Pharmacology MSK Flashcards
Explain Neuromuscular Blockers (NMB’s)
Used during surgery to induce paralysis.
Peripherally acting agents. Don’t cross the blood-brain barrier and act at the motor end-plate.
They target Nicotinic cholinergic receptors.
What was the first NMB?
d-tubocurarine
No analgesic or sedating effects
What are the kinds of ACh receptors?
Nm for Nicotinic muscles
Nn for Nicotinic neuronal
M for muscarinic (parasympathetics and sweat glands)
Generally describe the 2 kinds of NMB’s
Depolarizing agents: agonists of Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Non-depolarizing agents: Antagonists of Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
How does Succinylcholine function?
It binds to gates causing the receptor gate to keep the channel open.
Widespread fasciculation
Flaccid Paralysis
What are the two phases of succinylcholine paralysis?
Phase 1 block: open Nicotinic channels, Na+ channels are effectively inactivated, new AP cannot be achieved.
Phase 2 block: Nicotinic receptors become desensitized and are less responsive to additional agonist
Explain the pharmacokinetics of Succinylcholine
Rapid onset 1-2 min, short duration of 5-10 min
(Good to be used in endotracheal intubation, administered by IV or IM)
Metabolized in the plasma by plasma cholinesterase.
1 of 25 of European descent are deficient in a AChase allele and have prolonged drug action.
There is no antidote
What are the ADR and contraindication of Succinylcholine
ADR: Myalgia, jaw rigidity, rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure. Increased intraocular pressure.
Off-target agonism bradycardia, arrhythmia, cardiac arrest. Pretreat with antihistamine
Contraindications: If they have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Patients has burn, crush, or denervation that increase hyperkalemic reaction risk.
What is Malignant Hyperthermia (MH)
Life-threatening complication of Succinylcholine.
Autosomal dominant genetic disorder or RyR1 that results in massive Ca release from SR.
Will lead to muscle rigidity, rise in body temp, and high arterial CO2.
Those taking SSRIs and Neuroleptics are at higher risk.
Take Dantrolene as antidote.
What is Dantrolene?
Antidote for Malignant Hyperthermia. Blocks power stroke of myosin/actin.
Will cause Diarrhea and Black box warning for hepatotoxicity.
Worth giving because it has low affinity at heart and smooth muscle and mortality rates go from 80 to 10%
What are Succinylcholine drug-drug interactions?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may prolong effects.
Several antibiotics may enhance:
-Aminoglycosides, Bacitracin, cyclosporine, polymixin B, Tetracyclines, Vancomycin
Other: inhalation aesthetics, antidepressants (SSRI’s), neuroleptics (antipsychotics
Are non-depolarizing NMB’s competitive inhibitors?
Why could this be important?
Yes they are, and they can be out competed by Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to speed rate of recovery.
Generally explain Non-depolarizing NMB’s
Prevent Muscle cell action potentials
Cause flaccid paralysis
Are competitive inhibits of the Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Which nondepolarizing NMBs are short-acting, longer-acting, and the exceptions. Where are they eliminated?
Short acting are eliminated in the liver
- Rocuronium
- Vecuronium
Longer-acting agents are renally eliminated
- Pancuronium
- Pipecuronium
- Tubocurarine
Exceptions degrade spontaneously in the blood
- Atracurium
- Cisatracurium
Which is better to take: atracurium or cisatracurium
Cisatracurium because it forms less laudanosine which can cross the BB barrier and cause seizures.
What can be used to reverse rocuronium and vecuronium?
Sugammadex
IV injection
Reverse the clinical blockade in 3 minutes vs 19 minutes with neostigmine
No activity in the cholinergic system
Exctreted Renally, but is very expensive.
Tubocurarine
Duration of Action: More than 50 min
Effects at Nn: weak block***
Effects at M: none
Histamine Release: moderate***
Relative Potency: 1
Time to Onset: 6 min
Non-selective blockade (antagonism) of Nn.
Stimulate histamine causing hypotension and bronchospasm
Cisatracurium
Duration of Action: 25-44 min
Effects at Nn: none
Effects at M: none
Histamine Release: none
Relative Potency: 1.5
Time to Onset: 2-8 min
Best self-degrading Non-depolarizing NMB
Pancuronium
Duration of Action: more than 35 min
Effects at Nn: none
Effects at M: moderate heart block
Histamine Release: none
Relative Potency: 6
Time to Onset: 3-4 min
Atracurium
Duration of Action: 20-35 min
Effects at Nn: none
Effects at M: none
Histamine Release: slight
Relative Potency: 1.5
Time to Onset: 3
Can cause allergic reaction through histamine
Rocuronium
Duration of Action: 20-35 min
Effects at Nn: none
Effects at M: Slight heart block**
Histamine Release: none
Relative Potency: .8
Time to Onset: .5 -2 min
QUICK ONSET
Vecuronium
Duration of Action: 20-35 min
Effects at Nn: none
Effects at M: none
Histamine Release: none
Relative Potency: 6
Time to onset: 2-3 min
Succinylcholine: Depolarizing
Duration of Action: Less than 8 min
Effects at Nn: stimulation
Effects at M: stimulation
Histamine Release: slight
Relative Potency: .4
Time to Onset: .8-1.4 min
What can be given to avoid stimulation of cardiac M receptors before surgery?
Atropine: reverses the nondepolarizing NMB
What are spasms?’
Spasticity?
Painful, involuntary muscle contractions treated with antispasmodic agents
Involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle causes stiffness that interferes with mobility and speech. Treated with spasmolytic agents
Ex: Spasticity: MS, ALS, cerebral palsy, spinal injury.
Spasticity
Deficit in upper motor neuron. Signaling leaves lower motor neurons hyperexcitable.
Deficit due to spinal cord injury or neurodegeneration. Ex: Cerebral palsy, MS, stroke.
Dysregluation of the stretch reflex causes contraction response in the absence of stretch stimulus.
What do pharmacological agents target for spasticity?
Lower motor neurons
Interneurons in the reflex arc
Skeletal muscle directly (Dantrolene)
CNS active spasmolytics decrease alpha motor neuron activity by
- Reducing activity of the excitatory interneurons
- Enhancing activity of the inhibitory interneurons.
What do excitatory interneurons release?
Glutamine
Target AMPA receptors on the motor neuron and trigger an AP
What do inhibitory interneurons release, and what do they target?
They use GABA to target the excitatory interneurons and the motor neuron.
They decrease cAMP and close Ca channels by targeting a2-adrenergic receptors and GABAb receptors.
They inhibitors can upregulate GABAa Cl- channels or down regulate GABAb proteins.
What drugs affect GABA receptor ligands?
Baclofen
Diazepam