Give examples of fast acting drugs which act on the brain
Anaesthetics
nicotine
cocaine
Give examples of slow acting drugs which act on the brain
Antubdepressants
What is the function of the blood brain barrier?
Maintain constant environment
protect brain from foreign substances
protect brain from peripheral transmitters
Give examples of disease states in which the brain blood barrier is compromised
Hypertension
infection
trauma
What approaches can be used to aid the entry of drugs into the CNS?
prodrugs
carrier molecules
transient brain blood barrier disruption
Give an example of a drug which can cause transient brain blood barrier disruption?
Mannitol
give examples of inhaled general anesthetics
halothane
isoflurane
Give an example of an IV general anaesthetic
Propofol
What are anxiolytics / sedatives?
Drugs which cause sleep and reduce anxiety
Give examples of sedatives
Barbiturates
benzodiazepines
Give examples of typical antipsychotic drugs
Chloropromazine and haloperidol
Give examples of atypical antipsychotics
clozapine
olanzapine
What is the typical therapeutic onset of antidepressants?
2-4 weeks
Give examples of antidepressants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
tricyclic antidepressants
SSRIs
raid onset antidepressants e.g. ketamine
Give examples of analgesics
Opiates
baclofen
NSAIDs
What is the effect of psychostimulant drugs?
Cause wakefulness and euphoria
Give examples of psychostimulants
cocaine
amphetamine
methylphenidate
caffeine
What are psychomimetics?
Drugs which cause disturbances of perception and of behaviour that cannot be simply characterised as sedative or stimulant effects
Give example of psychomimetic drugs?
LSG Mescaline ketamine phencyclidine THC
What is the action of nootropic drugs?
Improve memory and cognitive performance
Give examples of nootropic drugs
Glantamine
donepezil
Give an example of an anti epilepsy drug
Gabapentin
Give an example of an anti-bipolar drug
Lithium
What are the causes of Parkinsons?
Ageing
Genetic dactprse.g. synuclein and Parkin
environmental factors such as toxins, herbicides and pesticides
Why is the precursor to dopamine (L-DOPA) rather than dopamine itself used in the treatment of pakrinsons?
L-DOPA can cross the blood brain barrier, dopamine cannot
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?
Hallucinations
Pathological gambling and shopping
Drugs which reduce the breakdown of dopamine can be used to treat Parkinson’s. What kind of drugs have this action?
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
What percentage of the population has schizophrenia?
1%
What is meant by the ‘positive’ symptoms of schizophrenia?
These are symptoms which are outwith normal experience such as hallucinations, delusions and disorders of logical thought
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
sustained depression, anhedonia, avolition, sloe thought/speech/actions and lack of recognition of illness
What is the mechanism of action behind drugs used to treat schizoprhenia?
Reduction in Dopamine signalling at D2 receptors
Anti-schizophrenic drugs are effective against negative symptoms but not positive symptoms. T/F?
False - the opposite is true
D2 antagonism in the treatment of schizophrenia has the side effects of…?
PD-like akinesia, unpleasantness and prolactin hyper secretion
In addition to the side effects cause by D2 antagonism in the treatment of schizophrenia, what other side effects can be experienced?
Postural hypotension
sedation
dry mouth
weight gain
From which nucleus of the hypothalamus does the tuberohypophyseal system (which releases dopamine to inhibit prolactin secretion) arise?
Arcuate nucleus
What type of dopamine receptors does dopamine bind to on prolactin secreting cells in the anterior pituitary to inhibit prolactin secretion?
D2 receptors