Autonomic Sympathetic Drugs: Alpha Drugs

Question 1

Alpha 2 Agonist

Answer 1

1. Clonidine
2. L-methyldopa
3. Tizanidine

Question 2

alpha-2 agonists affect

Answer 2

alpha-2 agonists affect the CNS (inhibition of sympathetic tone → reduced blood pressure)

Question 3

alpha-2 agonists are

Answer 3

sympatholytics

Question 4

Clonidine treats

Answer 4

1. hypertension (reduced sympathetic tone)
2. hypertensive urgency
3. ADHD
4. Tourette’s Syndrome

Question 5

L-methyldopa is primarily used to treat

Answer 5

gestational hypertension

Question 6

L-methyldopa treats

Answer 6

1. hypertension (reduced sympathetic tone)

2. gestational hypertension

Question 7

L-methyldopa can cause a

Answer 7

lupus like syndrome

Question 8

Tizanidine is a

Answer 8

muscle relaxant

Question 9

Phentolamine is a

Answer 9

reversible alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptor antagonist

Question 10

phentolamine causes

Answer 10

vasodilation (alpha-1 antagonist effect)

Question 11

phenoxybenzamine is

Answer 11

irreversible alpha-1 and alpha-2 receptor antagonist

Question 12

alpha antagonists (e.g. phentolamine) can be used to treat

Answer 12

alpha antagonists (e.g. phentolamine) can be used to treat cocaine toxicity (avoid beta blockers due to unopposed alpha vasoconstriction)

Question 13

Wine and aged cheese contain

Answer 13

the sympathomimetic tyramine (metabolized by monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A))

Question 14

MAO inhibitors can prevent the metabolism of tyramine

Answer 14

MAO inhibitors can prevent the metabolism of tyramine → hypertensive crisis (treat with alpha blockers e.g. phentolamine)

Question 15

pheochromocytoma

Answer 15

catecholamine secreting tumor of the adrenal medulla

Question 16

catecholamine secreting tumor of the adrenal medulla

Answer 16

catecholamine excess in pheochromocytoma causes headaches, hypertension, palpitations, sweating (use alpha blockers (e.g. phentolamine) preoperatively to control blood pressure)

Question 17

alpha receptor antagonists can cause

Answer 17

orthostatic hypotension (alpha-1 antagonist effect)

Question 18

alpha blocker induced hypotension causes

Answer 18

reflex tachycardia

Question 19

______ suffix of alpha-1 selective antagonists

Answer 19

“-osin”

Question 20

alpha-1 selective antagonists

Answer 20

1. Prazosin
2. Terazosin
3. Doxazosin
4. Tamulosin

Question 21

alpha-1 antagonists (e.g. terazosin) treat symptoms of

Answer 21

alpha-1 antagonists (e.g. terazosin) treat symptoms of BPH (relax smooth muscle in the urethra and prostate)

Question 22

alpha-1 antagonists “-osins” cause

Answer 22

vasodilation

Question 23

Prazosin can be used to treat

Answer 23

PTSD

Question 24

mirtazapine

Answer 24

atypical antidepressant with antagonist effects at alpha-2 and other receptors

Question 25

mirtazapine enhances

Answer 25

serotonin release and treats depression