Digitalis lactone and a triple-repeating sugar called a glycoside. Digitalis works by inhibiting sodium-potassium ATPase. This results in an increased intracellular concentration of sodium ions and thus a decreased concentration gradient across the cell membrane. This increase in intracellular sodium causes the Na/Ca exchanger to reverse potential, i.e., transition from pumping sodium into the cell in exchange for pumping calcium out of the cell, to pumping sodium out of the cell in exchange for pumping calcium into the cell. This leads to an increase in cytoplasmic calcium concentration, which improves cardiac contractility. Under normal physiological conditions, the cytoplasmic calcium used in
Bath salts (drug) Bath salts (drug) "Bath salts" (also "psychoactive bath salts", "PABS", or in the United Kingdom monkey dust) is a term used to describe several recreational designer drugs. The name derives from instances in which the drugs were disguised as bath salts. The white powder, granules, or crystals often resemble bath salts such as Epsom salts, but differ chemically. The drug's packaging often states "not for human consumption" in an attempt to circumvent drug prohibition laws. Recreational drugs have also been disguised as plant food, hookah cleaner and other products. Synthetic cathinones such as mephedrone, which are chemically similar to cathinone,