Neurological Complications of Substance Abuse
Hesham Abd El-Salam;
Abstract
Drug abuse is the recreational use of a substance despite evidence of its harmfulness. Classes of Substances most likely to be used in the United States Include the following: opiates, psychostimulants, anticholinergic and ethanol. Recreational drugs are consumed because of their psychotropic effects, but many of them also have systemic effects as well as adverse effects on the central and peripheral nervous system.
It has been established, largely through twin and adoption studies, that the heritability (the genetic component of the variance) of all addictive substances lies between 40% and 70%, the heritability of alcoholism is about 50%, and that of cocaine and opiate addiction is about 60% to 70%.
Addiction is associated with neuroadaptive changes in the frontostriatal networks, which may influence both impulsivity and drug-related compulsivity.
Drug abuse is associated with some neurological complications as seizures, stroke, movement disorders, headache, neuropathy and myopathy.
Alcohol is associated with large number of neurological disorders as seizures, delirium tremens, Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome, polyneuropathy, cerebellar degeneration and cerebral atrophy.
In Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome,there are Oculomotor Abnormalities,Ataxia,Disturbances of Consciousness and Mentation.Delirium Tremensis characterized by profound confusion, delusions, vivid hallucinations, tremor, agitation, and sleeplessness, as well as by the signs of increased autonomic nervous system overactivity —i.e., dilated pupils, fever, tachycardia, and profuse perspiration.
Alcohol abusers have a high incidence of peripheral nerve disorders, including symmetric polyneuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and compression mononeuropathies.
The amphetamines are referred to as analeptics, sympathomimetics, stimulants, and psychostimulants. The typical amphetamines are used to increase performance and to induce a euphoric feeling, for example, by students studying for examinations, by long-distance truck drivers on trips, by business people with important deadlines, by athletes in competition, and by soldiers during war time.
During the last few years, a possible specific cause triggering neuronal death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, drug of abuse-induced neurotoxicity, is being considered as a potential mechanism to develop Parkinson ’s disease, especially in the case of amphetamine and its derivatives.
Opioids have been used for at least 3,500 years, mostly in the form of crude opium or in alcoholic solutions of opium. Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is a potent addictive opioid. Opioid Binds to opioid receptors present on cell membranes. Three major Subtypes of opioid receptors, mu, delta and kappa are known. The Classical opioids used in pain management act at the mu receptor Whereas the opioid antagonists naloxone and naltrexone bind to all Receptor subtypes. In addition, there are mixed agonist-antagonists (Pentazocin, butorphanol, nalbuphine) and partial agonists (buprenorphine). Acting on the nervous system, opioids produce Analgesia, a sense of tranquility, and decreased sense of apprehension. Intravenous injection of heroin causes permanent neuropathies and rhabdomyolysis. The myopathy has been attributed to toxicity and ischemia, or gluteal compartment syndrome. Nerve plexus areas are occasionally involved.Toxic polyneuropathy has also been described as a complication of heroin abuse. It has been stated that tramadol is one of the most widely used analgesics worldwide. Seizures due to tramadol use may occur in both overdose and within therapeutic dose range.
Cocaine is an alkaloid derived from the shrub Erythroxylon coca, which is indigenous to South America. Cocaine abusers show cerebral atrophy, the severity of which correlates with the duration of abuse.
Cannabis preparations are obtained from the Indian hemp plant Cannabis sativa, a hardy, aromatic annual herb. The cannabis plant has been used in China, India and the Middle East for approximately 8,000 years for its fiber and as a medicinal agent. It is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States and, by most estimates, around the world as well. Cannabis Intoxication is associated with Delirium.This deliriumis characterized by marked impairment on cognition and performance tasks.
It has been established, largely through twin and adoption studies, that the heritability (the genetic component of the variance) of all addictive substances lies between 40% and 70%, the heritability of alcoholism is about 50%, and that of cocaine and opiate addiction is about 60% to 70%.
Addiction is associated with neuroadaptive changes in the frontostriatal networks, which may influence both impulsivity and drug-related compulsivity.
Drug abuse is associated with some neurological complications as seizures, stroke, movement disorders, headache, neuropathy and myopathy.
Alcohol is associated with large number of neurological disorders as seizures, delirium tremens, Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome, polyneuropathy, cerebellar degeneration and cerebral atrophy.
In Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome,there are Oculomotor Abnormalities,Ataxia,Disturbances of Consciousness and Mentation.Delirium Tremensis characterized by profound confusion, delusions, vivid hallucinations, tremor, agitation, and sleeplessness, as well as by the signs of increased autonomic nervous system overactivity —i.e., dilated pupils, fever, tachycardia, and profuse perspiration.
Alcohol abusers have a high incidence of peripheral nerve disorders, including symmetric polyneuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and compression mononeuropathies.
The amphetamines are referred to as analeptics, sympathomimetics, stimulants, and psychostimulants. The typical amphetamines are used to increase performance and to induce a euphoric feeling, for example, by students studying for examinations, by long-distance truck drivers on trips, by business people with important deadlines, by athletes in competition, and by soldiers during war time.
During the last few years, a possible specific cause triggering neuronal death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, drug of abuse-induced neurotoxicity, is being considered as a potential mechanism to develop Parkinson ’s disease, especially in the case of amphetamine and its derivatives.
Opioids have been used for at least 3,500 years, mostly in the form of crude opium or in alcoholic solutions of opium. Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is a potent addictive opioid. Opioid Binds to opioid receptors present on cell membranes. Three major Subtypes of opioid receptors, mu, delta and kappa are known. The Classical opioids used in pain management act at the mu receptor Whereas the opioid antagonists naloxone and naltrexone bind to all Receptor subtypes. In addition, there are mixed agonist-antagonists (Pentazocin, butorphanol, nalbuphine) and partial agonists (buprenorphine). Acting on the nervous system, opioids produce Analgesia, a sense of tranquility, and decreased sense of apprehension. Intravenous injection of heroin causes permanent neuropathies and rhabdomyolysis. The myopathy has been attributed to toxicity and ischemia, or gluteal compartment syndrome. Nerve plexus areas are occasionally involved.Toxic polyneuropathy has also been described as a complication of heroin abuse. It has been stated that tramadol is one of the most widely used analgesics worldwide. Seizures due to tramadol use may occur in both overdose and within therapeutic dose range.
Cocaine is an alkaloid derived from the shrub Erythroxylon coca, which is indigenous to South America. Cocaine abusers show cerebral atrophy, the severity of which correlates with the duration of abuse.
Cannabis preparations are obtained from the Indian hemp plant Cannabis sativa, a hardy, aromatic annual herb. The cannabis plant has been used in China, India and the Middle East for approximately 8,000 years for its fiber and as a medicinal agent. It is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States and, by most estimates, around the world as well. Cannabis Intoxication is associated with Delirium.This deliriumis characterized by marked impairment on cognition and performance tasks.
Other data
| Title | Neurological Complications of Substance Abuse | Other Titles | المضاعفات العصبية لتعاطى المخدرات | Authors | Hesham Abd El-Salam | Issue Date | 2014 |
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