Nearly all individuals taking Adderall can attest to the fact that its psychostimulatory effect is most potent after an initial “first-time” dosage. Thereafter, its efficacy is generally maintained for weeks, or perhaps months after the initial dosage with favorable results. However, eventually Adderall users may notice that its therapeutic psychostimulation seems to have dwindled and/or …
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric-acid) is a drug that was initially synthesized in 1874 by Alexander Zaytsev, but its effects weren’t researched in humans until the 1960s. Upon administration to humans, it was discovered that GHB functions as a short-acting CNS depressant. GHB alters neurotransmission via binding to multiple receptor sites within the brain including: GHB receptors and GABA(B) …
DXM (Dextromethorphan) is an antitussive agent comprised solely of a methylated dextrorotatory analogue of levorphanol, a semisynthetic non-opioid morphine derivative. It is classified as a “morphinan” drug and is an active ingredient within many over-the-counter (OTC) formulations utilized to treat allergies, coughing, influenza, and more. Examples of several popular over-the-counter formulations with DXM as an …
Promethazine is a first-generation antihistamine of the “phenothiazine” classification often prescribed for the treatment of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. It is commonly utilized as an adjunct to narcotic analgesics to increase their efficacy among those experiencing acute or chronic pain. Additionally, promethazine is sometimes administered for the treatment of the common cold and …
Spice and “K2” refer to various retail products containing herbs laced with synthetic cannabinoids. The synthetic cannabinoids within Spice and K2 are often considered functionally similar to THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol) derived from cannabis in that they bind to cannabinoid receptors within the brain, and act as agonists. This cannabinoid receptor agonism facilitates intoxicating effects similar to …
Ketamine is a drug initially synthesized in the 1960s to be used as an anesthetic. It was approved by the FDA in 1970 and was utilized medically as anesthesia for soldiers during the Vietnam war. At the time, ketamine was considered a superior option to PCP (phencyclidine) due to its short duration of effect and …
Chantix (Varenicline) is a drug marketed by Pfizer for the treatment of nicotine addiction. It functions as a selective, competitive partial agonist at α4β2 (alpha-4-beta-2) nAChRs. Competitive partial agonism at the α4β2 receptors decreases the binding of nicotine to these receptors, thereby modulating the release of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway as triggered by nicotine …