Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PSYCHOPHARM > Neuropharmacology and Pharmacokinetics > Flashcards

Neuropharmacology and Pharmacokinetics Flashcards

1
Q

Parts of a neuron

A

Dendrites- branch like projections receive information from other cells and conduct it toward the cell body

Axon- transmits information received from the cell body to other cells through the terminal axon fibers which house the terminal/synaptic button

Terminal/synaptic button- holds the chemical neurotransmitters until they receive a signal to release into the synaptic gap

Cell body- Command center- contains nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus of the cell. It integrates info received from the dendrites and sends it electrically to the axon

Postsynaptic cleft- gap between vermin button and next cell- area of postsynaptic transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Flow of information summary

A

Dendrite receive information –> Cell body integrates information –> Information sent down the axon –> sent to terminal axon buttons –> released into presynaptic cleft to transmit the info to the next neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Connection Between Pre and Post Synaptic Neuron

A

Presynaptic neuron- sends information into the cleft, neurochemical processes (via NTs)

Postsynaptic neuron- receives info at the cleft, neurochemical processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Mitochondria

A

Located in the cell body of the neuron

Energy source! Provides the energy for the initiation of neurotransmission by sending electrical impulses through the neuron to the terminal axon fibers’ synaptic buttons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Neurotransmission Process

A

Presynaptic neuron

  • Sends the message along the axon terminal via ELECTRICAL impulse to form a synapse with the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron
  • Electrical impulses in the presynaptic neuron are converted to chemical signals at the synapse between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons

Postsynaptic neuron
- Receives information primarily at the dendrites; However, information may also be received at other sites along the axon and even at the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Modes of Exchange: Chemical and Electrical

A

Within the neuron: Information is passed along the axon via ELECTRICAL PROCESSES fueled by the mitochondria

Between neurons (across gaps/synapses): Information is exchanged via NEUROCHEMICAL PROCESSES

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Neurotransmitter Classifications: Amines

A
  • Quaternary amines = Acetylcholine (ACH)
  • Monoamines = Catecholamines:
    Norepinephrine (NE), Epinephrine (adrenalin), Dopamine (DA), Indoleamines (Serotonin, 5-HT)
    *These work more slowly
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

NT classifications: Amino Acids

A
  • Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
  • Glutamate
  • Glycine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

NT classifications: Neuropeptides

A

Opioid peptides:

  • Enkephalines (Met-enkephalin, Leu-enkephalin)
  • Endorphines (beta-endorphin)
  • Dynorphins (Dynorphin A)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

NT classifications: Peptides & Gases

A

Peptides

  • Oxytocin
  • Substance P
  • Cholecystokinin (CCK)
  • Vasopressin (regulates retention of water)
  • Hypothalamic-releasing hormones

Gases

  • Nitric oxide
  • Carbon monoxide
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Soma (cell body)

A

Present in all cells of the body except red blood cells

Has a nucleus that contains basic genetic material (DNA) for the cell

Has mitochondria which provides the biological energy for the neuron

  • Energy is in the for of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
  • Available for various chemical reactions

RNA- In réponse to stimuli, the DNA is transcribed into a 2nd similar molecular form- strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA) goes thru a series of steps
- It is then exported to the cytoplasm (liquid part of the cell) of the soma. The edited RNA is called messenger RNA and it is translated from the nucleic acid code of the RNA into the amino acid sequence for the protein that is to be expressed

DNA gives message to RNA to give message to cell of what specific NTs, enzymes, or receptors to make

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Deficiencies in ACh secreting neurons is associated with the dysfunction seen in Alzheimer’s

  • in order to get into the cell enzyme esterase breaks down ACH into acetate and choline
  • following breakdown, acetate and choline are taken into nerve terminal where ACh is synthesized in a one-step reaction from 2 precursors (choline and acetyl CoA) and then stored in synaptic vesicles for later release

Its action is terminated by acetylcholinesterase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Catecholamine Neurotransmitters: Dopamine and Norepinephrine

A

Catecholamine refers to compounds that contain a catechol nucleus to which is attached an amine group

In the CNS- dopamine and NE

In the PNS- epinephrine

Chemical synthesis similar but NE has an additional step

Inactivation occurs primarily by reuptake

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Serotonin

A

Investigated as a NT in the 50’s when LSD was found to structurally resemble serotonin

Plays a role in depression and other affective states, sleep, sex, and regulation of body temperature

Inactivated primarily through reuptake processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Glutamate

A

Major excitatory NT

Found on the surface of almost all neurons

Precursor for the major inhibitory NT (GABA)

Plays a critical role in cortical and hippocampal cognitive function, as well as motor, cerebellar, and sensory functions

May place a role in the neuronal injury that accompanies alcoholism, Alzheimer’s, and head injury

After used, taken up into neighboring support cells and converted back to glutamate and stored

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

GABA

A

Inhibitory transmitter- reduces excitability

Action associated with anxiolytic, amnestic, and anesthetic effects

17
Q

Chemical Puff

A

Neurotransmission that occurs away from synapse and through the process of diffusion
(NTs released by neuron but not room in the next one, so in cleft- can be picked up by other NTs with right receptors- if neurons are not specific to NT, then it will not send the message)

18
Q

Pharmacokinetics

A

How drugs are handled in the body

Involves four basic processes: absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion

Taken together, they determine the bioavailability of a drug (how much of the drug administered actually reaches its target) *Each of these factors are affected by individual differences

19
Q

Absorption

A

The movement of the drug from its administration site (route) to the blood stream (mouth, skin, vein, etc.)

Soluble drugs are absorbed faster than insoluble

Large particle drugs are absorbed more slowly than small

When the particle size of a drug is reduced it increases the bioavailability

The route of administration affects bioavailability

20
Q

Absorption Terms:

  • Buccal & sublingual
  • Ionization
A

Buccal (by mouth) & Sublingual (under the tongue)- non-invasive, rapid absorption, prevents first pass effects by preventing exposure to acidic environment of the stomach and by first metabolism in the liver

Ionization- degree of dissociation of drug from the pH of the medium in which it is placed

  • Most drugs are weak acids
  • Non-ionized compounds are lipid soluble and can penetrate the cellular membranes
  • Ionized drugs are more water soluble
21
Q

Absorption terms cont’d

  • Surface area
  • Blood flow
  • Gastric emptying
A

Surface area - most drugs taken orally are absorbed from the small intestine – larger surface area

Blood flow – The perfusion rate affects the absorption of drugs. To increase absorption, increase the perfusion rate - massaging the site after an injection increases perfusion

Gastric emptying – drugs are absorbed faster on an empty stomach. Fat reduces absorption rate

22
Q

Absorption terms cont’d

Hepatic first pass effect

A

The loss of the drug as it passes through the liver the first time (sublingual route avoids this past effect)

(if metabolized by the liver you lose part of the drug before it reaches the site of action)

Liver function must be considered when drugs are used as a method of treatment

23
Q

Distribution

A

The movement of the drug from the blood to the rest of the body

Blood flow
Binding of drugs to plasma proteins
Site of action of drugs
Potency and efficacy
Affinity and intrinsic activity
Pharmacologic and physiologic antagonism
24
Q

Biotransformation (Metabolism of Drugs)

A

The alteration of drugs through enzyme catalysts occurring in the body (how the drug is broken down by enzymes in preparation to leave the body)

Pharmacogentics – hereditary variation of drug metabolism

Immaturity - of drug metabolyzing enzymes

Drug - Drug interactions

Disease – liver disease

25
Q

Excretion

A

Routes through which drugs can leave the body:

  • Kidneys – most drugs leave the body in urine (Unchanged or as a metabolite of the original drug, Many must go to liver first to be broken down into metabolites)
  • Lungs – highly volatile or gaseous agents (general anesthetics or small amt of alcohol)
  • Bile
  • Skin
  • Saliva
  • Breast milk
26
Q

Factors Affecting Excretion

A

Water versus lipid soluble

  • Psychoactive drugs are usually too lipid soluble to be excreted passively in the urine
  • Must be transformed into metabolites that are more water soluble and less lipid soluble, less biologically active or actually inactive when compared to parent molecule
  • Enzymes used to metabolize drugs in the liver

Cytochrome P450 enzyme family

  • Located in the hepatocytes
  • Major system involved in drug metabolism

Genetic, environmental, cultural, and physiological factors can impact the increase or decrease in rate of drug elimination

27
Q

Half-life

A

Knowledge about the relationship between the time course of drug action and its pharmacological effects is essential for:

  • Predicting optimal dosages and dose intervals needed to reach a therapeutic effect
  • Maintaining a therapeutic drug level for the desired period of time
  • Determining the time needed to eliminate the drug

The time required for the drug concentration in the blood to fall by one-half (Continues to decrease by half (half of half, etc.)

It is also the determinant of the length of time necessary to reach a steady state concentration

28
Q

Half-Life Example

A
  • 100 mg of a drug with a 4 hour half-life administered at noon.
  • 50mg of the drug remains in the body at 4 PM
  • If an additional 100 mg of drug is taken at 4 PM, 75 mg of drug would remain in the body at 8 PM (25 mg of the 1st dose and 50 mg of the 2nd dose
  • If this administration schedule is continued the amount of drug in the body would continue to increase until a plateau (steady state) concentration is reached
29
Q

Steady State

A
  • The level of drug achieved in the blood with repeated, regular interval dosing
  • At 98.4% (concentration achieved after six half-lives) the drug concentration is essentially at a steady state
  • The steady state concentration is achieved when the amount administered per unit time equals the amount eliminated per unit time
30
Q

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

A

Threshold plasma concentration of a drug is needed at the receptor site to initiate and maintain a pharmacological response

TDM is an indirect, although usually quite accurate, measurement of drug concentration at the receptor site

Blood samples drawn at several time periods during both acute and chronic therapy

Narrow therapeutic level would mean not much room between therapeutic level and toxic level so you would want to check this because it wouldn’t take long to put them in a toxic state

PSYCHOPHARM (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions