Pharmacology Flashcards
What type of drugs are methylphenidate and amphetamine?
Stimulants.
Indirect agonist
What type of drugs are atomoxetine, guanfacine & clonidine ?
Non stimulants
How do non-stimulants such as methylphenidate work in the treatment of ADHD?
It blocks the actions of DAT & NET to prevent reuptake. Thus, DA & NE bind to and stimulate postsynaptic NE alpha 1 & D1 receptors.
How does methylphenidate & amphetamine doses affect DA levels?
At low doses, they are able to treat ADHD by blocking the actions of DAT & NET in the PFC.
At higher doses the increase DA in the nucleus accumbens (an area responsible for impulsive behaviour)
How does the non stimulant drug atomoxetine work to treat ADHD?
It selectively blocks NET thus increasing DA & NE levels.
How does guanfacine work in treating ADHD?
Direct stimulation of NE postsynaptic adrenergic receptors in PFC. This enhances regulation of attention & behaviour
What is the difference between stimulants & non-stimulants in ADHD treatments?
Stimulants work through either directly binding to and activating receptors or indirectly by increasing or decreasing reuptake .
Non-stimulants work by selectively inhibiting synaptic reuptake & increasing DA levels
What are some side effects of methylphenidate?
Loss of appetite
Difficulty falling asleep
Nervousness
Irritability
It is known that methylphenidate blocks the actions of both NET & DAT.
What can explain its associated side effects?
Because norepinephrine has a role in adrenergic activity of the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the body’s fight or flight responses.
It is known that NE plays a role in the activities of the sympathetic nervous system.
What happens when there is binding to the following adrenoreceptors? A1, a2, b1, b2
Alpha1: activation = muscle contraction
Alpha 2: post synaptic activation = sedation
B1: increased heart rate
B2: relaxation. Of muscles.
