Novel Psychoactive Substances: : the pharmacology of stimulants and hallucinogens

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, on March 2016, available online at doi: : http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1586/17512433.2016.1167597.There are increasing levels of concern relating to the rapidly evolving novel psychoactive substances/NPS and web markets’ scenarios. The paper aims at providing an overview of the clinical pharmacological issues related to some of the most popular NPS categories, e.g. stimulants and hallucinogens. NPS intake is typically associated with the imbalance of a complex range of neurotransmitter pathways/receptors, namely: dopamine; cannabinoid/CB1; and 5-HT2A. The intake is almost invariably undetectable with standard screening tests. Hence, it may frequently occur that the acute management of NPS misusers will need to focus on decreasing levels of both self/outward-directed aggression and agitation. Benzodiazepines may be considered as first line treatment. Alternatively, propofol and/or antipsychotics can be administered. Focus will be as well on treatment of possible rhabdomyolysis and hyperthermia. Indeed, future studies should inform better tailored management/treatment strategies.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Drugs foresight 2020: a Delphi expert panel study

Peer reviewe

Interaction of synthetic opioid metenkephalin peptide analogs, lilly 127623 and FK 33-824 with indole hallucinogens: Antagonism of N,N-dimethyltryptamine- and LSD-induced disruption of food-rewarded bar pressing behavior in the rat

The selected opioid metenkephalin synthetic peptide analogs Lilly (LY) 127623 and FK 33-824 were tested for behavioral dose effects and potential interaction with N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and lysergic acid diethylamide-25 (LSD) in adult male Holtzman rats trained on a positive reinforcement fixed-ratio 4 (FR-4) behavioral bar pressing schedule, i.e., a reward of 0.01 ml sugar-sweetened evaporated milk was earned on every fourth bar press. DMT (3.2 mg/kg) and LSD (0.1 mg/kg), administered IP following a 0.9% NaCl 15–20-min control pretreatment, disrupted established food-rewarded FR-4 bar pressing in a consistent and reproducible manner. Animals pretreated IP with predetermined behaviorally noneffective doses of LY 127623 (0.01–0.32 mg/kg) and FK 33-824 (0.001–0.01 mg/kg) 15–20 min prior to receiving DMT demonstrated significant antagonism to DMT-induced disruption of FR-4 bar pressing, while doses of 0.10–0.32 mg/kg LY 127623 and 0.00032–0.0032 mg/kg FK 33-824 significantly antagonized LSD-induced behavioral effects.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46430/1/213_2004_Article_BF00432112.pd

A Comprehensive Review of MDMA and GHB: Two Common Club Drugs

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90303/1/phco.21.20.1486.34472.pd

Minor tobacco alkaloids as biomarkers for tobacco use: comparison of users of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipes.

OBJECTIVES:This study (1) determined levels of various tobacco alkaloids in commercial tobacco products. (2) determined urinary concentrations, urinary excretion, and half-lives of the alkaloids in humans; and (3) examined the possibility that urine concentrations of nicotine-related alkaloids can be used as biomarkers of tobacco use. METHODS:Nicotine intake from various tobacco products was determined through pharmacokinetic techniques. Correlations of nicotine intake with urinary excretion and concentrations of anabasine, anatabine, nornicotine, nicotine, and cotinine were examined. By using urinary excretion data, elimination half-lives of the alkaloids were calculated. RESULTS:Alkaloid levels in commercial tobacco products, in milligrams per gram, were as follows: nicotine, 6.5 to 17.5; nornicotine, 0.14 to 0.66; anabasine, 0.008 to 0.030; and anatabine, 0.065 to 0.27. Measurable concentrations of all alkaloids were excreted in the urine of most subjects smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes and using smokeless tobacco. Correlations between nicotine intake and alkaloid concentrations were good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS:Anabasine and anatabine, which are present in tobacco but not in nicotine medications, can be used to assess tobacco use in persons undergoing nicotine replacement therapy