Mobility/Antiparkinsonian agents

Question 1

dopamine (decarboxylase) Inhibitors

Answer 1

-dopa; levodopa, carbidopa-levodopa

• increase effects of dopamine at receptor sites or inhibits breakdown of dopamine

Treats: parkinson’s disease or symptoms

Contraindications: angle-closure glaucoma, pregnant/breastfeeding women, nonselective MAOI, Vitamin B6, foods w/ tyramine,
Caution w/ CV disease, MI infarction, arrhythmias, hypertension, bronchial asthma, peptic ulcers, GU obstruction, psychological disorders

Question 2

anticholinergic

Answer 2

benztropine

• block central cholinergic receptors

Treats: parkinsonism (idiopathic, atherosclerotic, postencephalitic), relief of symptoms of extrapyramidal disorders

Contraindications: narrow-angle glaucoma, GI obstruction, GU obstruction, prostatic hypertrophy, myasthenia gravis
Caution should be taken with tachycardia, dysrhythmias, hypertension, hypotension, pregnancy/breastfeeding, individuals working in hot environments (reflex sweating may be blocked)

• decreases effects of parasympathetic nervous system; increases effects of sympathetic nervous system
• Dopaminergic drugs may become less effective/ineffective

Question 3

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Answer 3

donepezil, rivastigmine

• prevents acetylcholinesterase from breaking down acetylcholine
• parasympathomimetic

Direct-acting:
- occupy receptor sites for ACh on membranes of effector cells of postganglionic cholinergic nerves
Indirect-acting:
- cause increased stimulation of the ACh receptor sites by reacting with acetylcholinesterase

Treats: Myasthenia gravis, Alzheimer’s

Contraindications: GI/GU obstructions, bradycardia, parkinsonism, peptic ulcer, arrhythmias, coronary disease, asthma

Question 4

Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 4

• A degenerative disease in the cerebral cortex where there is a loss of acetylcholine producing cells and choline receptors causing progressive dementia.

Question 5

Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 5

• Disease characterized by the degeneration of dopamine releasing neurons in the basal ganglia, which causes motor system dysfunction

Question 6

Dopamine Agonist

Answer 6

Ropinrole

• Stimulates dopamine receptors

Treats: Parkinson’s