Author Question: With respect to the production of action potentials, high doses of alcohol are most likely to exert ... (Read 56 times)

drink · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

With respect to the production of action potentials, high doses of alcohol are most likely to exert

a. excitatory effects
b. inhibitory effects
c. inhibitory and then excitatory effects
d. neither of these, as the action potential is not affected by alcohol

Question 2

What are two features of benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics that distinguish them pharmacologically from barbiturate sedative-hypnotics?

What will be an ideal response?

ecox1012 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

b

Answer to Question 2

Barbiturates have a relatively low therapeutic index, whereas benzodiazepines have a relatively high therapeutic index. Barbiturates can significantly elevate P450 enzymes with chronic exposure, while benzodiazepines tend not to. Barbiturates tend to suppress REM sleep, whereas benzodiazepines tend to interfere with deeper stages of sleep. Barbiturates are effective anesthetics, whereas benzodiazepines are not. Although both barbiturates and benzodiazepines work on GABAA receptors to enhance GABA activity, barbiturates can activate GABAA receptors independently of GABA.