KMK oc pharm Flashcards
What percentage of topical drug concentration is lost via evaporation?
around 25%
After evaporation what are the three places a topical drug could go in the eye?
- drainage into the nasolacrimal apparatus
- absorption into the systemic circulation by the conjunctival and lid vasculature
- penetration into the cornea
Which layers of the eye and tears are lipid vs. water soluble, (affecting bioavailability of topical drugs)?
lipid soluble: lipid and mucous layer of tears, epi and endothelium of cornea
water soluble: aqueous and mucous layer of tears, stroma of cornea
What drug solubility composition is best for maximizing bioavailability?
small, uncharged (non-ionized), lipid-soluble molecules
Ocular drugs are formulated most often as _______ because this allows more non-ionized portions of the drug and better bioavailability
formulated most often as weak bases
What regions of the CNS are sympathetic cell bodies located
thoraco-lumbar regions
What regions of the CNS are parasympathetic cell bodies located
cranio-sacral regions
Preganglionic neurons are longer in which autonomic pathway?
parasympathetic
Postganglionic neurons are longer in which autonomic pathway?
sympathetic
The sympathetic system acts on which receptors?
alpha and beta
The parasympathetic system acts on which receptors?
muscarinic
What are the major actions of the parasympathetic system?
“rest and digest”, bronchoconstriction, miosis, vasodilation, increase SLUD: salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation
What are the major actions of the sympathetic system?
“fight or flight”, bronchodilation, mydriasis, vasoconstriction, decrease in secretions
What are the cholinergic receptors in the eye?
M3 in iris sphincter for miosis, M2/M3 in ciliary muscle for accommodation, and M2/M3 in lacrimal gland for tears production
What are the adrenergic receptors in the eye?
a1 in iris dilator, a2 in CB vasculature (reduces aqueous production), b2 in TM and ciliary muscle, and b2/b1 in NPCE (increases aqueous production)
What eye conditions/diseases are cholinergic agonists commonly used to treat?
glaucoma and accommodative esotropia
Why are cholinergic agonists used to treat accommodative esotropia?
Directly stimulating the cholinergic receptors on the ciliary muscle decreases the amount of CNS stimulation to the ciliary muscle resulting in reduced convergence (which depends on CNS stimulation)
What is the MOA of pilocarpine?
stimulates the longitudinal muscle of CB, which pulls posteriorly on the scleral spur and opens up the trabecular spaces for an increase in outflow and decrease in IOP
Clinical uses for pilocarpine:
- utilized after angle closure attack and in preparation for LPI
- 1% pilocarpine used to differentiate a CN3 palsy from a sphincter tear in a patient with a fixed dilated pupil (palsies will still constrict pupil)
- 0.125% pilocarpine used in dx of Adie’s tonic pupil, supersensitized will respond with miosis even to the diluted drug
What are the main side effects of pilocarpine?
brow ache, headache (tension), myopic shifts, miosis, cataracts after long-term use, RRDs, secondary angle closure glaucoma (pupillary block)
What are indirect cholinergic agonists?
anticholinesterase agents (AchE inhibitors) act as indirect agonists by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase which normally breaks down ACh
Edrophonium (Enlon)
an AchE inhibitor, used in dx of myasthenia gravis (Tensilon test), if ptosis improves the test is positive
rapid onset (30-60s) and short duration (10min)
Neostigmine (Prostigmin)
an AchE inhibitor, treatment of myasthenia gravis, and for limb strength eval (Neostigmine test)
Echothiophate (Phospholine)
an AchE inhibitor, can be used for the dx or tx of accommodative esotropia, rarely for glaucoma
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon)
an AchE inhibitor, used for tx of myasthenia gravis
Which AchE inhibitors are irreversible and have more side effects?
Echothiophate and isofluorophate
Pralidoxime (Protopam)
IV drug used to reverse the effects of irreversible AchE inhibitors, usually in cases of pesticide poisoning
What is the MOA for cholinergic antagonists?
these drugs block ACh at muscarinic receptor sites in the ciliary body and iris (sphincter) resulting in dilation and cycloplegia
Which cholinergic antagonist has the fastest onset and shortest duration of mydriatic effects?
tropicamide, mydriasis onset of 20-30min and duration of 6 hours
Which cholinergic antagonist has the highest potential for severe side effects?
Scopolamine - hallucinations, amnesia, unconsciousness, confusion, incoherence, vomiting, urinary incontinence, etc.
Which cholinergic antagonist is commonly used for treating anterior uveitis?
Homatropine is the standard, but atropine and cyclopentolate can also be used
What are the symptoms of atropine toxicity?
dry mouth (usually 1st sign), dry flushed skin, rapid pulse, disorientation, fever
Which cholinergic antagonist has the fastest onset and shortest duration of cycloplegic effects?
Cyclopentolate, average cycloplegic onset of 45mins, (20-45min for mydriatic effect), routine for cycloplegic refractions in pts under 10yo especially
What are the three ways that homatropine helps in treating anterior uveitis?
- dilates the pupil and decreases the likelihood of posterior synechiae formation
- reduces pain by paralyzing ciliary and sphincter muscles
- stabilizes the blood-aqueous barrier by constricting the iris and CB vasculature to limit passage of blood contents into the aqueous humor
How does botulina toxin (Botox) work?
somatic drug that blocks the release of ACh at the neuromuscular junction, which inhibits muscle contraction
Which receptors do epinephrine and norepinephrine act on?
Epinephrine acts on all four adrenergic receptors, a1/a2/b1/b2, and norepinephrine does not act on b2
What is the MOA of phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)?
a1 agonist, no effect on beta receptors, allows dilation without cycloplegia
Clinical uses of phenylephrine besides dilation:
- palpebral widening (Mullers muscle)
- blanches conj vessels to indicate episcleritis from scleritis
- dx Horner’s syndrome
- 10% phenyl for breaking posterior synechiae (*adverse CV effects!*)
Phenylephrine 10% is contraindicated in:
patients taking MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, atropine, patients with Graves disease and heart conditions
Naphazoline (Naphcon) and Tetrahydrozoline (Visine)
topical ocular decongestants to constrict conj blood vessels, greater alpha effects than beta, have the potential to depress the CNS
What common drop use can cause fixed dilated pupils if used excessively?
Visine, because of alpha effects on the radial muscle of the iris
What is the MOA for alpha2 agonists used for glaucoma treatment?
decreasing aqueous humor production by causing vasoconstriction of the CB vasculature and also increases uveoscleral outflow
Which alpha agonist glaucoma drop is highly selective a2 agonist with no a1 effects?
Brimonidine (Alphagan 0.20%), allows effective IOP lowering and long-term tx of glaucoma
Which glaucoma drops have shown neuroprotective properties?
Brimonidine and Betaxolol
What is the difference between Alphagan-P (0.10 or 0.15%) and Alphagan 0.20% besides concentration?
Alphagan-P has purite as the preservative which is believed to have decreased the incidence of allergic or toxic reactions to the drop that before was causing follicular conjunctivitis (30% of pts had to d/c bc of)
What is the recommended dosing for Alphagan when it is the only drop being used?
TID, relatively short duration of action
What is another use for brimonidine besides in glaucoma patients?
causes miosis, so can be used to reduce glare, halos, and other night vision symptoms for patients after LASIK, PRK, etc.
When is brimonidine contraindicated?
in patients taking MAOIs