What is the mechanism of action of cocaine in medicine?
Cocaine acts as a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant with significant behavioural effects on the locomotor, memory and cognitive functions. It exerts its effects by binding to both alpha and beta subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) present in brain cells of limbic and cortical areas. Cocaine-induced release of glutamate and subsequent activation of NMDA receptors enhances and enhances synaptic transmission. These alterations cause changes in dopamine transmission and have been widely implicated in the pathophysiology of drug abuse. THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis, while HHC, or hexahydrocannabinol, is a lesser-known cannabinoid with…