Drugs for the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases affect millions of people each year and represent a major health burden around the world. This timely reference surveys and evaluates the drug treatments available for the main categories of lung diseases including asthma, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. The recent re-emergence of tuberculosis and the increase in asthma in certain populations underlines the importance of finding effective new treatments for these diseases. This publication, a comprehensive reference, is one of the first to survey current and novel drug treatments for this group of diseases. It is certain to establish itself as an essential source of reference for respiratory physicians, clinicians and clinical pharmacologists.

• First comprehensive survey of established and novel drug treatments for all categories of respiratory diseases • The re-emergence and increased prevalence of some of these diseases makes this publication more timely than ever • An essential source of reference for all health professionals looking after patients with respiratory diseases

Part I. Asthma and COPD: 1. Pathology of asthma and COPD Peter K. Jeffery; 2. Glucocorticosteroids Peter J. Barnes; 3. ß2- adrenoceptor agonists Domenico Spina, Clive P. Page and Brian J. O'Connor; 4. Anticholinergic bronchodilators Jeremy M. Segal and Nicholas J. Gross; 5. Antiallergic drugs Mazakazu Ichinose; 6. Drugs affecting the synthesis and action of leukotrienes Paul M. O'Byrne; 7. Theophylline and selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the treatment of respiratory disease N. A. Jones, Domenico Spina and Clive P. Page; 8. Potential therapeutic effects of potassium channel openers in respiratory diseases Ahmed Z. El-Hashim; 9. Tachykinin and kinin antagonists Pierangelo Geppetti; 10. Drugs affecting IgE (synthesis inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies) Lawrence G. Garland and Alan G. Lamont; 11. Drugs targeting cell signalling Brydon L. Bennett, Yoshitaka Satoh and Alan J. Lewis; Part II. Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease: 12. Current approaches to the treatment of parenchymal lung diseases Joseph P. Lynch III and Michael Keane; 13. Drug treatments of the future in fibrotic lung disease Athol U. Wells; Part III. Infection: 14. Current and future management of pneumonia Mario Cazzola and Maria G. Matera; 15. Current treatment of chronic bronchial suppuration Robert Wilson; 16. Current and future treatment of cystic fibrosis R. Gary, G. Ruiz, Hilary Wyatt and John F. Price; Part IV. Pulmonary Vascular Diseases: 17. Pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular disease Sanjay Mehta and David G. McCormack; 18. Current treatment of pulmonary vascular diseases Tarek Saba and Andrew Peacock; 19. Future treatment of pulmonary vascular diseases Norbert F. Voelkel, M. W. Geraci and S. Abman; Part V. Lung Cancer:20. Molecular pathology of lung cancer Ignacio I. Wistuba and Adi F. Gazdar; 21. Small cell lung cancer Desmond N. Carney; Part VI. Cough: 22. Mechanisms of cough John J. Adcock; 23. Current treatment of cough Peter V. Dicpinigaitis.

Top 10 Drugs

1. Heroin

Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an “orgasm” centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous injection.

2. Cocaine

Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It is most often used recreationally for this effect. Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration. The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of discomfort and depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Sexual interest and pleasure can be amplified. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, which usually increases with frequent usage.

3. Methamphetamine

Methamphetamime, popularly shortened to meth or ice, is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.

4. Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine, often nicknamed “crack”, is believed to have been created and made popular during the early 1980s . Because of the dangers for manufacturers of using ether to produce pure freebase cocaine, producers began to omit the step of removing the freebase precipitate from the ammonia mixture. Typically, filtration processes are also omitted. Baking soda is now most often used as a base rather than ammonia for reasons of lowered odor and toxicity; however, any weak base can be used to make crack cocaine. When commonly “cooked” the ratio is 1:1 to 2:3 parts cocaine/bicarbonate.

5. LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD, LSD-25, or acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the tryptamine family. Arguably the most regarded of all psychedelics, it is considered mainly as a recreational drug, an entheogen, and a tool in use to supplement various types of exercises for transcendence including in meditation, psychonautics, and illegal psychedelic psychotherapy whether self administered or not. LSD’s psychological effects (colloquially called a “trip”) vary greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as previous experiences, state of mind and environment, as well as dose strength. They also vary from one trip to another, and even as time passes during a single trip. An LSD trip can have long term psychoemotional effects; some users cite the LSD experience as causing significant changes in their personality and life perspective. Widely different effects emerge based on what Leary called set and setting; the “set” being the general mindset of the user, and the “setting” being the physical and social environment in which the drug’s effects are experienced.

Types of Drugs

AMPHETAMINE-

A type of drug which increases energy but decreases you appetite.Treats narcolepsy and some forms of depression.

HEROIN- A highly addictive drug.White, odorless, bitter crystalline compound, that is derived from morphine.

ECSTASY- Each tablet has a different effect. Usually Ecstasy is taken morally but,it can be snorted or injected.

TOBACCO- Tobacco is dried leaves from the Tobacco plant.Normally it will be used in the cigarette form.It can also be used in cigars, pipes, chewed or sniffed. (30% of our population smoke or use some sort of drug by the age of 16 or older.)

COCAINE- White powder which can be smoked, sniffed, eaten, or injected. The person who is using Cocaine feels a powerful urge that makes them feelover confident or even invincible.

MARIJUANA-2nd most popular drug with the youth.Made up of you seeds, flowers, stems and leaves made from the Cannabis plant.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS- The magic mushrooms come in many different forms.It is made out to psilocin and psilocybin. You take this drug by eating it. The amount you take will vary on the effect.

LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYL AMIDE- LSD is one of the biggest mood changing drugs. It is found from a fungus that is grown on rye and other grains.

There are many different kinds of drugs. Some are legal and some are illegal. The drugs listed within this website are illegal drugs. The main groups of drugs or categories are Depressants, Stimulants, and Hallucinogens.

Depressants (Downers) Examples of Depressants:

Alcohol (beer, wine, liquor), Barbiturates, Benzodiazephines, Heroin, and

Solvents Stimulants (Uppers) Examples of Stimulants:

Tobacco, Caffeine, Ecstasy, Crack, Amphetamines, Anabolic Steroids, Cocaine Hallucinogens Examples of Hallucinogens:

LSD, Magic Mushrooms, Cannabis
Depressants are called "Downers" because they slow down the body into a relaxed state. The Central Nervous System of your body is not as active.

Stimulants are called "Uppers" because they make you feel very awake. You feel like you have a lot of energy. These drugs speed up your Central Nervous System.

Hallucinogens are the drugs that make you feel like you are seeing things that aren't really there. They play tricks on your mind.

Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any chemical substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.

In pharmacology, Dictionary.com defines a drug as "a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being." Drugs may be prescribed for a limited duration, or on a regular basis for chronic disorders.

Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system, such as opioids or hallucinogens. They may be used for perceived beneficial effects on perception, consciousness, personality, and behavior. Some drugs can cause addiction and habituation.

Drugs are usually distinguished from endogenous biochemicals by being introduced from outside the organism. For example, insulin is a hormone that is synthesized in the body; it is called a hormone when it is synthesized by the pancreas inside the body, but if it is introduced into the body from outside, it is called a drug.

Many natural substances such as beers, wines, and some mushrooms, blur the line between food and drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both mind and body.