L23: Pharmacology Of CNS And Breathing Flashcards
Where can drugs act to affect breathing
Lungs
CNS
Where in the brain are drugs likely to act on to affect breathing
Brainstem
What are in the brainstem
A collection of automatic neurone nuclei such as DRG, VRG, PRG and botzinger complex
What are the functions of respiratory stimulants
Increase ventilation
What are the examples of respiratory stimulants
Doxapram
Aminophyllines
What is the mechanism of action of doxapram
Stimulates carbon dioxide and oxygen chemoreceptors by non specific action to increase the electrical activity of the neurones
What are the adverse effects of respiratory stimulants
They can work on any other neurones to cause
Cardiac arrhythmia
When is doxapram used
In emergencies such as:
Acute ventilator failure with COPD
Post operative respiratory depression
What are respiratory depressants
Any agent which has a generalised CNS depressant that depresses ventilation via action at the nuclei in the brainstem
What are the examples of respiratory depressants drugs
General anaesthetic Alcohol Barbiturates Opioids Benzodiazepines
Do respiratory depressants completely shut down the breathing system
No they decrease the activity
What are the 2 sorts of general anaesthetic
Volatile (inhaled)
Injected
What happens to the physiological response when patients inhale general Anaesthetics
Reduced response in central chemoreceptors
What happens as a consequence of reducing the response of central chemoreceptors
Paco2 increases
What is the mechanism of action for general anaesthetics
Not really sure but has an effect on the neurotransmitter of GABA