Chapter One Flashcards
What is pharmacotherapeutics?
Pharmacotherapeutics is the medical science that deals with the use of drugs in the treatment of diseases.
What role does pharmacology play in pharmacotherapeutics?
Pharmacology provides the rational or scientific basis of pharmacotherapeutics by explaining the mechanism and effects of drugs on the body and the relationship between the dose and the drug response.
What is a formulation in pharmacotherapy?
A formulation is the nature by which a drug is made available and suitable for administration of a specific dose of a drug to a patient.
What are pharmaceutical preparations?
Pharmaceutical preparations are different types of formulations or dosage forms.
What are most formulations made from?
Most formulations are made from pure drug compounds.
What are herbal remedies?
Herbal remedies are formulations made from crude drug preparations.
What are some commonly available solid formulations?
Commonly available solid formulations include tablets.
What are examples of tablet formulations?
Examples of tablet formulations include enteric coated tablets, sustained release or extended release tablets, and effervescent tablets.
What are the two main components of the nervous system?
Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What does the central nervous system consist of?
Brain and spinal cord
Which systems are part of the peripheral nervous system?
Autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system
How does the CNS regulate the PNS?
The autonomic nervous system is regulated by brain stem centers responsible for cardiovascular, respiratory, and other visceral functions.
What is the primary role of the somatic nervous system?
Activates skeletal muscle contraction enabling voluntary body movements
What do drugs primarily affect to alter nervous system function?
Neurotransmitters and/or their receptors
Fill in the blank: The autonomic nervous system modifies the activity of _______.
[smooth muscles, exocrine glands, cardiac tissues, and certain metabolic activities]
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
What is the sympathetic nervous system’s primary response to threats?
Fight or Flight reaction
What does the parasympathetic system promote?
Rest or Digest functions
What receptors mediate all parasympathetic effects?
Muscarinic receptors (M)
How do sympathetic and parasympathetic systems generally affect organ function?
They often have opposing effects
What neurotransmitter is primarily found in the autonomic nervous system?
Acetylcholine
What neurotransmitter is primarily found in the somatic nervous system?
Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)
True or False: All autonomic ganglia use acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.
True
What are the two types of cholinergic receptors?
Muscarinic and nicotinic receptors
What effect does activation of M3 receptors have?
Smooth muscle contraction and gland secretion
What are adrenoceptors?
Receptors for norepinephrine and epinephrine at sympathetic neuro effector junctions
What is the role of acetylcholinesterase?
Hydrolyzes acetylcholine to form choline and acetate
Name a drug that stimulates vesicular release of acetylcholine.
Black widow spider venom (α-latrotoxin)
What is the function of botulinum toxin A?
Blocks the exocytotic release of acetylcholine and inhibits neurotransmission
What do cholinesterase inhibitors do?
Prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, increasing its concentration
What is the primary neurotransmitter synthesized from tyrosine?
Norepinephrine
What is the effect of α1 adrenoceptors?
Mediates smooth muscle contraction
What is the effect of β2 adrenoceptors?
Mediates smooth muscle relaxation
Fill in the blank: The sympathetic nervous system uses _______ as its primary neurotransmitter at most postganglionic junctions.
[norepinephrine]
What is the function of the enteric nervous system (ENS)?
Regulation of gastrointestinal motility and secretions
What are the effects of sympathetic stimulation on the heart?
Increases heart rate and contractility
What are the effects of parasympathetic stimulation on the heart?
Decreases heart rate and atrioventricular conduction
What is the role of catecholamine transport in neurotransmission?
Facilitates neuronal reuptake of norepinephrine
What is the clinical use of adrenoceptor antagonists?
Reduce excessive sympathetic stimulation of various organs
What are drugs that bind and activate the α or β – adrenoceptors called?
Direct acting adrenoceptors agonists
Examples include albuterol, dobutamine, and epinephrine
What is the effect of cocaine and amphetamine on epinephrine?
They increase the concentration of epinephrine by inhibiting its reuptake
Their vasoconstrictive effect enhances the accumulation of epinephrine in localized areas
What defines indirect acting adrenoceptor agonists?
Drugs that increase epinephrine concentration without directly activating adrenoceptors
Examples include cocaine and amphetamine
What do some drugs do to norepinephrine to exert effects on the CNS?
They inhibit the breakdown of norepinephrine by COMT and MAO
What initiates the baroreceptor reflex when blood pressure increases?
Activation of mechanoreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus
What is the result of increased blood pressure on heart rate?
Reflex bradycardia
This occurs due to vagal outflow leading to decreased heart rate and sympathetic nerve outflow
What happens when a drug lowers blood pressure sufficiently?
It may reduce baroreceptor tone, leading to reflex tachycardia
What is reflex tachycardia?
An acceleration of heart rate due to reduced baroreceptor tone
