Pharmacology

Question 1

What are CNS Stimulants

Answer 1

Increase CNS activity
Lead to heightened alertness and stress
Often mimic or increase the action of excitatory neurotransmitters

Question 2

Examples of CNS stimulants

Answer 2

Amphetamines
Caffeine

Question 3

What is neurotransmitter modulation?

Answer 3

When CNS drugs directly affect neurotransmitter levels or receptor activity

Question 4

Reflexly acting drugs

Answer 4

They influence the CNS indirectly through peripheral actions, like nicotine

Question 5

List of neurotransmitters in the CNS

Answer 5

1. Amino Acids
2. Monoamines
3. Peptides
4. Nitric oxide
5. Endocannabinoids
6. Histamine
7. Tachykinins

Question 6

Examples of Amino Acids

Answer 6

Ach, GABA, Glutamate, Glycine

Question 7

Examples of monoamines

Answer 7

NE, Dopamine, Serotonin

Question 8

What are antidepressants

Answer 8

Medications that increase levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood.
Modulate neurotransmitter systems without slowing down overall CNS activity
Notably serotonin and norepinephrine

Question 9

Examples of peptides

Answer 9

Opioid peptides, Neurotensin, Substance P, Somatostatin, Neuropeptide Y

Question 10

Examples of antidepressants

Answer 10

SSRIs, like prozac,
SNRIs are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
TCA are also reuptake inhibitors
MAOIs

Question 11

Depressants and their uses

Answer 11

Drugs that lower neurotransmission levels and decrease electrical activity in the brain, reducing arousal or stimulation.
Used for anxiety, insomnia, seizures and as muscle relaxants

Question 12

Examples of CNS depressants

Answer 12

Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Opioids

Question 13

What are CNS stimulants?

Answer 13

Increase activity, speeding up mental and physical processes.
Work by increasing levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine
Used to treat ADHD, narcolepsy and sometimes depression

Question 14

Examples of CNS stimulants

Answer 14

Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA

Question 15

Classes of CNS depressants

Answer 15

• Sedatives
• Hypnotics - depress CNS to sleep
• Narcotics - cause sleep and pain relief
• GAs - cause period of unconsciousness

Question 16

Sedatives

Answer 16

Anxiolytic drugs that reduce anxiety excitement, nervousness etc.
This involves mild depression of CNS, but not enough to cause sleep or much effect on motor or mental functions.
Concentration dependent

Question 17

Classification of sedatives/hypnotics

Answer 17

Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Newer agents

Question 18

Tranquilizers

Answer 18

Produce calmness and quietness
Reduce anxiety, tension and aggression

Question 19

Anticonvulsant drugs

Answer 19

Used to treat epileptic seizures
Convulsion is caused by depolarization of the nerve
So to return to normal state need to repolarize

Question 20

Method of action of anticonvulsant/antiepileptic drugs

Answer 20

Blocking of Na+ channels
Enhance GABA mediated synaptic inhibition
Ca2+ channel blockade (block)

Question 21

Analgesics

Answer 21

Relieve pain without impairing consciousness
Narcotics can be natural like morphine and codeine or synthetic, but may cause addiction
Non-narcotics are NSAIDs or salicylates, like paracetamol

Question 22

Affects of opioids

Answer 22

• Analgesia
• Respiratory depression
• Waste retention
• Cough suppression
• Sedation
• Euphoria/dysphoria

Question 23

Method of action of opioids

Answer 23

Stimulation of µ, δ, κ opioid receptors
Increase K+ efflux and reduce Ca2+ influx
Decreased cAMP
More polarized, so less firing
Elimination of pain

Question 24

Progressive grade of CNS excitation

Answer 24

Mild hyper-excitability
Severe hyper-excitability
Mild convulsion
Severe convulsion

Question 25

What kind of stimulants act directly on the CNS?

Answer 25

Cortical stimulants Medullary stimulants Spinal stimulants

Question 26

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 26

Preganglion nerve connects CNS to ganglia Fight or flight

Question 27

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 27

Postsynaptic nerve connects ganglia to organs Rest and digest

Question 28

Ganglia

Answer 28

Contains nerve endings of pre-G and nerve fibres and cell bodies of post-G nerve fibres

Question 29

Properties of neurotransmitters of sympathetic nerves

Answer 29

Adrenergic NE Post G

Question 30

Neurotransmitters of parasympathetic nerves

Answer 30

Cholinergic Ach Post G

Question 31

Types of cholinergic or choline agonists

Answer 31

Direct acting Indirect acting * Irreversible AChE agents * Reversible AChE agents

Question 32

Types of Anticholinergic/Parasympatholytic drugs

Answer 32

Nonselective muscarinic receptor antagonists Selective muscarinic antagonists

Question 33

Uses of Anticholinergic drugs

Answer 33

As spasmolytic (relieves spasms) Treat hypermotility of GIT (too much activity in digestion) Treat hypertonicity (too much solute) of uterus, UB, ureter, bronchioles

Question 34

Action of α1 receptor

Answer 34

* Vasoconstriction of blood vessels * Increased blood pressure * Decreased GI motility * Contracts UB sphincter * Dilates pupil * Contracts uterus

Question 35

Action of α2 receptor

Answer 35

* Inhibits release of NE * Decreases blood pressure * Decreases intestinal secretion

Question 36

Action of β1 receptors

Answer 36

* Increases heart rate * Forces contraction of the heart * Cardiac stimulant

Question 37

Action of β2 receptors

Answer 37

* Relaxation of smooth muscle in the bronchi * Bronchodilator * Relaxation of smooth muscle in uterus * Relaxation of smooth muscle in peripheral blood vessels

Question 38

_ receptors seem to increase sympathetic traits and _ receptors tend to decrease them

Answer 38

1 and 2

Question 39

Uses for adrenergic drugs

Answer 39

Adrenaline can be used to treat cardiac arrest or anaphylaxis Heart block - isoprotenerol Cardiogenic shock

Question 40

Adverse effects of anti-adrenergic drugs

Answer 40

Hypertension Bradycardia Edema

Question 41

Indications of anti-adrenergic drugs

Answer 41

Hypertension Visceral ischemia Angia pectoris Myocardial infarction Cardiac dysrhythmia

Question 42

Classification of antiadrenergic drugs

Answer 42

Adrenergic neuron blockers (e.g. Methyldopa, Reserpine) Adrenergic receptor blockers (α & β antagonists)

Question 43

Adrenergic drugs classification

Answer 43

Direct acting α or β agonists (can be selective or non selective) Indirect acting (Amphetamines) Mixed acting (Ephrdrine)