Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitters in the ANS and SNS Flashcards
What does botulinum toxin do?
Blocks vesicular exocytosis for acetylcholine by cleaving SNARE proteins
What do anticholinesterases do?
Inhibit the enzyme acetylcholine esterase so prevent breakdown of acetylcholine in the synapse.
What does edrophonium do?
It is an anticholinesterase that has a short duration of action and is used in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis via the ‘tensilon’ test.
What does neostigmine/pyridostigmine do?
It is an anticholinesterase that is used to reverse the effect of neuromuscular blockers and is used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis
What does donepezil do?
It is an anticholinesterase that can enter the CNS and is used in the treatment of alzheimers
What is myasthenia gravis?
It is an autoimmune disease which attacks nicotinic receptors by destroying the architecture of the NMJ and internalising the receptors. It is a chronic progressive disorder.
What are the subtypes of nicotinic receptors?
Nm in the skeletal muscle and Nn at autonomic ganglia
What is varenicline?
A partial agonist of nicotinic receptors in the CNS
What is tubocurarine?
An antagonist of the nicotinic receptor Nm
What is vecuronium?
An antagonist of the nicotinic receptor Nm
What is hexamethonium?
An antagonist of the Nn receptor
What are the effects of muscarinic receptor agonists?
salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, sweating, slowing of the heart, bronchoconstriction, vasodilation
What is pilocarpine?
A muscarinic receptor agonist used to reduce intra ocular pressure in the treatment of glaucoma
What are the effects of muscarinic receptor antagonists?
reduced salivation, reduced lacrimation, reduced urination, reduced defecation, reduced sweating, tachycardia, bronchodilation
What is atropine?
A muscarinic receptor antagonist used to give bronchodilation before anaesthesia, to treat braycardia, to reverse cholinesterase poisoning and to dilate pupils in an eye exam
