Pharmacology of the Nervous System

Question 1

what is the definition of pharmacology?

Answer 1

how chemical agents (drugs) can influence the function of living systems

Question 2

what is a drug?

Answer 2

a chemical substance that interacts with a specific target within a biological system to produce a physiologic effect

Question 3

which three questions should we ask when studying a drug?

Answer 3

• What is its effect
• Where is its target
• What is the response produced after interaction with the target

Question 4

what is the effect, target and effect of heroine?

Answer 4

• opioid receptors
• peri-aqueductal grey region (analgesia), cough suppression ( solitary nucleus within brain stem) ventral tegmental area (euphoria)
• euphoria, analgesia (pain relief), cough suppressant

Question 5

What are the 4 main classes of drug target?

Answer 5

• receptors
• enzymes
• transport proteins
• ion channels

Question 6

What does atorvostatin target?

Answer 6

blocks enzyme ie. rate limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis

Question 7

What does amlodipine target?

Answer 7

calcium ion channel blocker - stops contraction in blood vessels making it easier to flow - reduces blood pressure

Question 8

What does citalopram target?

Answer 8

blocks transport protein that removes serotonin from synapse

Question 9

What does salbutamol target?

Answer 9

receptor to dilate airways

Question 10

Why might selectivity be more important for drugs than endogenous compounds such as dopamine?

Answer 10

Dopamine is released locally whereas drugs act systematically (they circulate in the blood)

Question 11

what is a side effect?

Answer 11

• an effect produced by the drug that is secondary to the intended effect,
• can be the same target in other tissues
• a different target in same tissue or other tissues
• dependent on drug dose

Question 12

what is termed if a side effect has negative health consequences?

Answer 12

adverse effect

Question 13

how are endogeneous substances designed?

Answer 13

broken down quickly/ short half life

Question 14

what is pramipexole?

Answer 14

a dopamine receptor agonist ( activates the dopamine receptor) used in parkinson’s disease

Question 15

Why is dose important?

Answer 15

if the dose is increased, it may start to have more of an effect on other targets (a cumulative response) even if initially it has a greater affinity for the intended target