Saturday, March 8, 2003 @ 11:08 am by Dr. Joe Graas	General News
Cocaine Use May Alter Brain Cells, Play Role In Depression A study by researchers from the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center suggests that chronic cocaine use may cause damage to brain cells that help produce feelings of pleasure, which may contribute, in part, to the high rates of depression reported among cocaine abusers. It is well-known that cocaine increases levels of the brain chemical dopamine, resulting in the "high" that abusers feel. Prolonged use of the drug, however, may reduce dopamine levels, making it harder for abusers to experience positive feelings. Dr. Karley Little, lead investigator, and colleagues studied samples of brain tissue obtained during autopsies of 35 long-term cocaine users and 35 non-users. They analyzed the tissue for dopamine and the protein VMAT2, which is found in dopamine transporters. Urine or serum samples were also analyzed for the presence of cocaine, opioids, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications. A person close to each individual was interviewed about the individual's substance abuse, alcoholism, and symptoms of personality and mood disorders. Click here for full article
Monday, March 3, 2003 @ 7:21 pm by Dr. Joe Graas	Drug Related News
House Committee Wants Info from Oxycontin Maker NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As part of an investigation into pharmaceutical abuse and diversion, the US House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee said this week that it has asked drugmaker Purdue Pharma LLP to turn over records relating to the painkillers Oxycontin (oxycodone) and Palladone (hydromorphone). Oxycontin is an oral painkiller that, when used properly, provides about 12 hours of relief. The drug has made headlines in recent years for its potential for abuse; Oxycontin tablets can be crushed and snorted or injected, which bypasses the pills' controlled-release mechanism and provides a powerful, heroin-like high. Such misuse has been implicated in hundreds of deaths. Click here for full article
Monday, March 3, 2003 @ 7:18 pm by Dr. Joe Graas	Drug Related News
FDA Wants Warning Labels For Ephedra Bottles of the popular herb ephedra should bear warning labels that the pills can cause heart attacks, strokes or even kill, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The FDA proposed the warning labels — reviving an attempt the powerful dietary supplement industry had blocked for years — while saying a ban on at least some ephedra-containing products remains under discussion. Click here for full article