Health - Which drugs are known to cause brain damage?

[MasterG]

This is a rather subjective thread and up for a lot of debate. It will probably need to be moved. I did indeed do a bit of searching as well.
I was just wondering which drugs can cause brain damage? I am especially concerned about drugs that can cause brain damage even when used semi-responcibly. The only one that I know currently is Air Duster, I have also heard that DXM can cause brain damage if one was to take 1200 mgs or some other high dosage.
Sorry if this thread is useless or if it has been already adressed

[Boca Bitch]

Well... brain cell death is generally split into two different categories: atrophy and excitotoxicity.

Atrophy is indirectly caused by an excess of the neurotransmitter, GABA. High levels of this neurotransmitter can dramatically decrease blood pressure, making it more difficult for nutrients and oxygen to reach the brain. Alcohol is the archetype of GABAergic psychoactives capable of causing atrophy. But it also seen with GHB and barbiturates, as well as benzodiazepines and nitrous oxide, to a considerably lesser extent.

Excitotoxicity is caused by overstimulation of the glutaminergic subtypes: NMDA and AMPA. Alcohol withdrawal and overcomsumption of caffeine are the leading causes for excitotoxicity. However, to a much lesser extent, cocaine, some amphetamines, LSD, and MDMA are capable of having these effects.

Slovents are in another category, as general toxins, that are quite effective at killing any cells they come in contact with.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	great information. Keep up the good work!
	Excellent explanation.

[Hollow Hippie]

Pretty much any drug in an overdose situations can directly and/or indirectly cause brain damage if they are able to cross the brain blood barrier, the neurotoxic effects of various drugs vary and as Boca Bitch mentioned can be atrophy, exicotoxity, lesions, etc.

[Euthanatos93420]

Have you got references for caffeine causing more brain damage than illicit drugs? That would be AWESOME material in my arsenal.

[Boca Bitch]

Google ''excitotoxicity from caffeine".. there are hundreds.

As for a more reputable, but less direct source than '.com'... http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/conte.../pathways.html

Scroll to the bottom, with the balloons, view caffeine.. "increases glutamate activity"

And here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2568579

For how glutamate is an excitotoxin.

[Lady Codone]

Inhalants kill brain cells by depriving the brain of oxygen. Methamphetamine causes neurotoxicity over time that can lead to things like tremors, uncontrollable jaw movements, and other permanent problems. Alcohol damages the brain by causing mini-seizures and is more toxic than most people let on. There are many more, but those are the ones that stick out to SWIM.

[Hollow Hippie]

Originally Posted by Lady Codone

Inhalants kill brain cells by depriving the brain of oxygen. Methamphetamine causes neurotoxicity over time that can lead to things like tremors, uncontrollable jaw movements, and other permanent problems. Alcohol damages the brain by causing mini-seizures and is more toxic than most people let on. There are many more, but those are the ones that stick out to SWIM.

Inhalants = hypoxia (lack of oxygen) which leads to cell death, also inhalants have been shown to destroy the covering of neurons myelin similar to MS

Methamphetamine = Over stimulation of serotonin and dopamine, hyperthermia, hypertension, and constricted blood flow can all lead to cell death and down-regulation of receptors of dopamine and serotonin ([pseudo]Parkinsons and depression?)

Ethanol = hypoxia and SWIM thinks that ethanol destroys cells ("Ethanol kills organisms by denaturing their proteins and dissolving their lipids") which leads to cell death

Here's a nifty chart on some shit from alcohol


Take the "good" effects with a grain of salt as they probably are not evident when alcohol is consumed to an excess.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	chart puts info together nicely
	Nice, relevant schematic
	Nice diagram! Clear and easy on the eye

[12oz-mouse]

what would "small to moderate" be considered?

[Sameria]

Originally Posted by 12oz-mouse

what would "small to moderate" be considered?

Without direct reference from that particular poster it is hard to tell, but in previous studies SWIM recalls a small dose to be around 1-2 standards drinks. MUCH below the typical recreational dose.

[UberDouche]

Very interesting information.

My imaginary monkey, Bonzo, has had some of the symptons mentioned (essential tremor, atrophy, lesions, loss of gray matter, per an MRI with and without contrast). The neurologist has asked Bonzo to lay off all chemicals except those specifically prescribed by his vet.

The reason for this is to get a 'clean' set of tests in 1 month and see where he's at symptomatically. The concern is that it may be MS and this will require further testing (lumbar puncture, blood serum tests, etc...) to rule out other causes (like drugs and alcohol, although in theory these could cause MS to develop in some monkeys).

The neurologist that Bonzo is seeing said that drugs may have no relevance or may be totally relevant to the current condition of Bonzo's brain.

Alcohol and methamphetamine were mentioned specifically by the doc as being particularly bad.

That's all Bonzo had to say, he wants a banana now, and a new brain.