Drugs Discussed in Chapter 4

Chapter 4 discusses drugs and their effects on synaptic transmission.  A drug may aid or hinder a neurotransmitter's successful journey across a synapse.  Remember that there are many stages involved in this process (e.g., synthesis, storage, release,...) and a drug may impact any one of them.  Exam 1 (and Rolling Thunder)  requires that you familiarize yourself with the drugs found on  pp. 103-113 of your text.  They appear below in chart form.

Some good advice before engaging in a panic-stricken stress-fest, memorizing a bunch of words completely devoid of meaning: DON'T MEMORIZE whether a drug is an agonist/antagonist. UNDERSTAND the terms!!!  Know the drug and its effect and you'll know



Name
Type
Mechanism
Transmitter
Alcohol Agonist Stimulates receptors GABA
Amphetamine Agonist Stimulates release/Inhibits Reuptake Catecholamines
Benzodiazepines Agonist Stimulates indirect receptors GABA
Black Widow Spider Venom Agonist Stimulates release ACh
Cocaine Agonist Inhibits reuptake Catecholamines mostly - particularly DA
LSD Agonist Stimulates receptors Serotonin (5HT2 subtype)
Mescaline Agonist Stimulates receptors Serotonin (5HT2 subtype)
Psilocybin Agonist Stimulates receptors Serotonin (5HT2 subtype)
MAOIs (e.g., tranylcypromine and isocarboxazid) Agonist Inhibits inactivating enzymes Monoamines
Tricyclics (e.g., imipramine) Agonist Inhibits reuptake Monoamines
MDMA  Agonist Stimulates release Serotonin
Nicotine Agonist Stimulates  receptors ACh (nicotinic receptors)
Muscarine Agonist Stimulates Receptors ACh (muscarinic receptors)
Opiates (Morphine, Heroin) Agonist Stimulates receptors Opioids
Physostigmine Agonist Inhibits AChE ACh
SSRIs (Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram) Agonist Inhibits reuptake Serotonin
THC Agonist Stimulates receptors Cannabinoid
Belladonna Alkaloids (eg., Atropine and Scopolamine) Antagonist Blocks  receptors ACh (muscarinic)
Botulinum Toxin Antagonist Blocks release ACh
Ca2+ Channel Blockers Antagonist Inhibit release All
Caffeine Antagonist Blocks receptors Adenosine (A2A receptors)
Colchicine Antagonist Blocks axonal transport All
Curare Antagonist Blocks NICOTONIC receptors ACh
Halperidol (Haldol) Antagonist Blocks receptors Dopamine (D2 receptors)
Ketamine Antagonist Blocks receptors Glutamate (NMDA receptors)
Phencyclidine (PCP) Antagonist Blocks Receptors Glutamate (NMDA receptors)
Lithium Antagonist Inhibits cAMP All
Naloxone/Naltrexone Antagonist Blocks receptors Opioids
Para-chlorophenylalanine Antagonist Inhibits synthesis Serotonin
Reserpine Antagonist Impedes storage Monoamines
Tetrodotoxin Antagonist Blocks sodium channels All
Buspirone (Buspar) Agonist Stimulates receptors Serotonin (5HT1A)  with a pinch of DA (D2 receptors
Typical neuroleptics (e.g., Haloperidol) Antagonist Blocks receptors DA (D2 receptors)
Atypical neuorleptics (e.g., Clozapine) Antagonist Blocks receptors DA (D2 receptors) and Serotonin