3 - NSAIDs Flashcards
What are three general properties of NSAIDs?
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-pyretic (fever)
Analgesic
In general, when you think about PGs and inflammation, think ______.
COX-2
What is the mechanism of action of ALL NSAIDs?
Inhibition of cyclooxygenases (however, not all inhibit COX-1 and COX-2)
COX-2 genes can be inhibited by _____?
Steroids.
What chemical compound is aspirin? What is its mechanism of action?
Acetyl salicylic acid.
It IRREVERSIBLY inhibits COX1 and COX2 through acetylation of a serine moiety in the active site.
This mechanism is aspirin-specific.
What are the therapeutic implications of irreversible inhibition of COX 1 and 2? What is this the basis for?
Only way to have active enzyme is through protein synthesis of new enzyme.
Platelets have no nucleus and can’t do protein synthesis so new platelets need to be made to overcome irreversible inhibition.
Basis for use of low-doze aspirin in CV disease (antiplatelet).
What are the pharmacokinetics of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)?
Oral absorption, limited by dissolution rate (chewing can increase absorption)
Crosses BBB and placental barrier.
How is aspirin metabolized?
Deacetylated (phase 1) to salicylic acid (13% excreted in urine-renal elim) then:
- Glucoronidation (phase II) - 34%
- Oxidation (phase 1) - 4%
- Glycination (phase II) - 49%
What is plasma half-life of aspirin dependent on? What happens with high doses?
The dose.
With high doses of aspirin, the metabolism gets saturated and salicylic acid builds up.
As a result, the half life becomes dose-dependent and follows zero-order kinetics.
What are side effects that are unique to aspirin/salicylates that are unrelated to COX inhibition?
Uric acid excretion, CNS effects, Respiration.
What can cause uricosuric effects?
Any agent that increases the rate of excretion of uric acid.
What effect do PGs have on uric acid excretion? What effect does aspirin/salicylic acid have on uric acid excretion?
PGs: NO EFFECT.
Aspirin: decrease uric acid excretion at low doses, and increases uric acid excretion at high doses.
What are the CNS effects of salicylates? At what doses does this occur?
Tinnitus, high-tone deafness, confusion, dizziness, delirium, psychosis, and coma.
This occurs especially at high doses, overdoses, and with poisening.
What side effects are major limitations to long term therapy with NSAIDs, especially aspirin?
GI side effects.
What effect do PGs have on the GI system? How are they made?
PGE2 and PGI2 are the major PGs that are formed from COX1 and act on EP3 receptors.
Promote secretion of cytoprotective mucus in the intestine and inhibit acid secretion by the stomach.
What GI effects do NSAIDs have? What puts people at a greater risk for these side effects?
They block the production of cytoprotective PGs causing GI ulceration and irritation.
Chronic NSAID use puts people at a 3x greater risk.
What effects do PGI2 and TXA2 have on platelet aggregation? What type of COX is found in platelets?
PGI2 inhibits platelet aggregation.
TXA2 stimulates platelet aggregation.
COX-1 is in platelets.
How do NSAIDs increase bleeding time? What effect does a single dose of aspirin have?
By inhibiting platelet TXA2.
Since dose of aspirin inhibits bleeding time for one week; this is because platelets lack a nucleus and new COX can only be make with new platelets since aspirin irreversibly inhibits COX.
What is hypersensitivty to aspirin and other NSAIDs? What is the mechanism by which this occurs?
Intolerance that is NOT IgE mediated.
Occurs when the cyclooxygenase pathway is blocked, resulting in an increase in arachidonic acid and shunting to into the leukotriene pathway.
This can cause respiratory effects.