Neurodegenerative Disease Drugs

Question 1

L-DOPA

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 1

1) Parkinson’s Disease

2) Synthesize Dopamine to act directly on Dopamine receptors

Question 2

L-DOPA/Carbidopa

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 2

1) Parkinson’s Disease

2) Synthesize Dopamine to act directly on Dopamine receptors and inhibit AAAD enzyme

Question 3

Entacapone/L-Dopa/Carbidopa

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 3

1) Parkinson’s Disease

2) Synthesize Dopamine to act directly on Dopamine receptors and inhibit COMT and AAAD enzymes

Question 4

Carbidopa

1)Mechanism of Action

Answer 4

1)Inhibit AAAD enzyme to allow for more L-DOPA to cross BBB

Question 5

Entacapone

1)Mechanism of Action

Answer 5

1)Inhibit COMT enzyme to allow for more L-DOPA to cross BBB

Question 6

Selegiline

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 6

1) Parkinson’s Disease
2) Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor-Blocks Dopamine breakdown in the presynaptic terminal
* Metabolized to amphetamine-Can cause insomnia*

Question 7

Rasagiline

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 7

1) Parkinson’s Disease
2) Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor-Blocks Dopamine breakdown in the presynaptic terminal
* Does NOT cause insomnia*

Question 8

Ropinirole

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 8

1) Early Parkinson’s Disease
2) Dopamine2 (Inhibitory) Receptor Agonist-acts like Dopamine and activates D2 inhibitory receptors which ultimately allows glutamate to send excitatory signals to cortex

Question 9

Pramipexol

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 9

1) Early Parkinson’s Disease
2) Dopamine2 (Inhibitory) Receptor Agonist-acts like Dopamine and activates D2 inhibitory receptors which ultimately allows glutamate to send excitatory signals to cortex

Question 10

Benztropine

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 10

1) Parkinson’s Disease

2) Muscarinic Antagonists

Question 11

Trihexyphenidyl

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 11

1) Parkinson’s Disease

2) Muscarinic Antagonists

Question 12

Amantadine

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 12

1) Parkinson’s Disease (Adjunct therapy)

2) Unclear how increases Dopamine release/signaling

Question 13

Donepezil

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 13

1) Alzheimer’s Disease

2) Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor-Blocks AChE which prolongs ACh signaling to surviving neurons

Question 14

Galantamine

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 14

1) Alzheimer’s Disease

2) Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor-Blocks AChE which prolongs ACh signaling to surviving neurons

Question 15

Rivastigmine

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 15

1) Alzheimer’s Disease
2) Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor-Blocks AChE which prolongs ACh signaling to surviving neurons
* Metabolized by plasmaChE=SHORT half-life*

Question 16

Memantine

1) Use
2) Mechanism of Action

Answer 16

1) Alzheimer’s Disease
2) NMDA receptor antagonist-non-competitively blocks the NMDA receptor from being easily excited (takes Mg2+ place on NMDA receptor)