Pharmacology Lecture 7 - Drugs And The Nervous System

Front 1

What are the five different types of synapses?

Back 1

- Excitatory Ion Channel synapses
- Inhibitory Ion Channel synapses
- Non Channel synapses
- Neuromuscular junctions
- Electrical synapses

Front 2

Which section of the peripheral nervous system splits into the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions?

Back 2

- autonomic nervous system

Front 3

What are Ion channel synapses? (5)

Back 3

- neuroreceptors that are not channels
- membrane bound enzymes
- when activated by neurotransmitter, catalyze production of messenger chemical
- alter the number and sensitivity of the ion channel receptors in the same cell
- slow long-lasting responses

Front 4

What are the typical neurotransmitters of Ion channel synapses? (6)

Back 4

- adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, endorphin angiotensin and acetylcholine

Front 5

What are the typical nuerotransmitters of excitatory synapses? (3)

Back 5

- acetylcholine
- glutamate
- aspartate

Front 6

What are the neurotransmitters typical of an inhibitory synapse? (2)

Back 6

- gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- glycine

Front 7

What are the different mechanisms of action of drugs that work on the nervous system?

Back 7

- synthesis
- action potential
- release of heteroreceptors
- actions at receptor
- breakdown of neurotransmiters
- reuptake
- more or less release of autoreceptors

Front 8

What are examples of CNS stimulants?

Back 8

- caffeine
- theophylline (broncodialator, little toxic not frequenlty given anymore)
- theobromine (bitter flavouring in chocolate)

Front 9

At high doses how does amphetamine increase the concentration of dopamine in the synaptic cleft? (4 ways)

Back 9

1. Binding to the pre-synaptic membrane of dopaminergic neurons
2. Interaction with dopamine containing synaptic vesicles
3. Binding to monoamine oxidase in dopaminergic neurons
4. Binding to the dopamine re uptake transporter

Front 10

What are the common adverse effects of CNS stimulants? (7)

Back 10

- headache, palpitations, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertension, nervousness, nausea
- highly addictive

Front 11

Definition of Sedative:

Back 11

- diminish activity of CNS
- lowers excitement and calms the awake patient
- used to relieve anxiety

Front 12

Define Hypnotic:

Back 12

- produces drowsiness and promotes sleep
- used for short-term treatment of insomnia

Front 13

What is the difference between sedatives and hypnotics?

Back 13

- dosage

Front 14

What are the different types of sedatives?

Back 14

- barbituates
- benzodiazepines
- herbal sedatives
- nonbenzodiasepines
- antihistamine

Front 15

What are the commonly used Benzodiazepines? (trade name)

Back 15

- chlordiazerpoxide (Librium)
- diazepam (Valium)
- lorazepam (ativan)

Front 16

What are the uses of Benzodiazepines? (6)

Back 16

- generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorders, insomnia, seizures, muscle relaxation
- anxiolytic

Front 17

What is the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines?

Back 17

- ability to increase the action of nuerotransmitter GABA

Front 18

What are the common adverse effects of benzodiasepines? (6)

Back 18

- drowsiness, ataxia, impaired judgement, rebound insomnia, tolerance

Front 19

What are the serious adverse effects of benzodiazepines? (3)

Back 19

- CNS and respiratory depression, hypotension, coma
- (usually due to overdose)

Front 20

Contraindications of Benzodiazepines? (7)

Back 20

- preggers, hyperactive children
- liver or kidney broken
- alcohol, omeprazole
- hormonal contraceptive, theophylline

Front 21

What are barbiturates?(5)

Back 21

- drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and, by virute of this they produce a wide spectrum of effects
- mild sedation to anesthesia
- also effective as anxiolytics, hypnotics and anticonvulsants
- addiction potential
- largely replaced by medical practice

Front 22

What is disulfiram?

Back 22

- benzodiazepine
- used to detox from alcohol

Front 23

What is the mechanism of action of barbiturates?

Back 23

- potenitate inhibitory GABA (A) receptors and inhibit excitatory AMPA receptors (glutamate receptor)
- Higher concentration they inhibit Ca2+ dependent release of neurotransmitters

Front 24

How is the mechanism of action of barbiturates different from benzodiazepines?

Back 24

- effects increase duration of chloride ion channel opening at GABA "A" receptor as oposed to increased frequency of channel opening

Front 25

What are the uses of barbiturates? (4)

Back 25

- anticonvulsants
- sedative-hypnotics
- insomnia
- surgical anesthesia

Front 26

What are the common adverse effects of barbiturates? (6)

Back 26

- sedation
- nausea
- vomiting
- constipation, diarrhea, bradycardia

Front 27

What are the serious adverse effects of barbiturates? (4)

Back 27

- respiratory depression
- circulatory shock
- renal or hepatic damage
- addiction

Front 28

What are the contraindications of barbiturates? (8)

Back 28

- familial history of porphyria
- severe respiratory or kidney disease
- preggers
- interact with alcohol, oral anticoagulants, corticosteriods, oral contraceptives

Front 29

What do antiepliteptic drugs do?

Back 29

- act on sodium channels increase GABA-A receptor-mediated inhibition
- act on t-type Ca channels

Front 30

What are the common classes of antiseizure drugs? (5)

Back 30

- hydantoins
- succinimides
- benzodiazepines
- barbiturates
- Miscellaneous others

Front 31

What are the important hydantoin drugs used for antiseizure purposes? (1)

Back 31

- pheytoin (dilantin)

Front 32

What are the important succinimides used as anti seizure drugs? (1)

Back 32

- ethosuximide (zarontin)

Front 33

What barbiturates are commonly used as antiseizure drugs?

Back 33

- phenobarbital (barbital)

Front 34

What are the other types of antiseizure drugs?

Back 34

- carbamazepine (tegretol)
- valproic acid (valproic acid)