Drug Chemistry

Chapter 19

In this unit…

Curative Drugs Regulatory Drugs Preventative Drugs Analgesic and Anesthetic Drugs “Recreational” Drugs

Curative Drugs

Drugs that treat disease Infectious disease: external organisms

Viral Bacterial Fungi Yeast

Life disease: illness from how we live Environmental pollutants Diet and exercise Consumption of “recreational” substances

Curative Drugs

Infectious Disease Penicillin: antibiotic

Discovered accidentally in 1928 by Alexander Fleming

Benefits Kills bacteria by inhibiting enzymes needed to build cell

walls Does not affect our cells: no cell walls Multiple types are effective

Problems Allergies Drug resistance

Source: http://www.medicaltox.com/images/mycoto1.jpg

Curative Drugs

Life Disease Cancer: our own cells mutate, grow out of

control Alkylating agents: transfer foreign alkyl groups to

molecules, block usual modes of action Nitrogen mustards (similar to mustard gas chemical warfare)

Anti-metabolites: inhibit nucleic acid synthesis Cisplatin binds to DNA and blocks replication

Regulatory Drugs

Regulate physical systems Endocrine system: hormones

Chemical messenger produced in a gland that effects changes in other parts of the body

Brain Adrenals Sex organs

Source: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/endocrine/images/major-endo.gif

Regulatory Drugs

Hormones produced in the brain Oxytocin: smooth muscle contraction, milk

secretion Labor inducer

Human growth hormone (HGH): general body and bone growth

Children Fountain of youth?

Source: http://opbs.okstate.edu/~petracek/CHAPTER%2029%20FIGS/Fig%2029-24.JPG

Regulatory Drugs

Hormones produced in the adrenals Cortisol: conversion of proteins

carbohydrates Immunosuppressant: anaphylactic

shock & severe allergies (hydrocortisone can counter)

Fight-or-flight responses: increased blood pressure, increased glucose production

Weight loss miracle? Adrenaline: prepare body for

emergency Fight-or-flight responses

Source: http://clinical.medicalengineer.co.uk/cortisol.jpg

Regulatory Drugs

Hormones produced in the sex organs: steroids All synthesized from

cholesterol Estrogen: stimulates female

characteristics Regulates menstrual cycle

Testosterone: stimulates male characteristics

Presence determines sex of a fetus

Misuse

Source: http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/steroid_3.gif

Preventative Drugs

Prevent certain conditions Mental illness Heart attack Pregnancy

Source: http://www.pregnancy.mb.ca/cpc-adr.htm

Source: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/images/health/photos/book051028.jpg

Source: http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/photos_images/news_images/09-2005/brain_lg.jpg

The Brain

3

4

5

2

Source: http://assets.families.com/Encyclopedias/dat_01_img0042.jpg

1

1. Neuron• Axon• Cell body• Dendrite

2. Neurotransmitter Vessicle

3. Synaptic Gap4. Neurotransmitter5. Dendrite

receptor

The Brain: Neurotransmitters

Serotonin Made from amino acid tryptophan Roles

Mood regulation Mental illness

Sleep Emesis (vomiting) Sexuality Appetite

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Serotonin&printable=yes

The Brain: Neurotransmitters

Norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline) Made from amino acid tyrosine Roles

Attention Impulsivity Fight-or-Flight responses

Heart rate Energy Muscle readiness

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Norepinephrine&printable=yes

The Brain: Neurotransmitters

Dopamine Made from amino acid tyrosine Roles

Sympathetic nervous system (heart rate, blood pressure)

Movement Parkinson’s disease

Cognitive functions: memory, attention, problem-solving

Pleasure Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

The Brain: Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine Made from vitamin choline Roles

Excitatory actions Stress Muscle contraction

Brain function Alzheimer’s Disease

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylcholine

Preventative Drugs

Preventing symptoms of mental illness Neurotransmitter imbalance: levels

too high or low Norepinephrine: manic (too high),

depression (too low), bipolar disorder Serotonin: depression, lack of pleasure

and sensory perception (too low) Drugs can:

mimic or enhance actions of neurotransmitters

control message deliverySource: http://www.about-depression.com/symptoms-of-depression/images/img02-01.jpg

Preventative Drugs

Preventing heart attack Hypertension: blood pressure above 140/90

Diuretics: reduce blood volume

Coronary artery disease: blocked arteries Nitrogylcerin: dilate blood vessels to increase blood

flow and decrease heart workload

Source: www1.accsnet.ne.jp

Preventative Drugs

Preventing pregnancy “The Pill”: progestins

Send a false signal of pregnancy: no ovulation, no chance of conception

DES and RU-486 Induce abortion by causing

sloughing of the uterine lining and fertilized egg

Moral and ethical implications

Source: http://www.bible.ca/s-premarital-sex.htm

Analgesic and Anesthetic Drugs

Analgesics: pain relieving NSAIDS: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen

Anesthetics: physical depressant Unconsciousness and general insensitivity to

pain

Analgesic and Anesthetic Drugs

Analgesics Aspirin: acetylsalicylic acid

First found in willow bark as early as 5th Century B.C.

Actions Reduce pain and inflammation by

inhibiting chemical messengers (prostaglandins)

Reduce fever by inhibiting same chemical messengers

Affect blood platelets, kidneys, GI tract, liver, allergy

Source: http://www.greatbigstuff.com/prodpics/aspirin-blank.jpg

Analgesic and Anesthetic Drugs

Anesthetics General: depress conductivity of neurons

Early: chloroform, ether Many side-effects and narrow safety margins

Modern: fluorine-containing alkanes

Local: blocks areas of the body from sending pain messages to the brain

Lidocaine, novocaine: based on structure of cocaineSource: http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/kidney/anesthetic.jpg

“Recreational” Drugs

Produce or enhance multiple sensations Depressants Narcotics Stimulants Psychedelics

All are addictive Many are fatal when abused

“Recreational” Drugs

Depressants Alcohol: slow down physical and mental activity

When metabolized, acts on opiate receptors Drunk driving Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Source: http://home.egge.net/~savory/carcrash.jpg Source: http://www.niichro.com/FHealing%20Hearts/heal_4.html

“Recreational” Drugs

Narcotics: produce narcosis (stupor or general anesthesia) and analgesia (pain relief) Morphine: isolated from opium

Acts on opiate receptors in brain Natural opiates: endorphins

Heroin: derived from morphine Stronger feelings of euphoria than morphine More addictive than morphine

Source: http://www.espace-sciences.org/science/images/images-maj/Perso/question_OF/morphine.jpg

“Recreational” Drugs

Stimulants: mimic actions of adrenaline and norepinephrine Methamphetamines: fight-or-flight

Increases dopamine levels (“high”, addiction) Has been used in weight loss, depression &

narcolepsy Caffeine: blocks brain’s sleep receptors

Also stimulates fight-or-flight responses (increased heartbeat & respiration, increased blood glucose, adrenaline production, blood flow decreases to extremities and increases to muscles & vital organs)

Increases dopamine levels (addiction) Body in state of high alert = jumpy, irritable,

headache Large doses chromosome damageSource: http://images.animationfactory.com/imagedir/animations/web_text_h_o/misc_text/caffeine_jitters/caffeine_jitters_lg_nwm.gif

“Recreational” Drugs

Psychedelics: change brain’s perception of reality Marijuana: tetranydrocannabinol (cannabis)

Mimics a natural substance in the brain that activates brain’s reward system: euphoria

Legitimate uses: glaucoma (reduces eye pressure) and chemotherapy (relieves nausea)

PCP Similar to substance made naturally in our bodies

only in extreme circumstances Near-death experiences, hallucinations, schizophrenics

Stored in fat cells: flashbacks when metabolized

Final Thoughts

Are drugs good? Relieve pain, prevent and cure disease Prolong and improve quality of life Plants: put on earth for our use

Are drugs bad? Abuse and dependency Can bring pain, suffering and death if misused

Final Thoughts

“Teach your sons and daughters to avoid illegal drugs as they would the plague. They cannot so abuse their bodies, they cannot so build within themselves vicious and enslaving appetites without doing incalculable damage. Build within them an utter abhorrence of such.” Discourses of President Gordon B. Hinkley, p. 32

“We should not use drugs except when they are necessary as medicine.” Gospel Principles, Chapter 29