CNS Pharmacology Flashcards
What is the difference between typical and atypical anti-psychotics?
Typical - strong antagonist of D2 dopamine receptor, with little activity on D4
Atypical - antagonist on D4, less so on D2
What is the difference between D1, D5 receptors, and D2-4 receptors?
D1, D5 - activate Gs -> increase in cAMP
De2-4 - activate Gi -> decrease in cAMP
What do GABA receptors do?
Activate Cl- channels that hyperpolarize the neuron
What is the activity of glycine receptors?
Like GABA, activate Cl- channels
What are the differences in positive and negative symptoms?
Positive - hallucinations, delusions, etc.; prob linked to excess dopamine
Negative - loss of affect, catatonia; linked to prefrontal pathology
5-HT is a receptor for which NT?
Serotonin
What is the purpose of antipsychotics that end in -azine?
Block D2 receptors to reduce dopamine activity thus reducing positive schizophrenia symptoms
What is the glutamate hypothesis for schizophrenia?
Hypofunction of NMDA receptors could lead to negative symptoms
What is the current thoughts process in treating schizophrenia?
Combined 5-HT2/D2 antagonists
Which anti-psychotics cause the most extrapyramidal effects?
Typical anti-psychotics
This is why anti-typical are more popular today
What is the difference between sadness and depression?
Sadness is not chronic
What are the three ways that anti-depressants act?
- Block transmitter uptake
- Inhibit MAO
- Inhibit presynaptic auto-receptors
What are the common effects of all anti-depressants?
Enhance activities of dopamine, 5-HT (serotonin), and/or norepinephrine
What makes SSRIs better anti-depressants than TCAs?
SSRIs specifically block the re-uptake of serotonin
TCAs are non specific re-uptake blockers and have many more side effects
What are some of the significant side effects with TCAs?
Initial drowsiness, anxiety, confusion (goes away after several weeks)
Dry mouth, constipation, sexual dysfunction
Hypotension, arrhythmia
What is an SNRI?
Inhibits reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine
How do MOAIs work?
Inhibit the enzyme that breaks down dopamine, 5-HT, and norepinephrine
T/F: MOAIs are commonly used to treat Parkinson’s.
True
__________ is an anti-depressant that blocks presynaptic autoreceptors.
Mirtazapine
What makes nefazodone, trazodone, and mirtazapine different from most anti-depressants?
They are serotonin receptor antagonists
Specifically, _________ neuron loss in the ____________ leads to Parkinson’s.
Dopaminergic; substantia nigra
Neuron loss will eventually reach a ____________ with age, and will then produce symptoms of disease.
Threshold