CNS Pharamacology

Question 1

Name some fast acting drugs on the CNS?

Answer 1

Anaesthetics
Nicotine
Cocaine

Question 2

Name some slow acting drugs on the CNS.

Answer 2

Antidepressants
Antipsychotics
- several weeks before beneficial effects occur

Question 3

What is the function of the blood brain barrier?

Answer 3

Maintain a constant environment
Protect the brain from foreign substances
Protect the brain from peripheral transmitters

Question 4

Name an area of the brain located outside the BBB?

Answer 4

Area postrema - vomit reflex

Question 5

Name some things that can damage the BBB.

Answer 5

Hypertension
Infection
Trauma

Question 6

What can happen if the BBB is compromised?

Answer 6

Substance can enter the CNS and cause toxicity

- even prescribed drugs can become dangerous

Question 7

Which drugs of the CNS are administered enterally and parenterally?

Answer 7

Enteral - lipophylic drugs 
Parenteral - invasive routes (intrathecal) 
- meningitis antibiotics 
- opiate analgesics 
- regional anaesthetic (epidural)

Question 8

Name some approaches that can be administered to aid drug entry to the CNS.

Answer 8

Prodrugs (L-DOPA)
Carrier molecules
Transient BBB disruption (mannitol)

Question 9

Define anaesthetic agents

Answer 9

Drugs used to produce surgical anaesthesia

Question 10

Give some examples of analgesic agents.

Answer 10

Halothane
Desflurane
Esflourane
Propofol

Question 11

Define anxiolytics and sedatives

Answer 11

Drugs that cause sleep and reduce anxiety

Synonymous with - hypnotics, sedatives, minor tranquillisers

Question 12

Give some examples of sedatives.

Answer 12

Barbiturates

Benzodiazepines

Question 13

Define antipsychotic drugs.

Answer 13

Drugs that are effective in relieving the symptoms of schizophrenic illness (a.k.a. Neuroleptics, antischizophrenics, major tranquillisers)

Question 14

Gives some examples of antipsychotics drugs.

Answer 14

Clozapine
Chlorpromazine
Haloperidol

Question 15

Define anti-depressive drugs.

Answer 15

Drugs that alleviate the symptoms of depressive illness

Can also be known as thymoleptics

Question 16

Give some examples of anti-depressive drugs.

Answer 16

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (phenelzine)
Tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine)
SSRIs (fluoxetine)
Acute (ketamine)

Question 17

Define analgesic drugs.

Answer 17

Drugs used clinically for the alleviation of pain (painkillers)

Question 18

Give some examples of some analgesics.

Answer 18

NSAIDs
Opiates
Carbamazepine

Question 19

Define psychomotor stimulants.

Answer 19

Drugs that cause wakefulness and euphoria (psychostimulants)

Question 20

Give some examples of psychomotor stimulants.

Answer 20

Methyphenidate (Ritalin)
Amphetamine (vyvanse)
Cocaine
Caffeine

Question 21

Define psychotomimetic drugs.

Answer 21

Drugs that cause disturbance of perception and of behaviour that can’t simply be characterised as sedative or stimulant effects.
Also known as hallucinogenic and psychodyspletics

Question 22

Give some examples of psychotomimetic drugs.

Answer 22

LSD
Marijuana
Mescaline
Phencyclidine

Question 23

Define cognition enhancer drugs.

Answer 23

Drugs that improve memory and cognitive performance

Question 24

Give some examples of cognition enhancer drugs.

Answer 24

Tacrine

Donepezil

Question 25

Name some CNS drugs that don't fit into a specific category.

Answer 25

Anti-Parkinson drugs Anti-epilepsy drugs Drugs to treat addiction and dependence Lithium

Question 26

List the neurological diseases that CNS drugs can be used to treat.

Answer 26

``` Epilepsy Dementia Pain Movement disorders (PD, HD) Pain (neuropathic) Stroke ```

Question 27

List the psychiatric diseases that CNS drugs can be used to treat

Answer 27

Depression Schizophrenia Anxiety Sleep disorders

Question 28

List some other diseases that CNS drugs can help to treat.

Answer 28

Motion sickness Fever General anaesthetic

Question 29

What is the function of dopamine in the nigrostriatal system, and what do disorders of it cause.

Answer 29

Motor control | Parkinson's

Question 30

What is the function of dopamine in the mesolimbic/cortical system, and what do disorders of it cause.

Answer 30

Behavioural effects | Schizophrenia

Question 31

What is the function of dopamine in the tuberohypopyseal system, and what do disorders of it cause.

Answer 31

Suppresses prolactin release | Galactorrhea

Question 32

What is the function of dopamine in the medulla, and what do disorders of it cause.

Answer 32

Vomit response | Vomiting

Question 33

What are the main three characteristics of Parkinson's disease?

Answer 33

Rigidity Tremor Bradykinesia

Question 34

What are the possible causes of degeneration of the nigrostriatal system/Parkinson's disease?

Answer 34

Genetics - Parkin and other risk genes Age, can accompany dementia Infection, ischaemia Environmental risk factors - toxins, herbicides, pesticides

Question 35

What therapies are used in Parkinson's?

Answer 35

Therapies that enhance dopaminergic signalling in the pathway - replace dopamine (L-DOPA) - mimic the action of dopamine (D2/3 agonists - bromocriptine) - reduce breakdown of dopamine (MAOIs - selegiline) - increase dopamine release from remaining fibres (amantadine)

Question 36

What are the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 36

Positive - delusions, hallucinations, thought disorders | Negative - social withdrawal, emotional flattening, reduced drive, poverty of speech, inability to feel pleasure

Question 37

Describe the pathophysiology of schizophrenia briefly.

Answer 37

Environmental and genetic factors leading to abnormalities of the cerebral cortex Alterations in various neurotransmitter systems (dopamine, 5HT, glutamate, GABA)

Question 38

What is the dopamine theory?

Answer 38

Development of psychotic symptoms can be associated with abnormalities in the mesocortical/limbic pathways Drugs which deplete dopamine have an antipsychotic action Drugs which release dopamine generate psychotic symptoms - needs to be a balance

Question 39

What are the possible treatment options for schizophrenia?

Answer 39

All antipsychotics are currently D2 receptor blockers - typical (old) drugs - chlorpromazine and haloperidol - atypical (newer) drugs - clozapine and asenapine

Question 40

What are the possible side effects of Parkinson's treatment?

Answer 40

``` Schizophrenia symptoms (too much dopamine in mesolimbic) Nausea - caused by peripheral breakdown of dopamine Dopamine dysregulation syndrome - self control problems ```

Question 41

What are the possible side effects of Schizophrenic treatment?

Answer 41

Parkinson effects (not enough dopamine in the nigrostriatal) Sedative effect Prolactin secretion (not enough dopamine in the tuberohypopyseal) - breast swelling and galactorrhoea