Autonomic Sympathetic Drugs: Alpha Drugs Flashcards
Alpha 2 Agonist
- Clonidine
- L-methyldopa
- Tizanidine
alpha-2 agonists affect
alpha-2 agonists affect the CNS (inhibition of sympathetic tone → reduced blood pressure)
alpha-2 agonists are
sympatholytics
Clonidine treats
- hypertension (reduced sympathetic tone)
- hypertensive urgency
- ADHD
- Tourette’s Syndrome
L-methyldopa is primarily used to treat
gestational hypertension
L-methyldopa treats
- hypertension (reduced sympathetic tone)
2. gestational hypertension
L-methyldopa can cause a
lupus like syndrome
Tizanidine is a
muscle relaxant
Phentolamine is a
reversible alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptor antagonist
phentolamine causes
vasodilation (alpha-1 antagonist effect)
phenoxybenzamine is
irreversible alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptor antagonist
alpha antagonists (e.g. phentolamine) can be used to treat
alpha antagonists (e.g. phentolamine) can be used to treat cocaine toxicity (avoid beta blockers due to unopposed alpha vasoconstriction)
Wine and aged cheese contain
the sympathomimetic tyramine (metabolized by monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A))
MAO inhibitors can prevent the metabolism of tyramine
MAO inhibitors can prevent the metabolism of tyramine → hypertensive crisis (treat with alpha blockers e.g. phentolamine)
pheochromocytoma
catecholamine secreting tumor of the adrenal medulla
catecholamine secreting tumor of the adrenal medulla
catecholamine excess in pheochromocytoma causes headaches, hypertension, palpitations, sweating (use alpha blockers (e.g. phentolamine) preoperatively to control blood pressure)
alpha receptor antagonists can cause
orthostatic hypotension (alpha-1 antagonist effect)
alpha blocker induced hypotension causes
reflex tachycardia
______ suffix of alpha-1 selective antagonists
“-osin”
alpha-1 selective antagonists
- Prazosin
- Terazosin
- Doxazosin
- Tamulosin
alpha-1 antagonists (e.g. terazosin) treat symptoms of
alpha-1 antagonists (e.g. terazosin) treat symptoms of BPH (relax smooth muscle in the urethra and prostate)
alpha-1 antagonists “-osins” cause
vasodilation
Prazosin can be used to treat
PTSD
mirtazapine
atypical antidepressant with antagonist effects at alpha-2 and other receptors
mirtazapine enhances
serotonin release and treats depression
