Pharmacology and the CNS Flashcards Preview

Head, Neck and Neurology > Pharmacology and the CNS > Flashcards

Flashcards in Pharmacology and the CNS Deck (36)
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1
Q

Give examples of fast acting drugs which act on the brain

A

Anaesthetics
nicotine
cocaine

2
Q

Give examples of slow acting drugs which act on the brain

A

Antubdepressants

3
Q

What is the function of the blood brain barrier?

A

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

4
Q

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

A

Hypertension
infection
trauma

5
Q

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

A

prodrugs
carrier molecules
transient brain blood barrier disruption

6
Q

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

A

Mannitol

7
Q

give examples of inhaled general anesthetics

A

halothane

isoflurane

8
Q

Give an example of an IV general anaesthetic

A

Propofol

9
Q

What are anxiolytics / sedatives?

A

Drugs which cause sleep and reduce anxiety

10
Q

Give examples of sedatives

A

Barbiturates

benzodiazepines

11
Q

Give examples of typical antipsychotic drugs

A

Chloropromazine and haloperidol

12
Q

Give examples of atypical antipsychotics

A

clozapine

olanzapine

13
Q

What is the typical therapeutic onset of antidepressants?

A

2-4 weeks

14
Q

Give examples of antidepressants

A

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

15
Q

Give examples of analgesics

A

Opiates
baclofen
NSAIDs

16
Q

What is the effect of psychostimulant drugs?

A

Cause wakefulness and euphoria

17
Q

Give examples of psychostimulants

A

cocaine
amphetamine
methylphenidate
caffeine

18
Q

What are psychomimetics?

A

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

19
Q

Give example of psychomimetic drugs?

A
LSG
Mescaline
ketamine
phencyclidine
THC
20
Q

What is the action of nootropic drugs?

A

Improve memory and cognitive performance

21
Q

Give examples of nootropic drugs

A

Glantamine

donepezil

22
Q

Give an example of an anti epilepsy drug

A

Gabapentin

23
Q

Give an example of an anti-bipolar drug

A

Lithium

24
Q

What are the causes of Parkinsons?

A

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

25
Q

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

A

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

26
Q

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?

A

Hallucinations

Pathological gambling and shopping

27
Q

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

A

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

28
Q

What percentage of the population has schizophrenia?

A

1%

29
Q

What is meant by the ‘positive’ symptoms of schizophrenia?

A

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

30
Q

What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

A

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

31
Q

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

A

Reduction in Dopamine signalling at D2 receptors

32
Q

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

A

False - the opposite is true

33
Q

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

A

PD-like akinesia, unpleasantness and prolactin hyper secretion

34
Q

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

A

Postural hypotension
sedation
dry mouth
weight gain

35
Q

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

A

Arcuate nucleus

36
Q

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

A

D2 receptors