Chapter One

Question 1

What is pharmacotherapeutics?

Answer 1

Pharmacotherapeutics is the medical science that deals with the use of drugs in the treatment of diseases.

Question 2

What role does pharmacology play in pharmacotherapeutics?

Answer 2

Pharmacology provides the rational or scientific basis of pharmacotherapeutics by explaining the mechanism and effects of drugs on the body and the relationship between the dose and the drug response.

Question 3

What is a formulation in pharmacotherapy?

Answer 3

A formulation is the nature by which a drug is made available and suitable for administration of a specific dose of a drug to a patient.

Question 4

What are pharmaceutical preparations?

Answer 4

Pharmaceutical preparations are different types of formulations or dosage forms.

Question 5

What are most formulations made from?

Answer 5

Most formulations are made from pure drug compounds.

Question 6

What are herbal remedies?

Answer 6

Herbal remedies are formulations made from crude drug preparations.

Question 7

What are some commonly available solid formulations?

Answer 7

Commonly available solid formulations include tablets.

Question 8

What are examples of tablet formulations?

Answer 8

Examples of tablet formulations include enteric coated tablets, sustained release or extended release tablets, and effervescent tablets.

Question 9

What are the two main components of the nervous system?

Answer 9

Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 10

What does the central nervous system consist of?

Answer 10

Brain and spinal cord

Question 11

Which systems are part of the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 11

Autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system

Question 12

How does the CNS regulate the PNS?

Answer 12

The autonomic nervous system is regulated by brain stem centers responsible for cardiovascular, respiratory, and other visceral functions.

Question 13

What is the primary role of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 13

Activates skeletal muscle contraction enabling voluntary body movements

Question 14

What do drugs primarily affect to alter nervous system function?

Answer 14

Neurotransmitters and/or their receptors

Question 15

Fill in the blank: The autonomic nervous system modifies the activity of _______.

Answer 15

[smooth muscles, exocrine glands, cardiac tissues, and certain metabolic activities]

Question 16

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 16

Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Question 17

What is the sympathetic nervous system’s primary response to threats?

Answer 17

Fight or Flight reaction

Question 18

What does the parasympathetic system promote?

Answer 18

Rest or Digest functions

Question 19

What receptors mediate all parasympathetic effects?

Answer 19

Muscarinic receptors (M)

Question 20

How do sympathetic and parasympathetic systems generally affect organ function?

Answer 20

They often have opposing effects

Question 21

What neurotransmitter is primarily found in the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 21

Acetylcholine

Question 22

What neurotransmitter is primarily found in the somatic nervous system?

Answer 22

Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)

Question 23

True or False: All autonomic ganglia use acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

What are the two types of cholinergic receptors?

Answer 24

Muscarinic and nicotinic receptors

Question 25

What effect does activation of M3 receptors have?

Answer 25

Smooth muscle contraction and gland secretion

Question 26

What are adrenoceptors?

Answer 26

Receptors for norepinephrine and epinephrine at sympathetic neuro effector junctions

Question 27

What is the role of acetylcholinesterase?

Answer 27

Hydrolyzes acetylcholine to form choline and acetate

Question 28

Name a drug that stimulates vesicular release of acetylcholine.

Answer 28

Black widow spider venom (α-latrotoxin)

Question 29

What is the function of botulinum toxin A?

Answer 29

Blocks the exocytotic release of acetylcholine and inhibits neurotransmission

Question 30

What do cholinesterase inhibitors do?

Answer 30

Prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, increasing its concentration

Question 31

What is the primary neurotransmitter synthesized from tyrosine?

Answer 31

Norepinephrine

Question 32

What is the effect of α1 adrenoceptors?

Answer 32

Mediates smooth muscle contraction

Question 33

What is the effect of β2 adrenoceptors?

Answer 33

Mediates smooth muscle relaxation

Question 34

Fill in the blank: The sympathetic nervous system uses _______ as its primary neurotransmitter at most postganglionic junctions.

Answer 34

[norepinephrine]

Question 35

What is the function of the enteric nervous system (ENS)?

Answer 35

Regulation of gastrointestinal motility and secretions

Question 36

What are the effects of sympathetic stimulation on the heart?

Answer 36

Increases heart rate and contractility

Question 37

What are the effects of parasympathetic stimulation on the heart?

Answer 37

Decreases heart rate and atrioventricular conduction

Question 38

What is the role of catecholamine transport in neurotransmission?

Answer 38

Facilitates neuronal reuptake of norepinephrine

Question 39

What is the clinical use of adrenoceptor antagonists?

Answer 39

Reduce excessive sympathetic stimulation of various organs

Question 40

What are drugs that bind and activate the α or β – adrenoceptors called?

Answer 40

Direct acting adrenoceptors agonists ## Footnote Examples include albuterol, dobutamine, and epinephrine

Question 41

What is the effect of cocaine and amphetamine on epinephrine?

Answer 41

They increase the concentration of epinephrine by inhibiting its reuptake ## Footnote Their vasoconstrictive effect enhances the accumulation of epinephrine in localized areas

Question 42

What defines indirect acting adrenoceptor agonists?

Answer 42

Drugs that increase epinephrine concentration without directly activating adrenoceptors ## Footnote Examples include cocaine and amphetamine

Question 43

What do some drugs do to norepinephrine to exert effects on the CNS?

Answer 43

They inhibit the breakdown of norepinephrine by COMT and MAO

Question 44

What initiates the baroreceptor reflex when blood pressure increases?

Answer 44

Activation of mechanoreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinus

Question 45

What is the result of increased blood pressure on heart rate?

Answer 45

Reflex bradycardia ## Footnote This occurs due to vagal outflow leading to decreased heart rate and sympathetic nerve outflow

Question 46

What happens when a drug lowers blood pressure sufficiently?

Answer 46

It may reduce baroreceptor tone, leading to reflex tachycardia

Question 47

What is reflex tachycardia?

Answer 47

An acceleration of heart rate due to reduced baroreceptor tone