Neurological Pharmacology Flashcards
what are 2 ways that medications can interfere with the nervous system ?
•Alter axonal
conduction (Local anesthetic)
•Alter synaptic transmission
What is receptor agonism
same effect as naturally occurs => receptor activation
What is receptor antagonism
drug reduces or causes opposite effect
receptor deactivation/blockade
what are the steps in synaptic transmission
- NT synthesis and storage
- Release of NT into cleft
- Post synaptic receptor binding
- inactivation of NT by reuptake, enzyme degradation, diffusion
what can drugs that affect the CNS do?
•Affect movement
(Limit movement
and Cause abnormal involuntary movements)
•Induce sleep or arousal
•Treat anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric conditions
•Affect memory
•Increase attention and focus
what limitation does the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) create?
- Protects against passage of foreign substances into the brain
- damaging or therauetic drugs have hard time entering
what is a TIA and how do you decrease the risk ?
- “mini-stroke”, without permanent damage
- asprin can decrease risk bc it is an antiplatelet
What is tPA ?
- binds to fibrin in thrombus and breaks down clots
What is spasticity?
Velocity dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes & exaggerated Deep Tendon Reflexes.
- Hypertonia 2/2 Upper Motor Neuron lesion that affects descending motor tracts.
- imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory input to α motor neuron
- post-stroke; sarcomere shorter and stiffer
when are Muscle Relaxants used and what is the MOA?
- Decrease somatic motor activity
- Reduce muscle tone
Class side effects
•CNS depression
•Sedation
•Anticholinergic side effects, Especially in elderly
what is a mus relaxant example?
Baclofen, diazepam (valium),Dantrolene, Botox, canabis
what is Parkinson’s Disease
•A degenerative and progressive disorder •Unilateral>Bilateral > Balance Issues >restricted to walking cane or bed -↓ DA levels produced by substantianigra (SN) neuron loss loss of movemetn and self expression
non motor effects:
- Cognitive: verbal fluency, abstract reasoning, executive function & memory
- Behavioral: anxiety, apathy, depression
- Dementia
- Disturbance of autonomic nervous system (difficulty in urinating)
what are Parkinson characteristics?
TRAP
•Tremor @ rest •Rigidity
•Akinesia, bradykinesia
•Postural instability
what is Levodopa?
- Most effective single drug for PD bc it can cross BBB
- GI, CV(postural hypotension), psych (Hallucinations, agitation), hypotension. Dyskinesia & neuropathy -↓after prolonged use
how can Levodopa be modified for an improved effect?
1) Controlled release formulation
2) Adding additional medications to regimen
what are concerns of Levodopa ?
- dont take with high protein
- most of drug is metabolized in periphery, and little of it makes in to BBB, which causes nausea
What is carbidopa + levodopa ?
Sinemet
- prevent conversion in the periphery
- more drug crosses BB and less nausea
SE- pretty much the saem as levadopa
- can have a diminished response, Drug holidays can be taken
-question for whenmed should start being taken
- dosses given more often to cover “offs”
what advantage do COMT Inhibitors offer?
- Inhibits action of enzyme that degrades NTs (L-dopa) to increase its availability
- 2nd line
- extends 1/2 life of levadopa
- GI SE and Dyskinesias
when are Dopamine Agonists used?
- Early PD stages
- 1st line therapy, can also be added in later stages
- cant be used as main defnese bc of intese SE
- Delays need for levodopa and delays motor fluctuations that occur with prolonged levodopa use (dyskinesias)
when is Apomorphine(Apokyn®) used
- only in severe cases under med supervision for when the patient is stuck
what is a first line therapy for PD?
Selegiline/Eldepryl