Lecture 23 - Neuropharmacology Flashcards
What is idiopathic Parkinson’s disease?
Neurodegenerative disorder where we lose dopaminergic neurones in the substantia Nigra so the basal ganglia (putamen) receive less dopamine
What structures can form in Idiotpathic Parkinson’s disease?
Lewy bodies
What occurs in the basal ganglia due to lack of dopamine in IPD?
Loss of dopaminergic neurones in substantia nigra pars compacts means neostriatum isn’t inhibited as much
More ACh is made which impairs mobility
What are the 4 main clinical features of Parkinsonism?
Rest tremor
Lead pipe rigidity
Bradykinesia
Postural instability
What is the rest tremor that is seen in Parkinson’s?
Its a low frequency pilll rolling tremor which disappears when you ask a patient to do a movement
What is lead pipe rigidity that is seen with Parkinsonism?
Where you try and move the patients limb and there’s resisitance all the way
What is bradykinesia?
Slow in intiating movements
Shuffling steps
Lack. Of arm swinging
How do you diagnose Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease?
Clinical features of Parkinson’s (BRADYKINESIA is main one)
Must also respond to treatment of Levodopa
Structure neuro imaging is normal and other causes of parkinsonism has been ruled out
What are some non motor manifestations of Parkinson’s?
Mood changes
Hallucinations
Cognitive change
REM sleep disorder
Restless leg
Fatigue
Pain
Urinary symptoms
Sweating
Low blood pressure
What is the prognosis in Parkinson’s disease after 15years?
Most people get:
-dyskinesia (involuntary movements)
-falls
-cognitive decline (some hallucinations)
-somnolence (drowsiness and sleepiness)
-Swallowing difficulty
-hypophonia (quiet)
Describe the process of dopamine release at a synaptic cleft:
Depolarisation of dopaminergic neurone leads to Ca2+ influx
Ca2+ binds to vesicles contacting dopamine
Vesicles bind to presynaptic membrane and release contents (dopamine) into synaptic cleft via exocytosis
What is the gold standard drug for treating idiopathic Parkinson’s disease?
Levodopa
Why dont we just use dopamine to treat Parkinson’s?
Dopamine cant cross BBB whereas levodopa does
Also dopamine would cause peripheral adverse effects
Why does levodopa have a very limited effect in late stage Parkinson’s?
Levodopa works by the functioning dopaminergic neurones converting levodopa to dopamine
So in late stage Parkinson’s there are very few functioning dopaminergic neurones so little L-dopa is converted to dopamine
How is levodopa administered?
Oral administration
How is levodopa absorbed?
Active transport
What enzymes inactivate levodopa in the gut wall?
Monoamine oxidase
Dopa decarboxylase
Why does levodopa need regular dosing?
Short half life (2hrs)
This leads to fluctuations in blood levels and symptoms
What is levodopa always prescribed with?
Why?
Peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor
To prevent the conversion of levodopa into dopamine in the peripheries
What is the drug given with levodopa which is a peripheral dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor?
Carbidopa
What is the formulation called which contains levodopa and carbidopa?
Sinemet
Why is the sinemet formulation better than just levodopa?
Reduces dose required and reduced side effects since more levodopa reaches brain
What are the advantages of levodopa?
Highly efficious
Low side effects:
Nausea/anorexia (vomiting)
Hypotension
Psychosis (schizophrenia, hallucinations)
Tachycardia
What drug do you not give as an antiemetic caused by giving levodopa and why?
Metoclopramide
Can cause extrapyradimal effects causing Parkinsonian symptoms
What drug can be used as an anti-emetic caused by levodopa?
Domperidone
What are the disadvantages of levodopa?
Its a precursor so needs conversion
Long term:
-loss of efficacy
-involuntary choreform movements
-motor complications:
May get rigid
Wearing off
Dyskinesias
Dystopia (limb held in abnormal position)
Freezing (will suddenly stop and become rigid)