BB Drugs Flashcards

1
Q

Alcohol - what types of tolerance can occur?

A

Acute
Cellular
Even pharmacokinetic (in severe alcoholism)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Where areas of the brain does alcohol work on?

A
Frontal cortex (hypnotic effects)
Reticular formation (disinhibits behaviour)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What channel does alcohol work on?

A

It reduces the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels, reducing neurotransmitter release

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the kinetics of alcohol?

A

Zero order

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the physical withdrawal symptoms (alcohol)?

A

Agitation, anxiety, sweating, delirium tremens, convulsions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Explain pharmacokinetic tolerance with alcohol?

A

At high levels of chronic consumption, alcohol can increase the activity of cytochrome P450 group of oxidative liver enzymes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Amantadine - what disease is it used to treat?

A

Parkinson’s

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How does amantadine work?

A

Inhibits dopamine reuptake and increases dopamine release

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What class of drug is amitriptyline?

A

Tricyclic antidepressant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What can amitriptyline be used to treat?

A

Huntington’s, depression, neuropathic pain, cancer pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How does amitriptyline work?

A

Inhibits reuptake of amines, as well as blocks sodium and calcium channels
It potentiates monoaminergic transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the side effects of amitriptyline?

A

Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, aggravation of narrow angle glaucoma, fatigue, sedation, weight gain, postural hypotension, dizziness, loss of libido, arrhythmias
Dangerous in overdose (cardiotoxicity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What receptors does amitriptyline (and other TCAs) have affinity for?

A

5-HT, H1, muscarinic, alpha-1 and 2 adrenoceptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Amphetamine (speed) - how does it exert its effects?

A

Indirectly acting sympathomimetrics - acts to potentiate the effects of catecholamines by stimulating release
Inhibits reuptake
Inhibits MAO activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the effects of amphetamine?

A

Suppresses appetite
Hallucinations
High blood pressure
Psychosis (?)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where in the brain does amphetamine act?

A

Nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus and reticular formation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What type of dependence occurs with amphetamine?

What type of tolerance?

A

Only psychological

Cellular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is aripiprazole?

A

Atypical anti-psychotic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How does aripiprazole work?

A

D2 receptor antagonist
Also 5-HT2 receptor
PARTIAL AGONIST

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is one of the benefits of atypical vs typical anti-psychotic drugs?

A

They improve cognition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is aspirin/how does it work?

A

NSAID - COX-1 and 2 inhibitor

Analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is baclofen used for?

A

Pain for trigeminal neuralgia, symptomatic treatment of MS (anti-spastic, causing sedation and muscle weakness)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What receptor does baclofen work at?

A

GABA B agonist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is benserazide?

A

Peripherally acting DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are some of the uses of benzodiazepines?

A
Anti-spastics for MS.
ANXIOLYTICS
SEDATIVES
HYPNOTICS
ANTICONVULSANTS - epilepsy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are the negatives of using benzodiazepines?

A

Can cause sedation and are addictive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is clonazepam used for?

A

Myoclonic seizures

28
Q

What is IV diazepam used for?

A

Status epilepticus

29
Q

What are the withdrawal effects of BZD

A

Convulsions, panic attacks and anxiety.

30
Q

What receptor do BZDs work on?

A

Positive allosteric GABA A modulator – they bind and cause a transient conformational change of the receptor, which increases the activity of the ion channel. Increases the frequency of channel opening events in the presence of GABA, which leads to an increase in chloride ion conductance and inhibition of the action potential.

31
Q

What areas of the brain do BZD work on?

A

Raphe nuclei (anxiolytic) and reticular formation (sedation).

32
Q

Benztropine - what is it used for?

A

Anti-cholinergic agent used in PD - resting tremor responds most to this medication.

33
Q

Benztropine – what are the side effects?

A

Dry mouth, cough, constipation, blurred vision and confusion.

34
Q

Buspirone - how does it work?

A

5-HT 1A agonist (activate this receptor to reduce 5-HT transmission). 5-HT1A receptors are inhibitory somatodendritic receptors, so agonists initially REDUCE release of 5-HT. Long-term treatment desensitizes 5-HT1A autoreceptors, so results in an INCREASED RELEASE of 5-HT and potentiation of transmission.

35
Q

What is buspirone used for?

A

Anxiety

36
Q

How long does buspirone take to work?

A

Two weeks (the effects involve a slow process of change in the receptors) .

37
Q

Caffeine - how does this work?

A

Adenosine (A1 receptor) antagonist and it inhibits phosphodiesterase, both leading to an increase in c-AMP. This potentiates catecholamines in the brain.

38
Q

What areas of the brain does caffeine work on?

A

Nucleus accumbens and reticular formation

39
Q

What type of dependence is there with cannabis?

A

Cannabis – not associated with the development of dependence.

40
Q

What receptor does cannabis work on?

A

Plant cannabinoids such as THC work via the CB1 receptor, mainly exerting effects on the nervous system (brain, adipose, muscle, liver, GI tract, pancreas).

41
Q

Carbamazepine - what is this?

A

Anticonvulsant drug - acts on sodium channels
Used in epilepsy -for focal seizures and tonic clonic seizures, NOT ABSENCE SEIZURES
Also used as a mood stabiliser (bipolar disorder), OR for neuropathic pain and trigeminal neuralgia.
Induces liver enzymes.

42
Q

Carbidopa

A

Peripherally acting DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor, often combined with Levodopa.

43
Q

Chlorpromazine (largactil) - what is this?

A

The first neuroleptic drug - a typical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia.

44
Q

How does chlorpromazine work?

A

Post-synaptic dopamine receptor ANTAGONIST. Higher affinity for D2 family. Also has high affinity for other neurotransmitter receptors (applies to other antipsychotics too) – e.g. muscarinic Ach, H1, 5-HT2 receptors.

45
Q

Citalopram - what is it?

A

SSRI (used for depression)

46
Q

What are the benefits of citalopram?

A

No anticholinergic activity, no cardiotoxic effects. Safe in overdose.

47
Q

What are the adverse effects of citalopram?

A

The adverse effects are nausea, headaches, GI problems, increased aggression, insomnia, anxiety and sexual dysfunction.

48
Q

Clozapine - what is this?

A

Atypical antipsychotic. Blocks D4 receptors with high affinity. Drug of choice in drug resistant schizophrenia. It also has anti-cholinergic effects.

49
Q

What is the major risk of clozapine?

A

Agranulocytosis

50
Q

Cocaine - what is this and how does it work?

A

Powerful psychostimulant. It inhibits dopamine uptake transporter, but it does not stimulate the release of dopamine directly. This means if nerve cell firing is inhibited, cocaine in ineffective.

51
Q

What are the effects of cocaine?

A

Euphoria, increases energy levels, enhances physical performance, suppresses appetite and acts as a local anaesthetic. It potentiates catecholamine activity, causing dilatation of the pupils (mydriasis) and reduces intra-ocular pressure.

52
Q

Where does cocaine act in the brain?

A

Nucleus accumbens (euphoria, dependence), hypothalamus (increases temperature and decreases food consumption) and the reticular formation (increases alertness).

53
Q

Diclofenac

A

NSAID, COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

54
Q

Disulfiram - what is it used for?

A

Used in aversion therapies (for alcohol abuse). When it is taken with alcohol it gives an ‘acute hang-over (via acetaldehyde). It blocks acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and so inhibits the metabolism of alcohol, causing the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the blood. This leads to the feeling of sickness.

55
Q

What is domperidone?

A

A dopaminergic antagonist which doesn’t cross the BBB, given for the treatment of nausea and vomiting due to L-DOPA.

56
Q

‘Ecstasy’ (MDMA)

A

Derivative of amphetamine. It produces its effects primarily by interacting with 5-HT systems (but also modulates dopaminergic and noradrenergic transmission).

57
Q

Ethosuximide

A

Anti-epileptic drug that works on T-type calcium channels. It is used in absence seizures.

58
Q

Fluoxetine

A

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Used to treat anxiety and depression.

59
Q

Fluphenazine

A

Typical antipsychotic. Can be offered as depot intramuscular injections for slow-release.

60
Q

Flupenthixol

A

Typical antipsychotic

61
Q

Gabapentin

A

GABA analogue, ion channel modulator. Anti-spastic for MS treatment. Can cause sedation, fatigue and dizziness.

62
Q

Haloperidol

A

Typical antipsychotic. Can be offered as depot intramuscular injections for slow-release. Anti-cholinergic effects. Can also be used to treat Huntington’s (anti-dopaminergic). Post-synaptic dopamine receptor ANTAGONIST. Higher affinity for D2 family. Also has high affinity for other neurotransmitter receptors (applies to other antipsychotics too) – e.g. muscarinic Ach, H1, 5-HT2 receptors.

63
Q

Heroin

A

Opiate (diacetylmorphine), more potent that morphine. High solubility compared to morphine. Drug of choice in cachexia.

64
Q

Physical withdrawal symptoms (of all opiates)

A

Diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal cramps, sweating/shivering, hypertension, convulsions, and anxiety.

65
Q

Ibuprofen

A

NSAID, COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

66
Q

Imipramine

A

Tricyclic antidepressant drug. Can be used to treat Huntington’s. NOTE: antidepressant drugs are metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes, so if taken with barbiturates (which can induce liver enzymes), the efficacy of the drugs would be decreased due to their metabolism being enhanced.