Key Terms 3 Flashcards
barbiturates
a class of drugs that are chemical derivatives of barbituric acid. They can induce sedation and sleep
benzodiazepines
a chemical category of drugs most frequently prescribed as sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs
hypnotics
drugs that, when given at low to moderate dosages, calm or sooth the CNS without inducing sleep but when given at high dosages may cause sleep
REM
Rapid Eye Movement sleep. One of the stages of the sleep cycle. Some of the characteristics of REM sleep are rapid movement of the eyes, vivid dreams and irregular breathing
sedatives
drugs that have an inhibitory effect on the CNS to the degree that they reduce nervousness, excitability and irritability without causing sleep
therapeutic index
the ratio between the toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug. If the index is low, the difference between the therapeutic and toxic drug concentrations is small and use of the drug is more hazardous
Antiepileptic Drug (AED)
a substance that prevents or reduces the severity of epilepsy and different types of epileptic seizures, not just convulsive seizures
autoinduction
a metabolic process that occurs when a drug increases its own metabolism over time, leading to lower than expected drug concentrations
convulsion
a type of seizure involving excessive stimulation of neurons in the brain and characterized by the spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles
epilepsy
general term for any of a group of neurologic disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of convulsive seizures, sensory disturbances, abnormal behavior, loss of consciousness or any combination of these
seizure
excessive stimulation of neurons in the brain leading to a sudden burst of abnormal neuron activity that results in temporary changes in brain function
status epilepticus
a common seizure disorder characterized by generalized tonic-clonic convulsions that occur in succession
tonic-clonic seizure
formerly called grand mal seizure, this type of epilepsy is characterized by a series of generalized movements of tonic (stiffening) and clonic (rapid, synchronized jerking) muscular contraction
akinesia
reduction or lack of psychomotor activity of voluntary muscles
COMT inhibitor
Catechol - O - methyl transferase inhibitor. A class of indirect-acting dopaminergic drugs that work by inhibiting the enzyme COMT, which catalyzes the breakdown of dopamine
chorea
a condition characterized by involuntary, purposeless, rapid motions such as flexing and extending the fingers, raising and lowering the shoulders or grimacing. In some forms, the person is also irritable, emotionally unstable, weak, restless and fretful
dopaminergic drugs
drugs used to replace the deficiency of dopamine at dopamine receptors in the nerve endings, especially in the brain when treating Parkinson’s disease (PD)
dyskinesia
an impaired ability to execute voluntary movements
dystonia
impaired or distorted voluntary movement due to a disorder of muscle tone. The condition commonly involves the head, neck and tongue and often occurs as an adverse effect of a medication
endogenous
describes any substance produced by the body’s own natural biochemistry
exogenous
describes any substance produced outside of the body that may be taken into the body