Neuro drugs Flashcards
What classes of drugs can be used to treat glaucoma?
alpha-agonists, beta-blockers, diuretics, cholinomimetics, prostaglandin
Alpha-agonists for glaucoma
Epinephrine (alpha1), Brimonidine (alpha2)
Mechanism: both decrease aqueous humor synthesis (epinephrine via vasoconstriction)
Side effects: mydriasis (epinephrine) blurry vision, ocular hyperemia, foreign body sensation, allergic rxn, ocular pruritis
When is epinephrine contraindicated for use in glaucoma?
Do NOT use with closed-angle glaucoma! Will make it worse
Beta-blockers for glaucoma
Timolol, betaxolol, carteolol
mechanism: decrease aqueous humor synthesis
diuretics for glaucoma
Acetazolamide
Mechanism: decrease aqueous humor synthesis via inhibition of carbonic anhydrase
cholinomimetics for glaucoma
Direct: pilocarpine, carbachol
Indirect: physostigmine, echothiophate
Mechanism: increase outflow of aqueous humor via ciliary muscle contraction and opening trabecular meswork
side effects: miosis and cyclospams (contraction of ciliary muscle)
What is the best drug to use in glaucoma emergency?
Pilocarpine - very effective at opening meshwork into canal of Schlemm
Prostaglandin for glaucoma
Latanoprost (PGF2alpha)
Mechanism: increase outflow of aqueous humor
Side effects: darkening of iris
What is the mechanism of opioid analgesics?
Agonists at opioid receptors (mu=morphine, delta= enkephalin, kappa= dynorphin) -> open K+ channels and close Ca2+ channels -> decrease synaptic transmission
Inhibit release of ACh, NE, 5-HT, glutamate, substance P
What are examples of opioid analgesics and what is their clinical use?
morphine, codeine, fentanyl, meperidine, pentazocine
Pain, cough suppression - dextromethorphan
diarrhea - loperamide, diphenoxylate
acute PE
maintenance for heroin addicts (methadone, buprenorphine + naloxone)
What are the toxicities of opioid analgesics?
addiction, respiratory depression, constipation, miosis, additive CNS depression. Do NOT develop tolerance to miosis and constipation. Toxicity treated with naloxone or naltrexone (opioid antagonist)
Butorphanol
mechanism: kappa-opioid receptor agonist and mu-opioid receptor partial antagonist
Use: severe pain (migraine, labor); causes less respiratory depression than full opioid agonists
Toxicity: can cause opioid withdrawal symptoms if patient also taking full opioid agonist (acts as competition), overdose not easily reversed with naloxone
Tramadol
Mechanism: very weak opioid agonist; also inhibits 5-HT and NE reuptake
Use: chronic pain
Toxicity: similar to opioids, decreases seizure threshold, serotonin syndrome
What is first line for simple partial seizures?
Carbamazepine
What is first line for complex partial seizures?
Carbamazepine
What is first line for tonic-clonic seizures?
Phenytoin, carbamazepine or valproic acid
What is first line for absence seizures?
Ethosuximide
What is first line for status epilepticus? What is used for prophylaxis for status epilepticus
acute: Benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam)
prophylaxis: Phenytoin
Ethosuximide
Uses: 1st line for absence seizures
Mechanism: blocks thalamic T-type Ca2+ channels
Side effects: GI, fatigue, HA, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Notes: “Sux to have Silent Seizures”
Benzodiazepines
Diazepam, lorazepam, triazolam, temazepam, oxazepam, midazolam, chlordiazepoxide, alprazolam
Uses: Anxiety, spasticity, acute status epilepticus (diazepam, lorazepam), detoxification (especially alcohol - DTs), night terrors, sleep walking, general anesthesia
Mechanism: increases action of GABA-A by increasing FREQUENCY of Cl- channel opening. Decreases REM sleep.
(Note: alprazolam, triazolam, oxazepam and midazolam are short acting -> higher addiction potential)
Side effects: Sedation, tolerance, dependence, respiratory depression (less risk of respiratory depression than barbituates) *Treat overdose with flumazenil (competitive antagonist)
Notes: Also used for eclampsia seizures, but 1st line is MgSO4
Phenytoin
Uses: 1st line for tonic-clonic seizures, prophylaxis for status epilepticus, also used for partial seizures
Mechanism: increase Na+ channel inactivation, 0-order kinetics!!
Side effects: nystagmus, diplopia, ataxia, gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, peripheral neuropathy, megaloblastic anemia, TERATOGEN, SLE-like syndrome, induces P450, LAD, Stevens-Johnson, osteopenia
Notes: Fosphenytoin for IV
Carbamazepine
Uses: a first line drug for partial seizures and tonic-clonic seizures
Mechanism: increases Na+ channel inactivation
Side effects: Diplopia, ataxia, blood dyscrasias (agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia), hepatotoxicity, induction of P450, SIADH, Steven-Johnson syndrome, CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY- teratogenesis,
Notes: 1st line for trigeminal neuralgia
Valproic acid
Uses: one of the 1st line drugs for tonic-clonic seizures, also used for partial seizures and absence seizures
Mechanism: increases Na+ channel inactivation, increases GABA by inhibiting GABA transaminase
Side effects: GI distress, rare but fatal hepatotoxicity (measure LFTs), tremor, weight gain, CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY - neural tube defects
Notes: also used for myoclonic seizures, bipolar disorder
Gabapentin
Uses: simple and complex partial seizures
Mechanism: inhibits high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels; GABA analog
Side effects: sedation, ataxia
Notes: also used for peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia