Pharmacology and the CNS

Question 1

Give examples of fast acting drugs which act on the brain

Answer 1

Anaesthetics
nicotine
cocaine

Question 2

Give examples of slow acting drugs which act on the brain

Answer 2

Antubdepressants

Question 3

What is the function of the blood brain barrier?

Answer 3

Maintain constant environment
protect brain from foreign substances
protect brain from peripheral transmitters

Question 4

Give examples of disease states in which the brain blood barrier is compromised

Answer 4

Hypertension
infection
trauma

Question 5

What approaches can be used to aid the entry of drugs into the CNS?

Answer 5

prodrugs
carrier molecules
transient brain blood barrier disruption

Question 6

Give an example of a drug which can cause transient brain blood barrier disruption?

Answer 6

Mannitol

Question 7

give examples of inhaled general anesthetics

Answer 7

halothane

isoflurane

Question 8

Give an example of an IV general anaesthetic

Answer 8

Propofol

Question 9

What are anxiolytics / sedatives?

Answer 9

Drugs which cause sleep and reduce anxiety

Question 10

Give examples of sedatives

Answer 10

Barbiturates

benzodiazepines

Question 11

Give examples of typical antipsychotic drugs

Answer 11

Chloropromazine and haloperidol

Question 12

Give examples of atypical antipsychotics

Answer 12

clozapine

olanzapine

Question 13

What is the typical therapeutic onset of antidepressants?

Answer 13

2-4 weeks

Question 14

Give examples of antidepressants

Answer 14

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
tricyclic antidepressants
SSRIs
raid onset antidepressants e.g. ketamine

Question 15

Give examples of analgesics

Answer 15

Opiates
baclofen
NSAIDs

Question 16

What is the effect of psychostimulant drugs?

Answer 16

Cause wakefulness and euphoria

Question 17

Give examples of psychostimulants

Answer 17

cocaine
amphetamine
methylphenidate
caffeine

Question 18

What are psychomimetics?

Answer 18

Drugs which cause disturbances of perception and of behaviour that cannot be simply characterised as sedative or stimulant effects

Question 19

Give example of psychomimetic drugs?

Answer 19

LSG
Mescaline
ketamine
phencyclidine
THC

Question 20

What is the action of nootropic drugs?

Answer 20

Improve memory and cognitive performance

Question 21

Give examples of nootropic drugs

Answer 21

Glantamine

donepezil

Question 22

Give an example of an anti epilepsy drug

Answer 22

Gabapentin

Question 23

Give an example of an anti-bipolar drug

Answer 23

Lithium

Question 24

What are the causes of Parkinsons?

Answer 24

Ageing
Genetic dactprse.g. synuclein and Parkin
environmental factors such as toxins, herbicides and pesticides

Question 25

Why is the precursor to dopamine (L-DOPA) rather than dopamine itself used in the treatment of pakrinsons?

Answer 25

L-DOPA can cross the blood brain barrier, dopamine cannot

Question 26

D2/3 agonists such as bromocriptine can be used to mimic dopamine action in the treatment of Parkinson's. What are the side effect of these?

Answer 26

Hallucinations | Pathological gambling and shopping

Question 27

Drugs which reduce the breakdown of dopamine can be used to treat Parkinson's. What kind of drugs have this action?

Answer 27

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Question 28

What percentage of the population has schizophrenia?

Answer 28

1%

Question 29

What is meant by the 'positive' symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 29

These are symptoms which are outwith normal experience such as hallucinations, delusions and disorders of logical thought

Question 30

What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 30

sustained depression, anhedonia, avolition, sloe thought/speech/actions and lack of recognition of illness

Question 31

What is the mechanism of action behind drugs used to treat schizoprhenia?

Answer 31

Reduction in Dopamine signalling at D2 receptors

Question 32

Anti-schizophrenic drugs are effective against negative symptoms but not positive symptoms. T/F?

Answer 32

False - the opposite is true

Question 33

D2 antagonism in the treatment of schizophrenia has the side effects of...?

Answer 33

PD-like akinesia, unpleasantness and prolactin hyper secretion

Question 34

In addition to the side effects cause by D2 antagonism in the treatment of schizophrenia, what other side effects can be experienced?

Answer 34

Postural hypotension sedation dry mouth weight gain

Question 35

From which nucleus of the hypothalamus does the tuberohypophyseal system (which releases dopamine to inhibit prolactin secretion) arise?

Answer 35

Arcuate nucleus

Question 36

What type of dopamine receptors does dopamine bind to on prolactin secreting cells in the anterior pituitary to inhibit prolactin secretion?

Answer 36

D2 receptors