Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitters in the ANS and SNS Flashcards
What does botulinum toxin do?
Blocks vesicular exocytosis for acetylcholine by cleaving SNARE proteins
What do anticholinesterases do?
Inhibit the enzyme acetylcholine esterase so prevent breakdown of acetylcholine in the synapse.
What does edrophonium do?
It is an anticholinesterase that has a short duration of action and is used in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis via the ‘tensilon’ test.
What does neostigmine/pyridostigmine do?
It is an anticholinesterase that is used to reverse the effect of neuromuscular blockers and is used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis
What does donepezil do?
It is an anticholinesterase that can enter the CNS and is used in the treatment of alzheimers
What is myasthenia gravis?
It is an autoimmune disease which attacks nicotinic receptors by destroying the architecture of the NMJ and internalising the receptors. It is a chronic progressive disorder.
What are the subtypes of nicotinic receptors?
Nm in the skeletal muscle and Nn at autonomic ganglia
What is varenicline?
A partial agonist of nicotinic receptors in the CNS
What is tubocurarine?
An antagonist of the nicotinic receptor Nm
What is vecuronium?
An antagonist of the nicotinic receptor Nm
What is hexamethonium?
An antagonist of the Nn receptor
What are the effects of muscarinic receptor agonists?
salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, sweating, slowing of the heart, bronchoconstriction, vasodilation
What is pilocarpine?
A muscarinic receptor agonist used to reduce intra ocular pressure in the treatment of glaucoma
What are the effects of muscarinic receptor antagonists?
reduced salivation, reduced lacrimation, reduced urination, reduced defecation, reduced sweating, tachycardia, bronchodilation
What is atropine?
A muscarinic receptor antagonist used to give bronchodilation before anaesthesia, to treat braycardia, to reverse cholinesterase poisoning and to dilate pupils in an eye exam
What is hyoscine?
A muscarinic receptor antagonist used to treat motion sickness
What is ipratopum?
A muscarinic receptor antagonist that is inhaled and used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What is cocaine?
A noradreneline reuptake inhibitor
What are tricyclic antidepressants?
Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
What are MAO inhibitors?
Drugs which inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase so stop noradrenaline being metabolised and enhance its effects
What is an indirectly acting sympathomimetic?
A drug which displaces NA from storage in vesicles so forces it to be transported out of synapse via reverse acting reuptake 1 and increases amount of NA in the synapse
What are amphetamines?
Indirectly acting sympathomimetics
What is ephedrine?
An indirectly acting sympathomimetic
What is pseuoephedrine?
An indirectly acting sympathomimetic - nasal decongestant
What is tyramine?
An indirectly acting sympathomimetic which is usually metabolised by MAO but will have effects if taking MAO inhibitors. It is found in some foods.
Where are beta 1 adrenoceptors located?
In the heart
Where are beta 2 adrenoceptors located?
In the airways
What is isoprenaline?
A beta 1 and 2 agonist
What is propranolol?
A beta 1 and 2 antagonist
What is debutamine?
A beta 1 agonist - used in heart failure
What is atenolol?
A beta 1 antagonist - used for hypertension
What is salbutamol?
A beta 2 agonist - used for asthma
Where are alpha 1 adrenoceptors located and what do they cause?
Located in the blood vessels and cause vasoconstriction
What is phentolamine?
An alpha 1 and 2 antagonist
What is phenylephine?
An alpha 1 agonist - used as a nasal decongestant
What is prazosin?
An alpha 1 antagonist - used in hypertension
