Pharmacology Flashcards
What are the 3 key neurons involved in parkinsonism?
dopaminergic, GABAergic, cholinergic
How does the distribution of levodopa in both the presence and absence of a dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor change?
increased distribution with a dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor
What are the 5 dopamine receptor agonists used for movement disorders?
Levodopa Apomorphine Bromocriptine Pramipexole Ropinirole
What are the 2 MAO inhibitors used for movement disorders?
Selegiline
Rasagiline
What are the 2 COM-T inhibitors used for movement disorders? (catechol-0-methyltransferase)
Tolcapone
Entacapone
What are the 5 anticholinergic drugs used for movement disorders?
Benztropine Trihexyphenidyl Biperiden Orphenadrine Procyclidine
Which drug is used to treat ALS?
Riluzole
Which drugs are used to treat huntington dz?
Reserpine, tetrabenazine
Examples of neurodegenerative disorders that manifest as abnormalities in the control of movement including _________ dz and ___________dz. Other a neurodegenerative disorders result in impaired memory or cognitive ability (__________dz) and muscular weakness (____).
Parkinson Dz; Huntington Dz
Alzheimer Dz, ALS
A tremor of a part during maintenance of sustained posture (e.g., the outstretched upper limb when holding a cup)
postural tremor
A tremor of a part during movement (e.g., the outstretched upper limb when lifting a cup)
essential/intention tremor
A tremor consisting of slow, regular movements of the hands and sometimes the lower limbs, neck, face, or jaw; it typically stops upon voluntary movement of the part and is intensified by stimuli such as cold, fatigue, and strong emotions; may be at rest
parkinsonian tremor
The occurrence of a variety of continual, rapid, highly complex, jerky, dyskinetic movements that look well coordinated but are actually involuntary
chorea
-An involuntary, compulsive, rapid, repetitive, stereotyped movement or vocalization, experienced as irresistible although it can be suppressed for some length of time
-exacerbated by stress and diminished during sleep or engrossing activities
-may be psychogenic or neurogenic in origin and are classified as either simple
(e.g., eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, coughing, grunting, snorting, or barking) or
complex (e.g., facial gestures, grooming motions, coprolalia, echolalia, or echokinesis)
Tics
Pt presents with…Dx?
- Bradykinesia (slowness and poverty of movement)
- Muscular Rigidity
- Resting tremor (abates during voluntary movement)
- Impairment of postural balance leading to disturbances of gait and failling
Parkinson disease
What is the pathological hallmark of PD?
loss of the pigmented, dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, with the appearance of intracellular inclusions known as Lewy bodies
Under normal conditions, dopaminergic neurons originating in the substantia nigra _____ the GABAergic output from the striatum while cholinergic neurons exert an __________ effect on GABAergic neurons
inhibit
excitatory
In PD, loss of dopaminergic neurons results in __________ of GABAergic neurons and disturbed movement
disinhibition
Based on the pathophysiology of PD, pts may be treated with which two classes of drugs?
dopamine agonists
anticholinergic agents
Levodopa is used to treat PD and is an immediate metabolic precursor to ________.
dopamine
What is the MOA of levodopa?
agonist of dopamine R (D2)
Levodopa by itself is rapidly absorbed from the small intestine with a peak plasma conc b/t 1-2 hours after oral dose; only 1-3% of the drug enters the bran unaltered. What can we do to combat this?
Add carbidopa
Why do we coadminister carbidopa with levodopa? What are the effects?
carbidopa=dopamine decarboxylase inhibitor that doesn’t cross the BBB
results in reduced peripheral metabolism of levodopa, increased plasma levels, increased half-life, and increased levodopa available for entry into the brain
Coadministration of levodopa and carbidopa may _______ (increase/reduce) the daily requirements of levodopa by 75%.
reduce
less drug and more to brain
T/F: Even though levodopa is effective, long-term tx may experience declining efficacy and response fluctuations. Therefore, the best results occur during first few years of treatment (use once necessary or in severe cases).
True!
Levodopa given without a peripheral decarboxylate inhibitor cause ______, _______, and ______ in 80% of pts.
anorexia, nausea, vomiting
Vomiting in levodopa can be attributed to dopamine activation of ____________ _____ ____
chemoreceptor trigger zone
What are the cardiovascular risks associated with levodopa?
cardiac arrhythmias (incr. catecholamines)
postural hypotension at first
HTN with nonselective MOA inhib
T/F: 80% of levodopa pts experience dyskinesias of the face and distal extremities
True!
Are there behavioral effects of levodopa?
Yes! changes in mood and personality such as depression, anxiety, agitation, insomnia, etc
(tx with atypical antipsychotic agents)
TQ: whats the difference between levodopa wearing off vs. on-off phenomena?
wearing off=depends on timing of the dose
on-off=NOT related to dose timing, off period=marked akinesia with on-periods of improved mobility w/ dyskinesia
TQ: What may provide temporary benefit to pts with severe levodopa off-periods?
subcutaneous injection of apomorphine!
Which 2 patient groups are contraindicated for levodopa?
- MAO inhibitors
- psychotic pts
The other dopamine agonists act on two different dopamine receptors (D2 and D3). Match the drug to its receptor:
Bromocriptine
Pramipexole
Ropinirole
Bromocriptine: D2 agonist
Pramipexole: D3 agonist
Ropinirole: D2 agonist
Pramiprexole is used for both PD and _____ _____ _______.
restless leg syndrome
What are the adverse effects of the dopamine receptor agonists Bromocriptine, Pramipexole, Ropinirole?
- GI: anorexia, N/V, constipation, dyspepsia, reflux
- Cardiovascular: postural hypotension , digital vasospasm (bromocriptine), peripheral edema and arrhythmias
- Dyskinesias
- mental disturbances: confusion, hallucinations, delusions
- headache, nasal congestion
What are the contraindications to using dopamine receptor antagonists? (3)
What additional contraindication is specific for bromocriptine?
- psychotic illness
- MI
- peptic ulcers
-bromocryptine contraindicated in pts with peripheral vascular dz due to vasoconstricting effects
What are the two monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors?
Selegiline
Rasagiline
There are two forms of MAO. What are they and which is involved with inhibiting levodopa metabolism via Selegiline and Rasagiline?
MAO-A: norepi and serotonin
MAO-B: phenylethylamine and benzylamine
(Dopamine and tryptamine metab via both MAO-A and B)
The two MAO inhibitors target MAO-B (and MAO-A (selegiline) at high doses)
Why must we avoid the combined administration of levodopa and a nonselective MAO inhibitor?
may lead to a hypertensive crisis due to peripheral accumulation of norepi
(MAO B and A breakdown catecholamines but A is selective for Norepi/serotonin which can lead to an accumulation of norepi…also bad if pt is on an SSRI b/c can cause serotonin syndrome)
What are the two catechol-o-methyltransferse (COMT) inhibitors? What are their MOA?
Tolcapone and entacapone prolong the activity of levodopa by inhibiting its peripheral metabolism, which decreases clearance and increases bioavailability
Which COMT inhibitor would you avoid in pts with liver dz? why?
Tolcapone! may cause and increase in liver enzymes and death by acute hepatic failure
Which dopamine agonist stimulates the postsynaptic dopamine D2 receptors and is injected for quick, temporary relief of off-periods of akinesia in pts on dopaminergic therapy?
Apomorphine
What antiviral agent can help treat parkinsons via unknown causes?
Amantadine
What is the main adverse effect of Amantadine? What some other adverse effects?
livedo reticularis (purplish mottled discoloration of the skin, usually on the legs)
restlessness, depression, irritability, insomnia, headache, hypotension, heart failure etc
Which patients should you be cautious of when giving Amantadine?
pts with a history of seizures or heart failure
Which central acting anticholinergic drugs are available to treat PD? (5)
Benzotropine trihexyphenidyl biperiden orphenadrine procyclidine
What is the MOA of anticholinergic drugs?
centrally acting mAchR antagonists help correct the balance between dopamine and Ach
What are some adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs such as benzotropine?
peripheral anticholinergic effects (sedation, mental confusion, constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, dry eyes)
Huntington dz is characterized by progressive chorea and dementia beginning in adulthood due to the overactivity of ___________ pathways
dopaminergic