurance : loss of coverage of car insurance due to intoxication

Synergistic effects With aspirin: significantly raises bleeding in GI: Aspirin stops clotting and alcohol raises blood pressure AND increases rate of aspirin uptake. With other depressants: total effect is greater than the sum of individual effects…may depress system to a level where basic CNS functions are not possible (death)

Detection of alcohol(1) Breathalyser: Acidified dichromate turns from orange to green as alcohol is oxidized. Amount going green depends on amount of alcohol in breath. Assumes breath alcohol is related to blood alcohol (eqm set up in lungs) GLC: gas liquid chromatogram,determines conc of ethanol in blood

Detection of alcohol(2) Intoximeter:Uses the fact that C-H bond in ethanol absorbs infra red radiation of a specific wavelength. Amount absorbed is related to ethanol conc and is compared to “normal air” by passing IR through both alternately. C-H absorbs at 3.39 micrometers in ethanol

Prescription depressants Ex: “mothers little helper” – VALIUM see data booklet for structures. Addictive..widely used in ’60’s with many people becoming addicted. Have a calming effect…hence called antidepressants as they relieve anxiety. Many sleep aides are diluted forms of these…and so they are addictive!

Prozac is another. This is an amine salt and is NH 2 + Cl 1-. May be used before operations to calm people down. NONE of these removes the cause of depression and so they are only a stop- gap.