Chapter 13: nervous system medications Flashcards
key terms
- adrenergy (sympathomimetics)
- analgesic
- anxiolytic
- aura
- autonomic nervous system
- blood brain barrier
- central n3ervous system
- cholinergic (parasympathomimetic)
- drug holiday
- gamma aminobutyric acid
- hydantoins
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- narcotic
- neuroleptic
- neurotransmitters
- parasympathetic
- peripheral nervous system
- psychotropic
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- somatic nervous system
- status epilepticus
- sympathetic nervous system
- synapse
nervous system: divided into
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
includes somatic and autonomic nervous system
nervous system medications: used to treat
- pain
- anxiety
- depression
- mania
- insomnia
- convulsions
- schizophrenia
- pschotropics
- acts on CNS and PNS
- mot act at synapse between nerves to adjust transmission of messages by neurotransmitters
- most cross blood brain barrier: serious side effects
peripheral nervous system
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
somatic nervous system
voluntary
- muscles we have conscious control over
autonomic nervous system (involuntary)
controls internal organs
- broken down into sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system
sympathetic nervous system
controls fight or flight response
parasympathetic nervous system
helps body to rest and relax
autonomic nervous system
cholinergic
adrenergic
cholinergic
nerve cell that releases acetylcholine, which relaxes the body
adrenergic
nerve cell that releases epinephrine or norepinephrine, which excites the body
both cholinergic or adrenergic are
naturally occurring substances
- if not adequate to met the body’s needs, artificial equivalents provided through medication
sympathomimetics
- mimic the sympathetic system
- used when body needs to be excited; mimic sympathetic nervous system
- stimulates fight or flight response
fight or flight response
- restore heart rhythm during cardiac arrest
- increase blood pressure during shock
- constrict capillaries if pt is bleeding
- dilate bronchioles of asthmatic
- dilate pupils for eye procedures
contraindications with sympathomimetics
hypersensitivity
sympathomimetics
- hypertension
- myocardial infarction
- atrial fibrillation
- hypovolemia
- children
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
examples of sympathomimetics
levophed
epinephrine
adrenergic blockers
- block the action of adrenergics
- parasympathetic effet
- used to calm (slow heart rate, relax blood vessels)
treat cardiac arrhythmias - high blood pressure
- migraine headaches
- chest pain
adrenergic blocks are broken into two groups based on muscles affected
alpha blockers
beta blockers
alpha blockers
- affect vascular smooth muscle
- treat hypertension and BPH
beta blockers
- block epinephrine
- slow heart rate and force
- treat hypertension, migraines, glaucoma
parasympathomimetics
- mimic parasympathetic system
- release acetylcholine, which relaxes fight or flight mechanism
- rarely used due to sevre decrease in heart rate, constriction of respiratory passages
- ex: nerve gas, pilocarpine used to treat open angle glaucoma
anticholinergics
- inhibit parasympathetic nervous system
- promote fight or flight symptoms
- dry secretions
- used to treat asthma, motion sickness, preoperative relasxation, neuromuscular blocking of spasms, antidotes for insect stings, cholinergic risis
- example: atropine
medications to control pain and fever
analgesics
analgesics
reduce pain without eliminating feeling or sensation
- choices include salicylates, acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and narcotics
- some of these drugs are also antipyretic (fever reducing)
salicylates
- relieve mild to moderate pain
- reduce inflammation and fever
- examples: aspiin, methylsalsicylate (bengay)
aspirin
causes GI distress
not to be used in children
methylsalicylate (bengay)
topical anti inflammatory used to irritate surface of skin which increases blood flow, thus decreases pain
acetaminophen
- decreases pain and fever
- no anti inflammatory effect
- contained in many combination products: e.g. cold medictions
- combined w/ narcotics to treatr moderate to severe pain: oxoycodone with acetaminophen (percocet)
nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs
- reduce pain, inflammation, fever
- ex: ibuprofen
0 may be combined with narcotics to relieve moderate to severe pain - oxycodone with ibuprofen (combunox)
opioid analgesics
- strong pain killers
- suppress the cns
- active ingredient inmost narcotics is opium
- excess can cause decreased bp, this may lead to risk of falls or death
- decrease in respirations
- examples: morphine, codeine, fentanyl
- addiction potential w/ long term use due to feeligns of euphoria
- severe side effects: slowed respirations, decreased bp
medications to treat anxiey, insomnia, sedation, and seixures
- limbic system of brain: integral to emotions, memory, level of alertness
if the structures in the limbic system are not operating optimally, the following may occur
anxiety
sleeplessness
alertness
seizures
anxiolytic medications
- reduce intensity of fears, dangers, and/or tension
- calming effect from mild sedation to coma
CNS depressants
type of anxiolytic used to treat anxiety and restlessness
- benzodiazepines: treat anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and muscle relaxation: lorazepam, diazepam, alprazola
- barbiturates: phenobarbitol
anxiolytics: SSRIs
citalopram
fluoxetine
sertraline
anxiolytics: SNRIs
venlafaxine
tricyclic antidepressants: amitriptyline
- do not work s quickly, but few dependence issues
insomnia and medications
- barbiturates induce sleep by depressing CNS
non narcotic benzodiazepine hypnotics
- zolpidem
- eszopiolone
- few side effects (do not affect entire CNS)
- possible addiction risk
bartiturates and antiseizure medications
hydanoins
barbiturates
succinimides
hydantoins
- phenytoin (Dilantin)
- delay sodium from crossing neural membranes, calming cells
- drug of choice for tonic clonic and partial seizures
barbiturates
- phenobarbital
- used for tonic clonic and febrile seizures
succinimides
- ethosuximide (zarontin)
- delay clcium moving over neurons to relax nerve cells
- drug of choice for absence (petit mal) seizures
gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)
- naturally occurring neurotransmitter inhibitor
- increased presence decreases seizure activity
- ex: vigabatrin (sabril)
benzodiazepines such as ____ intensity effect of gaba transmitters in brain
- valium
other anti seizure medication
lamictal
gabitril
topamax
tegretol
some medications
- reduce seizures managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms by reducing anxiety symptoms (librum)
