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Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
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Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
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Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
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Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
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Drug Therapy01:28

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The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
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Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
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Neuroglia in substance use disorders.

Emily M Castro1, Shahrdad Lotfipour2, Frances M Leslie1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|March 27, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Substance use disorders involve brain changes influenced by glial cells and the gut microbiome. Targeting these may offer new therapeutic strategies for addiction treatment.

Keywords:
AstrocytesGut microbiomeGut-brain axisMicrogliaSubstance useTreatments

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Substance use disorders (SUD) are a significant public health issue characterized by compulsive substance use despite adverse consequences.
  • Drugs of abuse profoundly alter brain function, with glial cells (microglia and astrocytes) playing a key role in these neurobiological changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review preclinical and clinical evidence on the role of neuroglia and neuroinflammation in SUD.
  • To explore the contribution of the gut microbiome to SUD.
  • To evaluate neuroglia-targeting therapies and N-Acetylcysteine for SUD treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of research on neuroinflammation and glial cell function in SUD.
  • Evaluation of literature on gut microbiome-SUD interactions.

Main Results:

  • Neuroglia and associated neuroinflammatory responses are integral to drug-induced behavioral changes and reward pathways in SUD.
  • N-Acetylcysteine shows promise in reducing drug cravings and use across various substance classes.
  • Gut microbiome modulation presents a potential novel therapeutic avenue for SUD.

Conclusions:

  • Neuroglia and the gut microbiome are critical factors in SUD pathogenesis and represent promising therapeutic targets.
  • Further research into age- and sex-dependent effects on neuroglia, the gut microbiome, and drug use behaviors is warranted.