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Related Concept Videos

Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Stimulants01:29

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Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
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Toxidromes: Clinical Features01:30

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Toxidromes are specific patterns of symptoms resulting from toxic substance exposure. They help in the identification and treatment of poisoning. The symptoms of each toxidrome group indicate poisoning by a certain class of chemicals or drugs.1. Sympathomimetic: Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Symptoms include agitation, increased heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, and pupil size. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, along with tremors and...
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CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

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Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry
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Published on: November 21, 2012

Toxicity of amphetamines: an update.

Márcia Carvalho1, Helena Carmo, Vera Marisa Costa

  • 1REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal.

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Amphetamines, both natural and synthetic, share similar structures and mechanisms, leading to comparable toxic effects despite the perceived safety of newer derivatives. Understanding their pharmacokinetics and toxicity is crucial for predicting outcomes in abusers.

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Amphetamines, derived from β-phenylethylamine, possess stimulant and euphoric properties, with natural forms like cathinone and ephedrine used historically.
  • Synthetic amphetamines such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA are widely recognized, alongside newer cathinone derivatives like mephedrone.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pharmacokinetics, biological mechanisms, and target organ toxicity of amphetamines.
  • To highlight the similarities in toxicological profiles between classical and novel amphetamines.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on classical amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA) to infer toxicity of newer derivatives.
  • Analysis of pharmacokinetic and toxicological data from existing studies.

Main Results:

  • Amphetamines readily cross the blood-brain barrier, resist biotransformation, and release monoamine neurotransmitters.
  • Intoxications from both classical and novel amphetamines present similar patterns, indicating shared toxicokinetic and toxicological profiles.
  • Despite the emergence of new derivatives, their toxicity is increasingly reported, challenging the notion of their relative safety.

Conclusions:

  • Classical amphetamines serve as valuable models for understanding the toxicity of newer derivatives due to structural and mechanistic similarities.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of toxicity for novel amphetamines.
  • Awareness of shared toxicological profiles is essential for managing amphetamine abuse and intoxication.