Neuropharmacology Continued Flashcards
drugs may block synthesis enzymes, axonal transport of raw materials, or the ability to store transmitter
Transmitter Production
drugs can block action potentials by blocking ion channels
Transmitter Release
can be affected by drugs
Autoreceptors
a drug may block reuptake of transmitter or block enzymes
Transmitter Clearance
- Receptor antagonists block postsynaptic receptors from being activated
- Receptor agonists bind to receptors and activate them
Drugs Can Affect Transmitter Receptors
- Receptor up or down regulation
- Activation of second messenger systems
- Activation of genes
Drugs Can Alter Intracellular Postsynaptic Processes
can relieve severe symptoms of schizophrenia
Psychoactive Drugs
a class of drugs that alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia, typically by blocking dopamine D2 receptors
- Examples: thorazine, haldol
First-Generation Antipsychotics (neuroleptics)
act on receptors in addition to, or other than, D2 receptors, and may relieve symptoms resistant to typical antipsychotics
- Examples: clozaril, seroquel
Second-Generation Antipsychotics
are used to treat disturbances of mood called affective disorders
- → accumulation of transmitters, prolonging their activity, is a major feature
Antidepressant Drugs
prevent the breakdown of monoamines at the synapses
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
act specifically at serotonergic synapses (e.g., prozac, celexa)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
block reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine and may be used with treatment-resistant depression
Tricyclic Antidepressants
are drugs that reduce nervous system activity
Depressants
are older anxiolytic drugs and sleep aids that depress (or reduce) nervous system activity
- They are addictive and easy to overdose on (e.g., phenobarbital)
Barbiturates
