ICL 1.6: Autonomic Nervous System Pharmacology II Flashcards
what is the main way that catecholamine effects are terminated?
reuptake into the presynaptic cells via transport
catecholamines = epinephrine, norepinephrine
cholinergic is mainly degradation via AChE
what are the targets for direct-acting drugs?
receptors
ex. adrenergic receptors aka α, β and DA
how might you increase NE signaling?
- agonist at adrenergic receptors**
- block reuptake transport**
- inhibit enzymatic degradation
- auto/heteroreceptors that control negative feedback
how do presynaptic auto receptors and heteroreceptors work?
they are negative feedback mechanisms
if you get enough norepinephrine in the synapse it binds to the autoreceptors on the presynaptic neuron and turns down NE signaling
heteroreceptors are when other NT bind and turns down NE signaling
how might you decrease NE signaling?
- adrenergic receptor antagonists**
- up regulate transporters or degradative enzymes
- block neurotransmission in general
what is the mechanism of adrenergic receptors?
they’re all GPCRs!
α1 = Gq α2 = Gi β1-3 = Gs DA = Gs
Gq = IP3 pathway, increases Ca+2, contraction
Gi = decreases cAMP, contraction
Gs = increases cAMP
what are the key effects of α1 adrenergic receptors?
- vascular smooth muscle constriction in skin and splanchnic**
- radial muscle contraction = mydriasis
- bladder sphincter and prostate contraction
- increases heart force
- ejaculation
- constrict GI sphincters
what are the key effects of α2 adrenergic receptors?
- inhibits NE release presynaptically** (basically autoreceptors)
- decreases SNS outflow from the brain**
- constriction of blood vessels
- decreases eye fluid production
- decrease tone, motility and secretions in the GI
what are the key effects of β1 adrenergic receptors?
- increase heart rate and force**
2. increases renin release in the kidney
what are the key effects of β2 adrenergic receptors?
- bronchodilator of airway smooth muscles**
- vascular smooth muscle dilation in skeletal muscles**
- increase eye fluid production
- relaxation of the detrusor in the bladder to keep bladder in
- uterus relaxation to keep baby in
- increase glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
what are the key effects of β3 adrenergic receptors?
increase lipolysis
what’s the bioavailability of catecholamines?
catecholamines are rapidly and extensively metabolized by COMT and MAO in periphery
short t½
poor PO bioavailability
poor CNS penetration
ex. epinephrine and dopamine
what’s the bioavailability of noncatecholamines?
they have an absence of one or both OH groups on the ring – catecholamines look like a cat with the two OH groups!
higher PO bioavailability
longer duration of action
can enter CNS
ex. amphetamine, phenylephrine
what is the term that quantifies affinity of a drug for its receptor?
potency
Kd = dissociation constant
higher affinity = lower Kd
the lower the amount of the drug you need to block 50% of the receptor, the higher the potency
but as concentrations increase, drugs will begin binding to other targets as well
which drugs are α1 agonists?
- phenylephrine
2. midodrine
what effects do α1 agonists have?
- vasoconstriction of vascular smooth muscle in the skin and splanchnic
- radial muscle contraction = mydriasis
- bladder sphincter and prostate contraction
- increases heart force
- ejaculation
- constrict GI sphincters
what is phenylephrine?
α1 agonist
treats rhinitis (OTC nasal spray; Afrin®)
treats eye redness, irritation (OTC 0.12% eye drops; Refresh®)
mydriatic for ophthalmology (Rx 2.5% eye drops; Glaucon®)
so at low doses it treat eye redness but at a high enough dose it’ll dilate your pupils!
also treats hypotension resulting from vasodilation associated with septic shock or anesthesia (IV)
what is midodrine?
α1 agonist
treats orthostatic hypotension (PO; Orvaten®) via vasoconstriction effects
some side effects:
1. urine retention (α1 constricts prostate, bladder sphincter)
- goose bumps (α1 causes piloerection)
- bradycardia
how do α1 agonist cause bradycardia?
α1 agonist constrict blood vessels which increases BP and consequently activates baroreceptors which acutely oppose the change in BP
this results in decreased CO, peripheral resistance and HR = bradycardia!
so the α1 agonist are constricting blood vessels and the baroreceptors drop the HR to try and counteract it
which drugs are α2 agonists?
- clonidine
- tizanidine
- brimonidine
what do α2 agonists do?
- inhibits NE release presynaptically** (basically autoreceptors)
- decreases SNS outflow from the brain**
- constriction of blood vessels
- decreases eye fluid production
- decrease tone, motility and secretions in the GI
what is clonidine?
α2 agonist
hypertension (adjunct treatment); acts centrally to reduce SNS outflow (transdermal or PO; Catapres®)
medically supervised opioid withdrawal (reduces physical symptoms e.g., sweating, cramping, chills)
analgesic effects for severe pain (epidural)
treats symptoms of ADHD, tic disorders (Kapvay®)
rapid discontinuation –> rebound hypertension
side effects: dry mouth, sedation
what is tizanidine?
α2 agonist
central-acting muscle relaxant (PO; Zanaflex®)
side effects: sedation, hypotension, dry mouth
what is brimonidine?
α2 agonist
treats glaucoma - reduces IOP by decreasing aqueous humor production and stimulating its outflow (eye drops; Alphagan P®)
treats eye redness by constricting vessels in the eye (OTC eye drops; Lumify®)
side effects: drowsiness, conjunctivitis and eye itching, dry mouth
no mydriasis (no α1 effect on iris)
administered 3-4x daily (not first choice for glaucoma due to ocular side effects, dose frequency)