Airway pharmacology

Question 1

What can drugs that treat asthma do?

Answer 1

→ Reverse smooth muscle contraction
→ Reduce mucus secretion
→ Reduce allergic inflammation of airways
→ Reduce sensitivity to irritating stimuli

Question 2

What can’t drugs that treat asthma do?

Answer 2

→ Resolve causes of inflammation
→ Reverse airway remodelling
→ Repair damage to tissues

Question 3

What are the types of beta 2 adrenergic receptors agonists?

Answer 3

→ SABA (short acting)
→ LABA (long acing)
→ Ultra LABA (ultra long acting)

Question 4

What are the other 2 types of drugs used to treat smooth muscle contraction?

Answer 4

→ Long acting muscarinic receptor antagonists

→ Phosphodiesterase inhibitors

Question 5

What is the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction?

Answer 5

→ Contractile mediators bind to Gq receptors
→ Phospholipase C is cleaved
→ DAG and IP3 are produced
→ IP3 binds to SR and causes calcium release
→ Contraction occurs

Question 6

How does salbutamol prevent smooth muscle contraction?

Answer 6

→Salbutamol binds to a Gs beta 2 receptor 
→ Gs is stimulated 
→ cAMP increases 
→ PKA is activated 
→ PKA results in a decrease in Ca2+ 
→ Smooth muscle relaxes

Question 7

How do corticosteroids work?

Answer 7

→ diffuses through the membrane and binds to a glucocorticoid receptor
→ Drug receptor complex moves to the nucleus
→ Binds to DNA and affects transcription
→ translates gene into protein

Question 8

How do corticosteroids affect genes?

Answer 8

→ They increase anti inflammatory genes

→ decrease pro inflammatory genes

Question 9

What are some considerations to take into account when using drugs?

Answer 9

→ Increased quality of life
→ Less symptoms
→ Increased life expectancy
→ Disease resolution or decrease in severity

Question 10

What are adverse effects drugs can have?

Answer 10

→ Decreased quality of life
→ Increased risk in developing other diseases
→ cost

Question 11

Why are drugs for asthma given as metered dose inhalers?

Answer 11

→ Helps the drug target the lungs and minimizes its effect on other tissues

Question 12

What other receptors can salbutamol act on and where, and what side effects can occur?

Answer 12

→ Beta 1 in heart
tachycardia, palpitations

→ Beta 2 in skeletal muscle
tremors, muscle growth

Question 13

What are the side effects of long term corticosteroid use?

Answer 13

→ Growth retardation
→ Skin ulcers
→ Candidiasis 
→ Osteoporosis 
→ Hypercortisolism 
→ Depression

Question 14

How is asthma pharmacotherapy administered?

Answer 14

→ In a stepwise manner
→ If the disease gets worse you move them up a step to a stronger drug
→ If their condition is stable and seems to be improving you move them down a step

Question 15

What is COPD therapy like?

Answer 15

→ Progressive