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Pharmacology > Herbs (Chapter 15) > Flashcards

Herbs (Chapter 15) Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a drug ?

A

a drug is a substance whose therapeutic benefits outweigh the risks

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2
Q

in the US how are supplements regulated ?

A

considered a subset of food and not regulated as drugs

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3
Q

in Canada how are supplements regulated ?

A

regulated under the Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate
adverse reactions and manufacturing procedures are screened. If it’s medicinal, clinical trial data is required to support the claim of the market

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4
Q

what are supplements allowed to claim ?

A

can’t claim to treat a disease, but can claim to improve an aspect of a disease

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5
Q

What does research data on St John’s Wort support ?

A

a noticeable effect in many cases of light and medium depression, but no significant improvement of severe depression and OCD

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6
Q

How does St John’s Wort work ? (pharmacodynamics)

A

blocking uptake of neurotransmitters or by inhibiting monoamine oxidase

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7
Q

what are the adverse effects of St John’s Wort

A

GI disturbance and photosensitivity

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8
Q

what drugs shouldn’t be taken with St John’s Wort ? (4)

A

drugs that cause these symptoms eg tetracycline
also SJW speeds up excretion of drugs like birth control so don’t take SJW with BC
also bad to mix with prescription medication for depression that increases serotonin
also bad to mix with stimulants that increase neurotransmitters- causes increased BP and HR

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9
Q

what could be an unexpected result of taking St John’s Wort ?

A

surprise pregnancy

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10
Q

what is it called when you get side effects from mixing antidepressants with St John’s Wort ?

A

serotonin syndrome

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11
Q

what are symptoms of serotonin syndrome ?

A

headache, dizziness, ataxia, tachycardia, coma

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12
Q

what is ginko ?

A

a leaf extract from a tree called ginko biloba

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13
Q

what are two major components of ginko ?

A

flavone glycosides

ginkolic acid

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14
Q

how is ginko prescribed ?

A

OTC or prescription strength

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15
Q

what is the main benefit of ginko ?

A

improves blood flow to certain areas

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16
Q

in which disease can ginko perhaps be beneficial ? (3)

A

since it improves blood flow, it can be used in senile Alzheimer’s dementia, for impaired circulation of the legs, PMS

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17
Q

what is the suggested mechanism of ginko ?

A

decreases prostaglandin production and inhibits COX enzymes

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18
Q

what is the main adverse effects of ginko? what drugs should therefore not be taken with it ?

A

spontaneous bleeding- therefore shouldn’t be taken with other blood thinners

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19
Q

what form of ginseng is more potent?

A

the Asian one

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20
Q

what is the main benefit of ginseng ?

A

promotes overall health and wellbeing

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21
Q

what is ginseng normally used for ? (2)

A

improving menopausal symptoms and reducing flu symptoms

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22
Q

what is the effect of ginseng on blood glucose ?

A

controversial

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23
Q

what is the ergogenic effect of ginseng ?

A

controversial

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24
Q

what should ginseng not be taken with ?

A

anti-coagulant drugs

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25
in general what kind of population should not take ginseng ?
people with a pre-existing disease | it's more for a healthy person who wants to stay healthy
26
what is saw palmetto ?
a lipid extract from dwarf berries
27
in what 4 forms can saw palmetto be taken ?
berries, capsules, tablets, teas
28
in what 3 forms can ginseng be taken ?
capsules, powder, tea
29
what population should not take saw palmetto ?
pregnant women
30
what is saw palmetto scientifically proven to treat ?
benign prostatic hyperplasia - has anti androgenic properties that slow it down
31
what is kava used for ?
usually socially to get drunk, but also as a treatment for stress and anxiety
32
what does kava have an effect on ?
the CNS
33
what are the three roles of kava in the CNS ?
muscle relaxant antiepileptic insomnia treatment
34
compared to benzodiazepines, what is peculiar about kava ?
it doesn't cause impaired motor skills, but can cause "fun times'
35
what should kava never be combined with ?
other sedatives
36
what can be an issue with kava ? what are the warning signs ?
liver toxicity watch out for yellowing of eye, skin, brown urine
37
what is echinacea ?
extract from a purple coneflower
38
what is the active component of echinacea ?
not known
39
what is the main role of echinacea ?
enhances immune system and prevents inflammation
40
what is the main side effect of echinacea
in people that have a pollen allergy- allergic reaction
41
what is black cohosh?
roots from a plant called Cimifuga racemosa
42
what is black cohosh used for ?
treat menopausal symptoms or PMS (cramps)
43
how does black cohosh work pharmacodynamically ?
inhibits luteinizing hormone and inhibit activity of serotonin receptor
44
who should avoid taking black cohosh ?
people with history of breast cancer
45
when should black cohosh not be used ?
in pregnancy or lactation
46
what is the active ingredient in feverfew ?
parthenolide
47
what are the 3 ways feverfew is taken ?
powder, pills, or leaves
48
what is the major use of feverfew ?
prevent migraine headaches, but not treat migraine
49
what is not recommended to take with feverfew ?
since it may prevent platelet aggregation, shouldn't be taken with other drugs
50
what are the main health benefits of garlic ? (4)
topical antiseptic reduced BP improve lipid and cholesterol profile prevent atherosclerosis
51
what is the main issue in terms of drugs that shouldn't be taken with garlic ?
anything that prevents platelet aggregation (blood thinners) like aspirin, warfarin, herbs
52
what is valerian used for ?
improve sleep and perhaps reduce anxiety
53
what is the active ingredient of valerian ?
not known
54
what can valerian perhaps do in the brain ?
increase the availability of GABA
55
what is valerian not recommended to be consumed with ?
sedatives
56
what is curcumin ?
the active ingredient in tumeric
57
what is the pharmacodynamics of curcumin ? what is the overall effect?
downregulating the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase, inducible nitric oxide synthase enzymes inhibits inflammation
58
what is the main adverse effect of curcumin ?
may contribute to iron deficiency
59
what are the three herbs that have no actual health benefits, just dangerous ?
Chaparral, Pennyroyal, Thunder God Vine
60
what is the latin name for chaparall ? (2)
larrea divaricata or larrea tridentata
61
what is chaparral sold as ?
analgesic and anti-cancer herb
62
what is the main risk of chaparral ?
severe liver damage
63
what does chaparral interact with ?
blood thinners
64
what is the latin name for pennyroyal ?
mentha pulegium
65
what is pennyroyal traditionally used for ?
inducing abortions
66
what are the adverse effects of pennyroyal ?
liver and kidney damage, death
67
what dose of pennyroyal is considered unsafe ?
any
68
what population should not take pennyroyal ?
no one
69
what is thunder god vine used to treat ? what are its three main properties ?
it has anti-inflammatory, immune suppression and anti cancer effects treats inflammation, immune hyperactivity, autoimmune diseases
70
although thunder god vine has research supporting its benefits, why is it not recommended ?
it has severe side effects and can be highly deadly if prepared improperly (poisonous sacks in roots)
71
during periods of rest, what does creatinine do ?
bound to phosphate groups, forming phosphocreatine (PCr)
72
during exercise, what happens to creatinine ?
the phosphate groups from PCr are cleaved and attached to ADP forming a new ATP molecule.
73
what is the most popular form of creatine used ?
creatine monohydrate (CrM)
74
what is the newest form of creatine ?
creatine ethyl ester (CEE)
75
what is the supposed advantage of creatine ethyl esther ?
better absorbed by GI tract due to lipophilic nature
76
from research, what does creatine monohydrate supplementation do ?
increase muscle creatine concentration
77
what dosage regimen is more effective for creatine ?
a loading regimen
78
what has raised questions on the safety of creatine supplementation ?
majority of creatine ethyl esther converted to inactive creatinine. this may be dangerous
79
what is the effect of creatine on liver and kidney function ?
so far research has indicated no danger
80
is there an ergogenic benefit to creatine monohydrate
yes, but highly dependent on mode of exercise | intermittent anaerobic exercise the best
81
what is the solid link in creatine research
between concentration of creatine in muscle and ergogenic benefit
82
what is the main problem in consuming herbs and supplements ?
people treat them as harmless
83
is it ok to take a natural supplement with a drug ?
not if they are supposed to do the same thing
84
what are vegetables with anticoagulant properties ? (2)
celery | garlic
85
what are plants with anticoagulant properties (3)
green tea ginger ginseng

Pharmacology (15 decks)

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