Neuroeffector Drugs Intro

Question 1

Sympathetic Nerves

Fight or Flight

Answer 1

Originate in the Thoracic and Lumbar sections
Synapse in the paraverteberal symp. ganglia (22 pairs)
Have short Pre-Ganglionic neurons (Ach)
Long Post-Ganglionic neurons (NE)

Question 2

Parasympathetic Nerves

Rest and Digest

Answer 2

Originate in the Cranio-Saccral regions
Long pre-ganglionic neurons (Ach)
Short post-ganglionic neurons (Ach)

Cranial Nerves III, V, VII, IX, and X contain parasympathetic fibers.

Question 3

Adrenal Medulla

Answer 3

Kidney Hat
Innervated by pre-ganglionic Cholinergic neurons
Chromaffin cells release Epi into the blood stream

Question 4

Nicotinic

Answer 4

Pre-Ganglionic

Question 5

Muscarinic

Answer 5

Parasympathetic post-ganglionic

Question 6

Adrenergic

Answer 6

Sympathetic post-ganglionic

Question 7

Alpha Receptors

Answer 7

activate vasoconstriction

Question 8

Beta Receptors

Answer 8

activate vasodilation

Question 9

Dobutamine

Answer 9

Selective B1 receptor agonist
Used to treat shock and cardiac arrest
Cannot be given orally
Longer half life than epi but still only 2 minutes

Question 10

Albuterol

Answer 10

selective B2 adrenergic receptor agonist
used to treat athsma
a poor substrate for MAO, it has a half life of several hours
increases heart rate, elevates blood glucose, muscle tremor
Contraindicated by cardiac disease & diabetes

Question 11

Phenylephrine

Answer 11

selective A1 adrenergic receptor agonist
used as a vasoconstricting decongestant
half life of several hours
contraindicated by MAO-Is

Question 12

Clonidine

Answer 12

Adrenergic A2 receptor agonist
Used to treat HTN, administered by patch or orally
Half life of several hours
Used in eye drops (redness and glaucoma)

Question 13

Phenelzine (Nardil), Tranylcypromine (Parnate), and Selegiline (Deprenyl)

Answer 13

All inhibit MAO activity, which increases the action of catecholamines (epi and norepi) by slowing their degradation (this makes it a sympathomimetic drug)

Potential hypertensive crisis when taken with other sympathomimetics or foods rich in dietary amines (wine, cheese, beer, chocolate, etc) which are also broken down by MAOs

Question 14

Methylphenidate (Ritalin), and Dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

Answer 14

bind to re-uptake transporters (NET), and vesicular transporters (VMAT) to cause reverse catecholamine transport. Indirect acting sympathomimetics.

taken orally, crosses blood/brain barrier, can cause HTN, tachycardia, insomnia, and GI problems.