Module 4 Flashcards
CNS Drugs
Direct-acting cholinomimetic agents
bind to and activate muscarinic or nicotinic receptors
Indirect-acting cholinomimetic agents
inhibit acetylcholinesterase allowing natural acetylcholine to bind to muscarinic or nicotinic receptors
How does acetylcholine affect the eye?
has a parasympathetic effect which causes miosis (pupil constriction) and accommodation
How does acetylcholine affect the cardiovascular system?
has a parasympathetic effect which results in a decrease in inward calcium current and slowing of the pacemaker rate
How does acetylcholine affect the respiratory system?
has a parasympathetic effect causing contraction of smooth muscle in the bronchial tree and increased secretion by glands in tracheobronchial mucosa
How does acetylcholine affect the GI system?
has a parasympathetic effect causing increased motor and secretory activity of the gut and stimulation of salivary and gastric glands
How does acetylcholine affect the GU system?
has a parasympathetic effect causing contraction of the detrusor muscle in the bladder and relaxation of the trigone and sphincter muscles allowing urination
How do indirect-acting cholinomimetics affect the CNS?
cause diffuse EEG activation and subjective alert response improvement
How do indirect-acting cholinomimetics affect the cardiovascular system?
mimics effects of vagal nerve activation on the heart and causes negative chronotropy, dromotropy, and inotropy (decreased cardiac output)
How do indirect-acting cholinomimetics affect the neuromuscular junction?
increase the strength of skeletal muscle contraction
Acetylcholine MOA
direct-acting cholinergic agonist that binds to both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors causing widespread systemic effects limiting its utility (causes a brief decrease in heart rate and cardiac output as well as lowered BP due to M3 activation which dilates blood vessels, increases salivation and intestinal motility, increases bronchial secretions and contraction, and detrusor muscle activation)
Bethanechol MOA
direct-acting cholinergic agonist with strong muscarinic activity which lacks nicotinic activity
Bethanechol clinical uses
used in genitourinary disease (atonic bladder) to stimulate the detrusor muscle resulting in urination
Pilocarpine MOA
direct-acting cholinergic agonist with primarily muscarinic activity (activity occurs within minutes, lasts 4-8 hours)
Pilocarpine clinical uses
used topically in ophthalmology to produce rapid miosis and contraction of the ciliary muscle, particularly useful in the treatment of glaucoma, and can also be used to promote salivation in patients with xerostomia
Why is Pilocarpine the drug of choice for angle-closure glaucoma?
It acts on muscarinic receptors of the iris causing it to contract which leads to pupil constriction and movement of iris away from the angle. This process opens trabecular meshwork around the canal of Schlemm resulting in an immediate drop in intraocular pressure due to increased drainage of aqueous humor.
Edrophonium MOA
an indirect-acting cholinergic agent which binds reversibly to acetylcholinesterase, preventing hydrolysis of Ach
Edrophonium clinical uses
used primarily in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, which transiently increases the concentration of Ach in the NMJ, resulting in a rapid increase in muscle strength
Pyridostigmine MOA
inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase
Pyridostigmine clinical uses
used in the chronic management of myasthenia gravis (duration of action is 3-6 hours - must be taken 4-5 times/day for a therapeutic effect on MG)
Physostigmine MOA
binds reversibly to acetylcholinesterase and stimulates muscarinic and nicotinic receptors of the ANS as well as nicotinic receptors of the NMJ causing miosis, hypotension, and bradycardia
Physostigmine clinical uses
used to treat atropine overdose
Echothiophate MOA
irreversible indirect-acting cholinergic agonist that covalently binds to a phosphate group on acetylcholinesterase, permanently inactivating it (an organophosphate) - can only be reversed with high doses of atropine
Echothiophate clinical uses
only used topically in the treatment of ocular hypertension in chronic glaucoma and causes intense miosis which can cause cataracts at high doses (limiting its use)