Autonomic Nervous System Drugs

Question 1

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 1

• functional name is cholinergic
• primary neurotransmitter is Acetylcholine
• the PNS functions to calm the body, doing things like slowing heart rate, increasing gastric secretions and emptying the bladder and bowel, focusing the eye for near vision and constricting the pupil, and contracting bronchial smooth muscle

Question 2

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 2

• functional name is adrenergic
• primary neurotransmitter is noreponephrine (also epinephrine)
• regulates the cardiovascular system, regulates body temperature, and implements the “fight-or-flight” response (increased hr, dilated bronchi, dilated pupils, increased adrenaline)

Question 3

Cholinergic Drugs (anticholinergic prevents these)

Answer 3

• agents that influence the activity of cholinergic receptors
• most mimic or block the actions of acetylcholine
• stimulates bladder and intesine post operation, lowers intraocular pressure in clients with glaucoma, promotes salivation and sweating, terminates blockade caused by general anesthesia drugs, and treats myasthenia gravis symptoms

Question 4

Side effects of cholinergic drugs

anticholinergic is opposite

Answer 4

• increased salivation
• increased sweating
• nausea and vomiting
• flushed skin
• blurred vision
• headache
• unsteadiness
• diarrhea

Question 5

Urecholine (bethanechol)

Answer 5

• prototype drug that effects the detrusor muscle of the urinary bladder & smooth muscle of GI tract
• helps you to go to the bathroom
• cholinergic drug

Question 6

Muscarinic and Nictotinic Agonist Drugs (cholinergic drugs)

Answer 6

• bethanecol (muscarinic)
• nicotine (nicotinic n,m)
• cholinesterase inhibitors (phyostigmine, neostigmine)
• promotes parasympathetic nervous system function

Question 7

Muscarinic and Nicotinic Antagonist Drugs (anticholinergic drugs)

Answer 7

• Atropine (muscarinic)
• Mecamylamine (nicotinic n)
• succinylcholine (nicotinic m)
• promotes antiparasympathetic nervous system functions

Question 8

Cardio non selective Beta Blockers

Answer 8

carteolol, nadolol, penbatolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol (CNPST)

Question 9

Cardio selective Beta Blockers

Answer 9

acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, esmolol, metoprolol (ABEM)

Question 10

Adrenergic Agonists

Answer 10

• encourages sympathetic nervous system functions (alpha beta and dopamine receptors)

Question 11

Adrenergic antagonists

Answer 11

• encourages antisympathetic nervous system functions (alpha blockers, beta blockers, and dopamine blockers)

Question 12

Alpha Receptors (adrenergic)

Answer 12

• alpha 1 receptors control vasoconstriction, ejaculation, and contraction of the bladder neck and prostate
• alpha 2 receptors inhibit trasnmitter release (minimal clinical significance)

Question 13

Beta Receptors (adrenergic)

Answer 13

• beta 1 increases heart and kidney function

- beta 2 increases heart and lung function through dilation of vessels as well as relaxes the uterus

Question 14

Dopamine Receptors (adrenergic)

Answer 14

• dilation of kidney vasculature

Question 15

Nicotinic N Receptors (cholinergic)

Answer 15

• stimulation of parasympathetic and sympathetic postganglionic nerves, and the release of epinephrine

Question 16

Nicotinic M receptors (cholinergic)

Answer 16

• contraction of skeletal muscles

Question 17

Muscarinic Receptors (cholinergic)

Answer 17

• contraction of eye muscles
• decreased heart rate
• constriction of bronchi
• promotion of secretions (urine, feces, saliva, sweat)
• erection
• vasodilation

Question 18

Catecholamines

Answer 18

these drugs are used to effect the central nervous system (include adrenaline, epinephrine, and norepinephrine)

Question 19

Phyisology of the ANS

Answer 19

• consists of both pre and postganglionic neurons, the preganglionic neurons being attatched to the CNS and the postganglionic neurons being attatched to the ANS
• in the ANS transmitters are synthesized, stored, and then released when the appropriate signal is received. These transmitters then cross the synaptic cleft and bind to the next cell to either trigger the release of more transmitters or cause a reaction

Question 20

Reflex arc feedback control mechanism

Answer 20

• 1st the receptor detects a change in the environment (temp, bp, etc)
• 2nd at the nerve site a stimulus is released in order to trigger a response to the change in the environment
• 3rd and impulse is transmitted from the nerve site to the CNS
• 4th the CNS sends a responsive signal back to the site of change
• 5th a movement is produced to correct the change in the environment

Question 21

Atropine (scopolamine does the same thing)

Answer 21

• anticholinergic drug (muscarininc blocking drug)
• acts on smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, & endocrine glands
• causes decreased secretions, widening of airways, increased energy etc, relaxes bathroom parts, slows hr with low dose, increases hr with high dose
• treat IBS, GU disorders, sinus bradycardia, Parkinsons, prevents excessive salivation, etc.

***scopolamine sedates CNS and calms motion sickness

Question 22

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Answer 22

• drugs that prevent the degradation of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase
• viewed as indirect acting cholinergic agonists
• lack selectivity
• causes increased acetylcholine in the synapses which causes increased parasympathetic nervous system activity

Question 23

Mechanisms of Action for agonists and antagonists

Answer 23

• agnoists are chemicals that bind to receptors in order to activate them, producing a biological response
• Antagonists are chemicals that bind to receptors in order to block them from being activated by other chemicals
• agonist/antagonists are chemicals that exhibit both properties of agonists and antagonists
• partial agonists are chemicals that bind to and activate a receptor, but only partially

Question 24

Prototype ANS Drugs

Answer 24

• urecholine (cholinergic)
• atropine (anticholinergic)
• epinephrine (adrenergic)