Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Crystal, ice, tina, crank, meth
Heavy users are tweakers
Synthesized from ephedrine
formication (bugs under skin), bruxism (jaw grinding)
Benzedrine-ice is the smoked form. Causes release of serotonin and dopamine in the CNS, periphral norepi release.
Cocaine
(Comprehensive Review Crit Care Med 2003 31:6)
Cocaine+Alkaline Solution+Ether=Freebase which can be smoked
Crack=extracted c sodium bicarb and water.
Blocks reuptake of biogenic amine neurotransmitters (NE, DA, 5-HT)
Reverse tolerance for seizures and paranoid ideation
Hyperthermia, Lung sx in smokers, DIC, Rhabdo
Can cause acute abd from intra-abd hemorrhage or ischemia (~19 hrs after use)
Mydriasis, Grinding of teeth (Bruxism), AMI, SAH, Seizures, Mesenteric Ischemia, Placental abruption.
Use bicarb for ventricular dysrhythmias. Do not use Lido as increases seizure potential
Crack Lung-acute pulmonary infiltrates
Can cause widened QRS
Use benzos then nitroprusside
Crack dance-hemiballismus from same
Neuro-Can cause stroke: ischemic from cocaine vasospasm, thrombotic, or hemorrhagic from cocaine hypertension causing the rupture of an aneurysm. Can precipitate tonic/clonic as well as focal seizures. This can be from direct CNS stim or hyperthermia. Can also cause seizure kindling. Cocaine related accumulation of dopamine in the basal ganglia can lead to tourette’s, tardive dyskinesia, choreoathetosis, dystonia, and the classic akathisia/chorea known as the crack dance.
Pulmonary-epistaxis and nasal septal perfs. Bronchospasm and asthma exacerbation. Can act as a hapten leading to hypersensitivity pneumonitis (crack lung) Pulmonary hemorrhage. Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Chronic cocaine use can lead to pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax are well known complications of cocaine use.
Cardiac-increased heart rate/bp and svr can lead to ischemia. Chronic cocaine use accelerates atherosclerotic disease. Dilated cardiomyopathies.
GI-mesenteric ischemia or ischemic colitis from vasospasm Pyloric and prepyloric ulcers.
Renal-can cause acute renal infarction from vasospasm
Vascular-can lead to arterial thrombosis due to decreased protein C and antithrombin III levels. Aortic dissection
Pyschiatric-cocaine associated delirium
Chest Pain
Cocaine-induced is within approx. 1 hr of cocaine use. Pt intoxicated with sympathomimetic toxidrome. B-blockers contraindicated. Phentolamine 1-2 mg aliquots if nitro and ativan do not work
alt dosing: 5-10 mg Q 15 minutes
Cocaine-assoc. is a patient who uses cocaine and has chest pain, but not within acute intox. B-blockers are probably fine in these patients
cocaine may accelerate athero by 20 years. Shown in rabbits to cause plt aggregation.
1 of every 4 nonfatal MIs in patients aged 18-45 is related to frequent cocaine use. Approximately 6% of patients with cocaine-associated chest pain sustain an acute MI (Am J EM, 11/07, pg. 1015).
Dysrhythmia from Cocaine Review Art
Amphetamine Analogues
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
X, Ecstasy, E, XTC, Adam
Peaks in 90 minutes, lasts 4-6 hours
75-150 mg normal dose
Causes serotonin release and block of reuptake, also alpha/beta adrenergic.
Hyperthermia (Up to 43) probably from central serotoninergic mechanism as well as increased muscle activity, hyponatremia if increased free water uptake (also possibly ADH effect from serotonin effects), possibly rhabdomyolysis. HTN, Narrow Complex tachycardias (procainamide)
Though more likely it is a B3 receptor effect from released and no uptake of norepi. In animal model, carvedilol was able to both prophylax and treat this effect. (Crit Care Med 2005;33:1314)
Liver failure can also be seen. It is unknown if NAC has a role in treatment.
Benzos, active cooling
If patient is taking MAOIs can provoke hypertensive crisis, Agony after Ecstasy
MDA (Love Pill)/MDEA (Eve)
Also cause norepinephrine release, very similar to MDMA
MPH (Methylphenidate, Ritalin)
Associated c fatalities when tabs are crushed then drug is injected or sniffed
Can also cause talc emboli when injected
Metcathinone (Cat, Khat, Jeff)
Naturally contained in leaves of catha edulis in Arabia
Synthetic version is #1 drug of abuse in Russia, Seen in US in Michigan
Similar effects to meth
Ephedrine
Naturally found in Chinese herbal medicine ma-huang
Similar to methamphetamines except peripheral effects are much more prominent than central, hence users may use life threatening amounts in the attempt to get same high.
Arylhexamines
Phencyclidine (PCP)
PeaCePill, aka Sherman, dust, soma, goon
When mixed c pot=killer weed, diluted in embalming fluid (formaldehyde)=wet or illy
Nystagmus, groucho eyes (dilated, staring, roving pupils)
Hypoglycemia
Hypethermia, diaphoresis not common, Muscle rigidity, can lead to rhabdo
give haldol and ascorbic acid
Give activated charcoal no matter the route of use, as PCP accumulates in the stomach
Ketamine can test false positive on urine screen. Test will stay positive for 4 weeks
Ketamine
Special K, Vitamin K, Fort Dodge
Anxiety, chest pain, and palpitations are most common presenting symptoms. Tachycardia and HTN from sympathomimetic effects are most common signs.
Dextromethorphan
DM, Robo
In cough suppressants
Bizarre movements
CNS depression
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