Asthma drugs:

Question 1

short acting B2 agonist (salbutamol)

Answer 1

release of GAs subunit which increases levels of cAMP and phosphorylates PKA and leads to relaxation and inhibition of agonist induced contraction.

Question 2

inhaled corticosteroids

Answer 2

act by passing into cell and binding to a receptor which acts upon gene expression to cause transactivation of B2 receptors and transcription inhibition of inflammatory mediators, cytokines and chemokines.

Question 3

3rd line treatment of asthma?

Answer 3

salmeterol.

Question 4

leukotriene receptor antagonists

Answer 4

inhibit leukotrienes, which induce bronchconstriction, oedema and mucus.

Question 5

methylxanthines

Answer 5

antagonise adenosine receptors and inhibit phosphodiesterase.

Question 6

long acting muscarinic antagonists

Answer 6

inhibit bronchoconstriction effects of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 7

Anti IgE drugs

Answer 7

prevents arming of mast cells but is very expensive.

Question 8

Ipratropium bromide

Answer 8

used in life-threatening asthma and is a muscarinic antagonist.