PHARMACOLOGY Flashcards
what drug class is glicazide?
a sulphonylurea
what drug class is repaglinide?
a meglitinide
what is the mechanism of action for glicazide and repaglinide?
they antagonise the sulphonylurea type-1 receptor in the beta cells of the pancreas which prevents potassium ions from exiting the cell when intracellular ATP levels are low so we get depolarisation of the membrane potential which induces exocytosis of insulin
what is glucagon’s mechanism of action?
an agonist at glucagon receptors (GR) in the liver. Activation of these receptors
sets up a second mes
senger cascade involving cAMP, PKA, PPK and finally activation of glycogen
phosphorylase. This promotes the metabolism of glycogen into glucose which is then released into
the bloodstream
what is insulin’s mechanism of action?
Acts via the insulin receptor (IR) to control a vast range of processes in
almost all metabolically active cells in the body.
The main
effects are the absorption of glucose into metabolising tissues and the subsequent promotion of
glycolysis (converting glucose into useable energy (ATP) and storing of glucose for futu
re use as
glycogen (glycogenesis)
what is the effect of metformin?
to decrease conversion of glycogen to glucose (and subsequent release into blood) by
inhibition of the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase. It also affects insulin sensitivity, thus increasing
glucose uptake and utilisation in metabolising tissue
what drug class is octreotide?
a somatostatin analogue
what is the mechanism of octreotide?
Agonist of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) throughout the body. Affects a wide
range of biochemical
processes (thus long side
-effect list) but most potent at inhibiting INSULIN and GLUCAGON release.
what drug class is Pancreatin?
a thiazolidinedione
what is pancreatin mechanism of action?
An agonist at peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma nuclear receptor (PPAR). Reduces
insulin resistance in metabolically active tissues (i.e. increases glucose absorption, storage and
conversion into ATP) and prevents glucose release from the liver.
What drug class is acarbose?
an alpha glucosidase inhibitor
what is acarbose’s mechanism of action?
Alpha glucosidase is present in the gut and is essential for breaking
down complex carbohydrates (i.e. starch) into glucose.
Thus, less glucose is released into the hepatic
portal vein following a meal
what drug class is liraglutide and exenatide?
GLP1R agonists
what are liraglutide and exenatides mechanisms of action?
GLP1 is released by intestinal endocrine cells
following ingestion of food. Has a synergistic set of effects on binding to the receptor including
promoting insulin release from pancreatic beta cell
s and reducing glucagon release from alpha cells
what drug class is sitagliptin?
a gliptin drug. antagonist of DPP-4
