Adrenergic Agonists

Question 1

Adrenergic agonists

Answer 1

• aka sympathomemetics because their effects mimic those caused by the sympathetic nervous system

Question 2

4 basic mechanisms by which drugs can activate adrenergic receptors:

Answer 2

1 direct receptor binding
2 PROMOTION OF NOREPINEPHRINE (ne) RELEASE
3 BLOCAKADE OF ne REUPTAKE
4 INHIBITION OF NE inactivation

Question 3

2 chemical classes of adrenergic of adrenergic agonoists

Answer 3

catecholamines and noncatecholamines

Question 4

2 ways in which catacholamines and noncatecholamines differ

Answer 4

oral usability
duration of action
ability to act in the CNS

Question 5

3 shared properties of all catecholamines

Answer 5

cannot be used orally
have a brief duration of action
cannot cross the blood-brain barrier

Question 6

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O methyltransferase (COMT) enzymes

Answer 6

• enzymes that are located in the liver and intstinal wall and destroy catecholamines; orally administered catecholamines are inactive before they reach the systemic circulation - thus not used orally

Question 7

Noncatecholamines all shre these qualities:

Answer 7

can be given orally, half-lives are much longer than catecholamines, and
better able to cross the BBB

Question 8

2 types of info the nurse needs to know to understand effects of any specific adrenerggic agonist:

Answer 8

the receptors at which the drug acts and

the effects produced by activation of those receptors

Question 9

2 therapeutically useful responses elicited by activation of alpha1 receptors:

Answer 9

• vasoconstriction in blood vessels of the skin, viscera and mucous membranes
• mydriasis

Question 10

Adverse efffects of alpha1 activation

Answer 10

• hypertension, tissue necrosis with IV extravasation

bradycardia

Question 11

2 useful effects of the activation of central alpha2 receptors:

Answer 11

reduction of sympathetic outflow to the heart and blood vessels
relief of severe pain