Cholinergic Drugs

Question 1

Bethanechol

Answer 1

muscarinic agonist; stimulant of GI tract and bladder post op

• specific for M3 receptor (little effect on heart’s M2 receptor)
• resistant to cholinesterases

Question 2

Muscarine

Answer 2

muscarinic agonist; mainly acts in eye

-treats glaucoma (releases aq humors–> decrease in intraocular pressure)

Question 3

pilocarpine

Answer 3

muscarinic agonist; acts in eye and mouth

• treats xerostemia (dry mouth) by increasing saliva production
• treats glaucoma

Question 4

atropine

Answer 4

muscarinic antagonist: paraysmpatholytic, competitive blocker that mainly acts in heart and eye

• treats bradycardia by increasing HR
• dilates pupils
• treats anti-cholinesterase overdose

Question 5

scopolamine

Answer 5

muscarinic antagonist, mainly acts on vestibular apparatus

- treats motion sickness (can cross BBB, also means there are psych SFX)

Question 6

nicotine

Answer 6

nicotinic agonist

• release of Epi from adrenal medulla
• biphasic effect

Question 7

hexamethonium

Answer 7

nicotinic antagonist: inhibits autonomic ganglia, (inhibits predominant tone)
-treats HTN

Question 8

anticholinesterases

Answer 8

Bind AchE and ButChE to prevent ACh breakdown, parasympathomimetics

Question 9

physostigmine

Answer 9

an anti-cholinesterase; acts on GI mostly to increase GI motility
-treats atropine belladona poisoning / atropine overdose

Question 10

neostigmine

Answer 10

an anti-cholinesterase; treats lack of GI/bladder tone, treats myasthenia gravis by increasing transmission at NMJ.