26 Neuro Drugs (not including epilepsy)

Question 1

What is Parkinson’s? (inc symptoms)

Answer 1

Neurodegenerative disorder

Motor symptoms:

Bradykinesia

Tremor (rest/pin rolling)

Rigidity

Shuffling gait

(can affect swallowing and speech)

Non-motor symptoms:

Depression

Cognitive change

Urinary symptoms

Sleep disorder

Question 2

What are the causes of Parkinson’s?

Answer 2

Mostly idiopathic

Other causes:

Drugs

Vascular (small strokes)

Progressice supra nuclear palsy (Tau protein build up)

Neuro imaging can be used to aid diagnosis

Question 3

Outline the pathology of parkinson’s.

Answer 3

• Lewy body deposition
  
  • Pars compacta of substantia nigra
    
    • Cause neurodegeneration

Reduced dopamine output

Cortex stimulated less by basal ganglia

Question 4

What drugs can make myasthenia gravis worse?

Answer 4

aminoglycosides

beta blockers

ACE inhibitors

Question 5

Side effects of pyridostigmine (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor)?

Answer 5

SLUDGE

Question 6

Side effects of typical antipsychotics eg haloperidol or chlorpromazine?

Answer 6

1. Weight gain
2. Increased prolactin (think dopamine)
3. Parkinsonism

(Can also be caused by atypical antipsychotics but less )

Question 7

Name a modd stabilser and state how it works.

Answer 7

Lithium

Compete with magnesium/calcium

Increase serotonin

Enhance effect of other neurotransmitters