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Flashcards in Neuro - Pharmacology Deck (149)
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1
Q

Which two -agonists are used to treat glaucoma?

A

Epinephrine and brimonidine

2
Q

How do -agonists treat glaucoma?

A

They decrease aqueous humor synthesis

3
Q

Which -agonist is contraindicated for closed-angle glaucoma?

A

Epinephrine

4
Q

Which -blockers are used to treat glaucoma?

A

Timolol, betaxolol, carteolol

5
Q

By what mechanism do -blockers treat glaucoma?

A

They decrease aqueous humor secretion

6
Q

How does acetazolamide treat glaucoma?

A

It decreases aqueous humor secretion by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase

7
Q

Which four cholinomimetics are used to treat glaucoma?

A

Pilocarpine, carbachol, physostigmine, echothiophate

8
Q

By what mechanism do cholinomimetics treat glaucoma?

A

They increase outflow of aqueous humor, contract the ciliary muscle, and open the trabecular meshwork

9
Q

Which drug is used for glaucoma in emergencies?

A

Pilocarpine

10
Q

Which prostaglandin increases the outflow of aqueous humor in glaucoma? Of which prostaglandin is it an analog?

A

Latanoprost; prostaglandin F2

11
Q

A patient’s new glaucoma drug is causing browning of the iris. What is she taking?

A

Latanoprost

12
Q

Morphine, fentanyl, codeine, heroin, methadone, meperidine, and dextromethorphan are in which category of drugs?

A

Opioid analgesics

13
Q

What is the mechanism of action of opioid analgesics?

A

They act as agonists at the mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors to modulate synaptic transmission

14
Q

Match the following substances with the opioid receptor (mu/delta/kappa) that they bind most avidly: morphine, dynorphin, enkephalin.

A

Dynorphin is avidly bound to the kappa receptor, enkephalin is avidly bound to the delta receptor, and morphine is avidly bound to the mu receptor

15
Q

Which opioid agonist is used for cough suppression?

A

Dextromethorphan

16
Q

Which two opioid agonists are used to alleviate diarrhea?

A

Loperamide and diphenoxylate

17
Q

Which opioid analgesic is used for maintenance programs for heroin addicts?

A

Methadone

18
Q

What changes in neurotransmitter release result from opioid receptor agonists?

A

They inhibit release of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate, and substance P

19
Q

A patient well-known to the emergency department presents with respiratory depression, constipation, and miosis. What is the most likely cause of her condition?

A

Opioid toxicity

20
Q

Despite requiring increasing doses for recreational use, which two adverse effects of opioid use will patients not develop tolerance to?

A

Miosis and constipation

21
Q

Which two drugs are used to treat opioid toxicity?

A

Naloxone or naltrexone (opioid receptor antagonists)

22
Q

Butorphanol acts a partial _____ (agonist/antagonist) at opioid _____ (mu/kappa) receptors, and an _____ (agonist/antagonist) at _____ (kappa/delta) receptors.

A

Agonist; mu; agonist; kappa

23
Q

What is the toxicity of butorphanol?

A

Withdrawal if a patient is on a full opioid agonist, due to its partial agonist activity

24
Q

What is the benefit of butorphanol over other opioid analgesics?

A

Butorphanol causes less respiratory depression than full agonists

25
Q

Which analgesic drug is a weak opioid agonist and inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine uptake?

A

Tramadol

26
Q

What is the toxic effect of tramadol?

A

Decreases seizure threshold

27
Q

What is the clinical use of tramadol?

A

Chronic pain

28
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with phenytoin? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, and status epilepticus; inactivates sodium channels

29
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with carbamazepine? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; inactivates sodium channels

30
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with lamotrigine? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; inactivates sodium channels

31
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with gabapentin? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; inactivates calcium channels

32
Q

Which drug is used as a first-line agent for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia?

A

Carbamazepine

33
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with topiramate? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; inactivates sodium channels and increases GABA action

34
Q

Which epilepsy drug is the first-line agent used to treat pregnant patients?

A

Phenobarbital

35
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with phenobarbital? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; increases GABAA action

36
Q

What is the first-line agent used to prevent seizures in patients with eclampsia?

A

Magnesium sulfate

37
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with valproic acid? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic and absence generalized seizures; inactivates sodium channels, increases GABA concentration

38
Q

If magnesium sulfate fails to prevent seizures in a patient with eclampsia, what class of drugs could also be used?

A

Benzodiazepines

39
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with ethosuximide? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Absence generalized seizures; blocks thalamic T-type calcium channels

40
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with benzodiazepines? What is the mechanism of action?

A

Status epilepticus; increase the action of GABAA

41
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with tiagabine? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures; inhibits GABA reuptake

42
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with vigabatrin? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures; it irreversibly inhibits GABA transaminase, thus increasing GABA concentration

43
Q

Which types of seizures are treated with levetiracetam? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Simple and complex partial seizures and tonic-clonic generalized seizures; its mechanism is unknown, but it may modulate GABA and glutamate release

44
Q

Which two blood dyscrasias are associated with carbamazepine toxicity?

A

Agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia

45
Q

Which two epilepsy drugs may predispose individuals who are taking them to Stevens-Johnson syndrome?

A

Ethosuximide and lamotrigine

46
Q

Which antiepileptic drug may cause sedation, tolerance, and dependence in addition to inducing cytochrome P450 enzymes?

A

Phenobarbital

47
Q

What epilepsy drug may cause lupus-like syndrome and gingival hyperplasia?

A

Phenytoin

48
Q

A patient with epilepsy presents with hirsutism, megaloblastic anemia, ataxia, and gingival hyperplasia. What drug may this person be taking to help treat the epilepsy?

A

Phenytoin

49
Q

What are the adverse effects of carbamazepine use?

A

Diplopia, ataxia, blood dyscrasias, liver toxicity, teratogenesis, and the induction of cytochrome P450

50
Q

Name the toxicities of ethosuximide; use the mnemonic, EFGH.

A

Ethosuximide = Fatigue, GI distress, Headache

51
Q

Acute hepatotoxicity is associated with which antiepileptic drug?

A

Valproic acid

52
Q

Women of childbearing age who are using which two antiepileptic drugs should also be using birth control because of the teratogenic risks?

A

Valproic acid, which causes neural tube defects, and carbamazepine

53
Q

Which antiepileptic drug is associated with kidney stones and weight loss?

A

Topiramate

54
Q

Name two adverse effects of gabapentin.

A

Sedation and ataxia

55
Q

What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome?

A

A disorder characterized by a prodrome of malaise and fever followed by rapid onset of erythematous and purpuric macules found on oral, ocular, and genital surfaces that eventually progress to epidermal necrosis and the sloughing of skin

56
Q

What is the mechanism of action of phenytoin?

A

Phenytoin creates a use-dependent blockade of sodium channels and inhibits glutamate release from excitatory presynaptic neurons

57
Q

What is the teratogenic effect of phenytoin use during pregnancy?

A

Fetal hydantoin syndrome

58
Q

Which antiepileptic drug is primarily used to treat tonic-clonic seizures and is also a class IB antiarrhythmic agent?

A

Phenytoin

59
Q

A patient presents with nystagmus, ataxia, diplopia, and sedation after starting an antiepileptic drug for tonic-clonic seizures. What medication was the patient most likely started on?

A

Phenytoin

60
Q

Phenobarbital, pentobarbital, thiopental, and secobarbital are members of which class of drugs?

A

Barbiturates

61
Q

True or False? Dependence is a major adverse effect of barbiturates.

A

TRUE

62
Q

What is the mechanism of action of barbiturates?

A

Barbiturates facilitate GABAA action by increasing the duration of chloride channel opening, thereby decreasing neuron firing (remember: BarbiDURATes increase duration)

63
Q

What class of medications commonly used to treat anxiety is contraindicated for patients with porphyria?

A

Barbiturates

64
Q

What is the treatment for barbiturate overdose?

A

Assisted respiration and maintenance of blood pressure until the drug is metabolized

65
Q

What are the clinical uses of barbiturates?

A

Barbiturates are commonly used as sedatives for treating anxiety, seizures, and insomnia, and for the induction of anesthesia

66
Q

What is the effect of combining barbiturates with alcohol?

A

Barbiturates have an additive central nervous system depression effect when combined with alcohol

67
Q

What is the effect of barbiturates on cytochrome P450?

A

Barbiturates induce cytochrome P450 enzymes

68
Q

Diazepam, lorazepam, triazolam, temazepam, oxazepam, midazolam, chlordiazepoxide, and alprazolam are members of what class of drugs?

A

Benzodiazepines

69
Q

Which class of drugs used for symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (delirium tremens) has an additive central nervous system depression effect with alcohol and may result in dependence?

A

Benzodiazepines

70
Q

Compared with barbiturates, benzodiazepines carry a(n) _____ (decreased/increased) risk of respiratory depression and coma.

A

Decreased

71
Q

What is the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines?

A

Benzodiazepines facilitate GABAA action by increasing the frequency of chloride channel opening (remember: FREnzodiazepines increase FREquency)

72
Q

Most benzodiazepines have a _____ (short/long) half-life and ______ (active/inactive) metabolites.

A

Long; active

73
Q

With which drug should benzodiazepine overdose be treated? What is its mechanism of action?

A

Flumazenil; it is a competitive antagonist of GABA receptors

74
Q

What are the clinical uses of benzodiazepines?

A

Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, spasticity, status epilepticus, night terrors, and sleepwalking

75
Q

Which are the short-acting benzodiazepines?

A

Triazolam, Oxazepam, Midazolam (remember: TOM Thumb is SHORT)

76
Q

Which benzodiazepines have the higher addictive potential, short or long acting?

A

Short acting

77
Q

General anesthetics that act on the central nervous system must be _____ (lipid/water) -soluble or actively transported across the blood-brain barrier.

A

Lipid

78
Q

Nitrous oxide has _____ (high/low) blood and lipid solubility and thus _____ (fast/slow) induction.

A

Low; fast

79
Q

Halothane has high lipid and blood solubility; thus, it has _____ (high/low) potency and _____ (fast/slow) induction.

A

High; slow

80
Q

When discussing general anesthetics, the higher the lipid solubility, the _____ (higher/lower) the potency.

A

Higher

81
Q

Anesthetic drugs with _____ (low/high) solubility in the blood have rapid induction and reduced recovery times.

A

Low

82
Q

When discussing general anesthetics, what does the acronym MAC stand for and indicate? How does it relate to potency?

A

Minimal alveolar concentration at which 50% of the population is anesthetized; the lower the MAC, the more potent the anesthetic

83
Q

Name four inhaled anesthetics.

A

Halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane

84
Q

What are four common adverse effects of inhaled anesthetics?

A

Myocardial depression, respiratory depression, emesis, and increased cerebral blood flow

85
Q

Match the anesthetic to the type of toxicity: halothane, methoxyflurane, enflurane – nephrotoxicity, proconvulsant, hepatotoxicity.

A

Halothane causes hepatotoxicity; methoxyflurane causes nephrotoxicity; enflurane is a proconvulsant

86
Q

Which class of drugs can cause malignant hyperthermia, myocardial depression, and a decrease in cerebral metabolic demand?

A

Inhaled anesthetics

87
Q

Inhaled anesthetics may cause a(n) _____ (decrease/increase) in cerebral blood flow.

A

Increase

88
Q

Which barbiturate is commonly used for the induction of anesthesia and short surgical procedures?

A

Thiopental

89
Q

What is the most common drug used for anesthesia during endoscopy?

A

Midazolam

90
Q

What are two common adverse effects of midazolam?

A

Amnesia and respiratory depression

91
Q

_____, which is a phencyclidine (PCP) analog, acts as a dissociative anesthetic.

A

Ketamine

92
Q

What are the effects of ketamine and thiopental on cerebral blood flow?

A

Ketamine increases cerebral blood flow whereas thiopental decreases it

93
Q

What are three common adverse effects of ketamine?

A

Disorientation, hallucinations, and bad dreams

94
Q

Which two opiates are commonly used with other agents during general anesthesia?

A

Morphine and fentanyl

95
Q

Which intravenous lipid-based anesthetic, used for rapid anesthesia induction, results in less postoperative nausea than thiopental?

A

Propofol

96
Q

What is the only commonly used anesthesia induction agent that does not lower blood pressure?

A

Ketamine

97
Q

What is the mechanism of action of propofol?

A

Propofol potentiates GABAA

98
Q

How does the mnemonic B.B. King on OPIATES PROPOses FOOLishly help you remember the classes and drugs involved in intravenous anesthesia?

A

Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Ketamine, OPIATES, Propofol

99
Q

What is the mechanism of action of ketamine?

A

It blocks NMDA receptors

100
Q

Name three local anesthetics with an ester group.

A

Procaine, cocaine, and tetracaine

101
Q

Local anesthetics block _____ channels by binding to specific receptors on the _____ (inner/outer) portion of the channel.

A

Sodium; inner

102
Q

Local anesthetics penetrate infected tissue _____ (less/more) efficiently because of the ______ (decreased/increased) acidity in the tissue.

A

Less; increased

103
Q

A nerve blockade has the greatest effect on nerves that are _____ (myelinated/unmyelinated) and _____ (large/small). _____ (Myelination/Size) predominates over _____ (myelination/size).

A

Myelinated; small; Size; myelination; therefore, small myelinated nerves are anesthetized first, followed by small unmyelinated fibers and then large fibers

104
Q

List the order in which the following sensation is lost during nerve blockade from first to last: pressure, pain, touch, and temperature.

A

Pain, temperature, touch, and pressure

105
Q

Name three local anesthetics with an amide group.

A

Lidocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine (remember: amIdes have 2 I’s in name)

106
Q

Local anesthetics preferentially bind to ______ (activated/inactivated) sodium channels, so they are most effective in ______ (rapidly/slowly) firing neurons.

A

Activated; rapidly

107
Q

Which drug is commonly mixed with local anesthesia (except for cocaine) to enhance the local anesthesia action, to decrease bleeding, and to decrease systemic concentration?

A

Epinephrine; it acts through local vasoconstriction, which leads to less dilution of the anesthetic agent

108
Q

What amide, which is used in local anesthesia, may cause severe cardiovascular toxicity?

A

Bupivacaine

109
Q

What uncommonly used local anesthetic is a commonly abused street drug that may cause cardiac arrhythmias?

A

Cocaine

110
Q

Accidentally injecting local anesthetics such as lidocaine into a vein may cause what adverse event?

A

Cardiac arrhythmia

111
Q

Succinylcholine is a _____ (depolarizing/nondepolarizing) neuromuscular blocking agent.

A

Depolarizing

112
Q

Neuromuscular blocking drugs that are commonly used for muscle paralysis during surgery or mechanical ventilation are selective for motor _____ receptors.

A

Nicotinic

113
Q

What is the antidote to phase I (prolonged depolarization) action of succinylcholine?

A

There is no antidote

114
Q

Phase I depolarization in neuromuscular blockade is potentiated by _____ inhibitors.

A

Cholinesterase

115
Q

Name six nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs.

A

Tubocurarine, atracurium, mivacurium, pancuronium, vecuronium, and rocuronium

116
Q

Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs compete with _____ for receptors.

A

Acetylcholine

117
Q

What is the antidote for a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drug?

A

Neostigmine or edrophonium

118
Q

Use of succinylcholine may cause what two electrolyte abnormalities?

A

Hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia

119
Q

What is the antidote for phase II (repolarized but blocked) action of succinylcholine?

A

Neostigmine or other cholinesterase inhibitors

120
Q

Which drug is used to treat malignant hyperthermia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome?

A

Dantrolene

121
Q

Dantrolene can treat malignant hyperthermia via what mechanism of action?

A

By preventing the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle

122
Q

The use of which two drugs concomitantly may result in malignant hyperthermia in a patient who is genetically susceptible?

A

Inhalation anesthetics with succinylcholine

123
Q

Bromocriptine is an agonist of which neurotransmitter?

A

Dopamine

124
Q

Which selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor prevents the breakdown of dopamine in the central nervous system?

A

Selegiline

125
Q

For which parkinsonian symptoms is benztropine effective?

A

Tremor and rigidity, but not bradykinesia (remember: decrease your tremor before you drive your Mercedes-BENZ)

126
Q

Amantadine may _____ (decrease/increase) dopamine release.

A

Increase

127
Q

Name two catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors that prevent the breakdown of L-dopa in the central nervous system.

A

Entacapone and tolcapone

128
Q

Patients with parkinsonism have excess activity of what neurotransmitter?

A

Acetylcholine

129
Q

What class of medication is used to treat an essential or familial tremor?

A

-Blockers

130
Q

Which five drugs/classes are used to treat Parkinson’s disease? Use the mnemonic, BALSA.

A

Bromocriptine, Amantadine, Levodopa (with carbidopa), Selegiline (and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors), Antimuscarinics

131
Q

What drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease is also used as an antiviral agent against influenza A and rubella?

A

Amantadine

132
Q

Amantadine toxicity is characterized by what symptom?

A

Ataxia

133
Q

Which medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it is then converted into dopamine by dopa decarboxylase in the central nervous system?

A

L-dopa

134
Q

What effect may L-dopa have on the heart?

A

Arrhythmias

135
Q

Which medication is a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor that is given with L-dopa to increase its effective concentration?

A

Carbidopa

136
Q

Selegiline may _____ (increase/decrease) the adverse effects of L-dopa in patients with parkinsonian conditions.

A

Increase

137
Q

Name two drugs that are approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

A

Memantine and donepezil

138
Q

To which class of drugs does donepezil belong?

A

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

139
Q

What three side effects are associated with donepezil?

A

Nausea, dizziness, insomnia

140
Q

Which drug, used for Alzheimer;s disease, acts as a NMDA receptor antagonist?

A

Memantine

141
Q

What are the side effects of memantine?

A

Dizziness, confusion, hallucinations

142
Q

Memantine helps prevent what calcium-mediated process in Alzheimer’s disease?

A

Excitotoxicity of neurons

143
Q

Huntington’s disease is characterized by _____ (increased/decreased) dopamine, _____ (increased/decreased) GABA, and _____ (increased/decreased) acetylcholine activity.

A

Increased; decreased; decreased

144
Q

Name two amine-depleting drugs used to treat Huntington’s disease.

A

Reserpine and tetrabenazine

145
Q

Which dopamine receptor antagonist can be used to treat Huntington’s disease?

A

Haloperidol

146
Q

What is the mechanism of action of sumatriptan?

A

It is a serotonin receptor 5-HT1B/1D agonist that inhibits the trigeminal nerve and reduces vasoactive peptide release

147
Q

What adverse effects can result from sumatriptan use?

A

Coronary vasospasm and mild tingling

148
Q

Sumatriptan is used to treat what conditions?

A

Migraines and cluster headaches

149
Q

Sumatriptan is contraindicated in patients with what two conditions due to its effect of coronary vasospasm?

A

Coronary artery disease and Prinzmetal’s angina