Pharmacology - Spring Flashcards
Which four factors affect myocardial O2 supply?
- Heart Rate
- Preload
- Afterload
- Contractility
Which 3 drug classes affect heaart rate and (brielfy) explain how.
ß-Blockers - Decrease If and Ica -> diminish rate of depolarisation = prolong heart rate
CCB = Block Ca channels
Ivabradine = Decrease If
Which drug influence heart contractility?
ß-blockers (decrease cAMP= decrease PKA) and CCB’s (decrease Ca entry to the cell)
Name the 2 Classes of Calcium antagonists
(Which has greater cardiac selectivity?)
Rate Slowing (greater cardiac selectivity)
- Phenylalkylamines (VERAPAMIL)
- Benzothiazepines (DILTIAZEM)
Non Rate Slowing
- Dihydropiridines (AMLODIPINE)
Which type of CCB can lead to reflex tachycardia and why?
Non-rate slowing. Cause profound vasodilation
What side effects might you see from ß-blocker use?
- Bradycardia
- Worsening cardiac failure (due to C.O. reduction )
- Bronchoconstircion (b2 blockade effect)
- Hypoglycaemia (b2 blockade in liver effect)
- Cold extremities (b2 = vasodilator so if you block = vasoconstriction )
Outline the Vaughan Williams classification for anti-arrhythmic drugs:
Class 1 - Na Channel blockade
Class 2- Beta andrenergic blockade
class 3 - Prolongation of repolarisation (mainly due to K+channel block)
Class 4 - Ca Channel blockade
What is Adenosine used for ?
Slow heart rate in Acute SVT. Short lived
Verapamil
Target, effect
This mainly targets the L-type calcium channels
This slows down the ability of the nodal tissue to depolarise
Amiodarone
Use, Target, effect
Class III antiarhythmic. SVT and VT - often due to re-entry
Amiodarone slows conduction rate and prolongs the refractory period of the SA and AV nodes which prolongs repolarisation
It has a complex mechanism of action that involved multiple ion channel blockade but its main action seems to be through potassium channel blockade
By prolonging repolarisation, you’re prolonging the time during which the heart can NOT depolarise, thus restoring normal rhythm
Digoxin and cardiac Glycosides
What are they used to treat?
How do they do this?
and what condition might lower the threshold of toxicity ?
Used to treat AF
Cardiac glycosides inhibit Na+/K+ pump (bind to the external K+site) wich causes in crease in Ca inside the cell = Increase contractility.
Central vagal stimulation causes increased refractory period and reduced rate of conduction through AV node
*Hypokalaemia (usually as a result of diuretic use) lowers the threshold for digoxin toxicity.
Name 5 factors that impact vascular smooth muscle tone
- Symapthetic nerve stimulation
- RAS
- Noradrenaline on alpha-1 receptors
- Prostaglandin
- Endothelins
What is the first line treatment of hypertension
ACEi or ARB (Angiotensin Recepton blocker)
Fill in the blanks
What are the limitations of the Vaughan -Williams clssification ?
. Many of these drugs have mechanisms of action that are shared with drugs found the other classes
How do drugs of abuse cause euphoria?
Dopaminergic neurones from VTA, project to nucleus accumbens (ventral striatum), prefrontal cortex which releases Dopamine
metabolism lipid solubility etc
Outline the pharmacokinetics of Cannabis
v. lipid solublem, (build-up in poorly-perfused fat long-term) so is widely distributed.
Heavily affected by 1st pass metabolism.
Effects are long lasting ~30days
11-hydroxy-THC is major metabolite from liver, more potent than delta-9THC, enters enterohepatic circulation
What are the 2 endogenous cannabinoid receptors and where are they found?
CB1 in brain on GABA neurones, (cannabis binds + switches off inhibition on dopamine = euphoria)
CB2 (peripheral, immune cells)
can’t overdose (low CB1 receptor conc. in medulla).
G-protein coupled -ively with Adenylate Cyclase so slows cellular activity by depressing adenylate cyclase
What is the mechanism of cocaine action
At high dose = local anaesthetic by blocking NA channels
Euphoris by blocking monoamine transport so dopamine remains in the synapse longer = prolonged effect
*no effect on affinity/efficacy
By what mechanisms might cocaine cause infrction and arrhythmias?
Increased sympathetic effect:
↑HR
↑BP
↑Vasocontriction
etc = ischaemia = infaarction
Decreased Na transport:
↓LV function
↓Arrhythmia
What is the target for nicotine that drives euphoria ?
Cell bodies of neurons in the VTA towaards the Nucleus Accumbens = Euphoria
How many ml / is one unit of alcohol ?
I unit = 10ml/ 8g
What is the compnent upregulated in regular drinkers
Mixed function oxidases
Why might women become intoxicated sooner than men?
They are only 50% body water copared to 59%for men (alcohol is water soluble so equal amount = more dilute in men). Also <50% alcohol dehydrogenase in the stomachs of women.
What drug is used in alcohol aversion therapy?
Disulfiram (aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor. Acetaldehyde will build up)
How does alcohol cause fatty liver?
Alcohol metablism in the liver requires NAD+. Chronic drinking leads to depletion of NAD+ and increase of NADH.
↑NADH inhibits beta-oxidation of lipids =fat build up.
What is the difference between a white thrombus and a red thrombus?
_White thrombu_s -
- forms in artery. ↑platelet concn.
- More likely in tunica media than in lumen
- White becasue macrophages absorb fat adn become foam cells
Red thrombus
- ↑fibrin & ↑erythrocytes
- Thrombus in the vein
What are Virchow’s Triad risk factors?
- Rate of blood flow: slow/stagnating blood flow=no anticoagulant replenishment = ↑thrombosis/coagulation.
- Blood consistency: pro-anticoagulant balance, genetic conditions shift it.
- Vessel wall integrity: endothelial/tunica intima damage=exposes prothrombotic subendothelial structures=↑thrombosis.
OUtline the Cell based theory of coagulation and which classes of drugs act at each stage
Initiation - Small scale production of thrombin (ie F2a)
Anticoagulants
Amplification - Large scale thrombin production on the surface of the platelets
Antiplatelets
Propagation - Thrombin mediated generation of fibrin strands from fibrinogen
Thrombolytics
Where is alcohol metabolised to acetaldehyde? What enzymes are involved?
Alcohol → acetaldehyde (toxic)
1) 85% in the liver (first pass hepatic metabolism)
Enzymes:
- Alcohol dehydrogenase (75%)
- Mixed function oxidase (25%)
2) 15% in the GIT
Enzyme:
- Alcohol dehydrogenase
What drugs end in -pril?
ACE inhibitors
What is the second line of treatment for hypertension?
ACE inhibitor and calcium channel blocker
OR
ACE inhibitor and thiazide type diuretic
What is the third line of treatment for hypertension?
ACE inhibitor and calcium channel blocker and thiazide type diuretic
How do ACE inhibitors treat hypertension? What side effect does this cause?
Prevents the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II
Also prevents the conversion of bradykinin to inactive metabolytes- this causes a cough
How is nicotine metabolised?
70-80% is converted to Cotinine by Hepatic CYP2A6
What effects of drinking alcohol are though to be actually through the effects of acetaldehyde
Cutaneous vasodilation
Diuresis (prevents vasopressin secretion)
How does hepatitis result from chronic alcohol abuse?
Mixed function oxidase enzyme generates free radicals. These free radicals generate an inflammatory stimulus, which if prolonged, releases cytokines
This is reversible
How does cirrhosis result from chronic alcohol abuse?
After hepatitis is the alcohol consumption is prolonged the liver will get cirrhosis
- Decreased hepatocyte regeneration
- Increased fibroblasts
- Decreased active liver tissue
What are the different procoagulants in the blood?
- Prothrombin
- Factors V, VII-XIII
- Fibrinogen
What are the different anticoagulants in the blood?
- Plasminogen
- TFPI (Tissue factor pathway inhibitor)
- Proteins C & S
- Antithrombin
How does Dabigatran cause anticoagulation? Why is it rarely used?
Inhibits factor IIa
Causes more bleeding (esp GI bleeding) than expected.
How does Rivaroxaban cause anticoagulation? How is it administered?
Factor Xa inhibitor
Oral
What is the mechanism of Heparin ?
Increases the activity of Antithrombin (AT-III). Which decreases activity of both FIIa and FXa.
What is Dalteparin? How does it cause anticoagulation?`
A low-molecular weight heparin
Activates AT-III (↓fXa>than IIa = better pharmacokinetics, decrease bleeding. Can be given SC )
What drug activates AT-III (antithrombin)?
Heparin
(also Dalteparin)
How does Clopidogrel prevent platelet activation?
ADP (P2Y₁₂) receptor antagonist
How does Aspirin prevent platelet activation?
Irreversible COX-1 inhibitor- inhibits production of TXA₂ (thromboxane)
What drug inhibits platelte aggregatino by being an GpIIb/IIIa antagonist?
abciximab
How do thrombolytics works and give one example?
ALTEPLASE.
Plasmin is a protease that degrades fibrin
Thrombolytics convert plasminogen → plasmin
What is the first line drug treatment of stroke?
Alteplase
(recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator)
Needs to be given within 8hrs.
What are the indications for antiplatelet drugs?
Acute Coronary syndrom - MI
AF - prophylaxis for stroke.
What are the indication for anticoagulant drugs?
DVT and PE
Avoid thrombosis during surgery
Prophylactic treatment of AF to avoid stroke.
Which drugs should be used in which situations?
What is a NSTEMI?
Non-ST elevated myocardial infarction (MI)
- ‘White’ thrombus → partially occluded coronary artery
Caused by:
- Damage to endothelium
- Atheroma formation
- Platelet aggregation
What are the disadvantages of warfarin?
Take ~5-6days to show effect.
Very narrow therapeutic window so patient must be monitored closely
High rate of interaction with other drugs
What are the 5 stages of atherosclerosis?
- LDL Moves into the subendothelium
- It is oxidised by macrophages and smooth muscle cells
- The release of growth factors and cytokines attracts inflammatory cells
- Foam cell form. (lipid-containing macrophages)
- Fibroblast + SM proliferation results in growth of the plaque
What is the absolute first phase of atherosclerosis?
Endothelial dysfunction
↑endothelial permeability
Stops making factors that inhibit platelet aggregation and clotting
What is is the earliest recognisable lesion of atherosclerosis and what is it caused by?
Fatty Streak
caused by the aggregation of lipid-rich foam cells,
What is the Complicated atherosclerotic plaque formed of?
Composed of ipids, dead cells, and fibrous cap.
Results from the death of foam cells in the fatty streak creating a necrotic core.
Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to the intima and laying down of collagen fibres results in the formation of a protective fibrous cap over the lipid core
What are the drug therapy options for reducing LDL?
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Nicotinic Acid
Fibrates
Statins
Ezetemibe
What is the MOA of statins?
Act on MEVALONATE PATHWAY and glock HMG-CoA reductase which prevents production of cholesterol from acetyl-CoA.
By blocking cholesterol synthesis in the liver, the hepatocytes respond by increasing LDL receptors on hepatocytes. These bind more LDL which decreases circulating levels.
What are the two properties of statins that are compared?
Cell selectivity ratio: The likelyhood the drug will be concentrated in the liver
Potentcy: The lower the number = the more potent the drug as an enzyme inhibitor.
What is the rule of 6?
If you double the dose of any statin, you only get a 6% reduction in LDL. True of all statins and all doses
What are the side effects of statins?
Platelet activation
Thrombotic effect
Increased plaque stability
Smooth muscle hypertrophy
Smooth muscle proliferation
Vasoconstriction
Apart from statins which other drug decreases fatty acids and triglycerides
Fibrates activate transcription factors called PPAR-alpha receptors. But Poor clinical trial data
How do NSAIDs work?
Inhibit the synthesis of prostanoids by COX enzymes.
Name the prostanoids and what they are derrived from
Arachidonic acid → COX1 and COX2 →Prostaglandin H2
- Prostaglandins
- Thromboxanes
- Prostacylin
Which drug is selective for COX-2?
Celecoxib
Which prostaglandin receptor is found on nociceptors?
PGE2
What receptors are activated by PGE₂?
EP1
EP2
EP3
EP4