NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
DIURETICS
The basis for the use of diuretics is to promote sodium depletion (and thereby water) which leads to a decrease in extracellular fluid volume.
An important aspect of diuretic therapy is to prevent the development of tolerance to other antihypertensive drugs.
TYPES OF DIURETICS
A. Thiazide Diuretics examples include chlorothiazide
hydrochlorothiazide
a concern with these drugs is the loss of potassium as well as sodium
B. Loop Diuretics (High Ceiling Diuretics) examples include
furosemide (Lasix)
bumetanide
these compounds produce a powerful diuresis and are capable of producing severe derangements of electrolyte balance
C. Potassium Sparing Diuretics examples include
triamterene
amiloride
spironolactone
unlike the other diuretics, these agents do not cause loss of potassium
Mechanism of Action
Initial effects: through reduction of plasma volume and cardiac output.
Long term effect: through decrease in total peripheral vascular resistance.
Advantages
Documented reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Least expensive antihypertensive drugs.
Best drug for treatment of systolic hypertension and for hypertension in theelderly.
Can be combined with all other antihypertensive drugs to produce synergetic effect.
Side Effects
Metabolic effects (uncommon with small doses): hypokalemia,hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia (increased total
and LDL cholesterol), impaired glucose tolerance, and hypercalcemia (with thiazides).
Postural hypotension.
Impotence in up to 22% of patients.
Considerations
- Moderate salt restriction is the key for effective antihypertensive effect of diuretics and for protection from diuretic - induced hypokalaemia.
- Thiazides are not effective in patients with renal failure (serum creatinine > 2mg /dl) because of reduced glomerular filtration rate.
- Frusemide needs frequent doses ( 2-3 /day ).Thiazides can be given once daily or every other day.
- Potassium supplements should not be routinely combined with thiazide or loop diuretics. They are indicated with hypokalemia (serum potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) especially with concomitant digitalis therapy or left ventricular hypertrophy.
- Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs can antagonize diuretics effectiveness.
Special Indications
Diuretics should be the primary choice in all hypertensives.
They are indicated in:
- Volume dependent forms of hypertension: blacks, elderly, diabetic, renal and obese hypertensives.
- Hypertension complicated with heart failure.
- Resistant hypertension: loop diuretics in large doses are recommended.
- Renal impairment: loop diuretics
Specific Agents
Hydralazine [orally effective]
MOA: Not completely understood. Seems to be partially dependent on the release of EDRF and perhaps partially due to K+-channel activation
- in clinical doses action is manifest primarily on vascular smooth muscle (non-vascular muscle is not much affected).
- Re: Metabolism & Excretion. In cases of renal failure the plasma half life may be substantially increased (4-5 fold). One mode of metabolism is
via N-Acetylation (problem of slow acetylators)
Side Effects
- those typical of vasodilation = headache, nasal congestion, tachycardia etc.
- chronic treatment with high doses > 200 mg/day may induce a rheumatoid-like state which may resemble lupus erythematosus.
Minoxidil (Loniten) [orally effective]
MOA: K+-channel agonist
- very effective antihypertensive. Used primarily to treat life-threatening hypertension or hypertension resistant to other agents.
Side effects - growth of hair
Diazoxide (Hyperstat) [used only IV]
MOA: K+-channel agonist
- Administered by rapid IV injection; action appearing after 3-5 min; action may last from 4 to 12 hours.
Nitroprusside (Nipride) [used only IV]
MOA: increase in cGMP
- unlike the other vasodilators, venous tone is substantially reduced by nitroprusside.
- rapid onset of action (.30 sec); administered as an IV-infusion.
- particularly useful for hypertension associated with left ventricular failure.
Estimation of the risk of anesthesia (American Society of Anesthesiologists scale)
• ASA 1: healthy patient.
• ASA 2: patient with stable, treated illness like arterial hypertension, diabetes melitus, asthma bronchiale, obesity
• ASA 3: patient with systemic illness decreasing sufficiency like heart illness, late infarct
• ASA 4: patient with serious illness influencing his state like renal insuficiency, unstable hypertension, circulatory insuficiency
• ASA 5: patient in life treatening illness
• ASA 6: brain death- potential organ donor
Dissociation constants
|
Local anesthetic |
pKa |
% of base(RN) at pH 7.4 |
onset of action(min) |
|
Lidocaine |
7.8 |
29 |
2-4 |
|
Bupivacaine |
8.1 |
17 |
5-8 |
|
Mepivacaine |
7.7 |
33 |
2-4 |
|
Prilocaine |
7.9 |
25 |
2-4 |
|
Articaine |
7.8 |
29 |
2-4 |
|
Procaine |
9.1 |
2 |
14-18 |
|
Benzocaine |
3.5 |
100 |
- |
GENERAL ANESTHETICS
General anesthesia often involves more than one drug to get different, favourable effects.
Premedication is often used to:
1. Treat anxiety - Benzodiazapenes
2. Reduce pain - Opiod anaglesics such as morphine
3. Produce muscle paralysis -E.g. Tubocurare
4. Reduce secretions
Induction of anesthesia is often done via intravenous anesthetics, which are quick and easy to administer.
Maintenance of anesthesia involves inhalation agents.
Prototype Agents:
Volatile Anesthetics:
• Nitrous Oxide
• Ether
• Halothane
• Enflurane
• Isoflurane
Injectable Anesthetics:
• Thiopental
• Ketamine
• Etomidate
• Propofol
• Midazolam
Sympatholytics (Antiadrenergic Agents)
PHENOXYBENZAMINE
It is a potent alpha-adrenergic blocking agent
It effectively prevents the responses mediated by alpha receptors and diastolic blood pressure tends to decrease.
It interferes with the reflex adjustment of blood pressure and produces postural hypotension.
It increases the cardiac output and decreases the total peripheral resistance.
It is used in the management of pheochromocytoma and also to treat peripheral vasospastic conditions e.g. Raynaud’s disease and shock syndrome.
Phentolamine, another alpha blocker is exclusively used for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and for the prevention of abrupt rise in blood pressure during surgical removal of adrenal medulla tumors.
ERGOT ALKALOIDS
Ergotamine is an important alkaloid that possesses both vasoconstrictor and alpha-receptor blocking activity. Both ergotamine and dihydroergotamine are used in the treatment of migraine.
METHYSERGIDE
It is a 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonist ). It is effective in preventing an attack of migraine.
SUMATRIPTAN
It is a potent selective 5-HT 1D receptor agonist used in the treatment of migraine.
PRAZOSIN
It is an piperazinyl quinazoline effective in the management of hypertension. It is highly selective for α1 receptors. It also reduces the venous return and cardiac output. It is used in essential hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy and in Raynaud’s syndrome.
Prazosin lowers blood pressure in human beings by relaxing both veins and resistance vessels but it dilates arterioles more than veins.
TERAZOSIN
It is similar to prazosin but has higher bioavailability and longer plasma t½
DOXAZOSIN
It is another potent and selective α1 adrenoceptor antagonist and quinazoline derivative.
It’s antihypertensive effect is produced by a reduction in smooth muscle tone of peripheral vascular beds.
TAMSULOSIN
It is uroselective α1A blocker and has been found effective in improving BPH symptoms.
Other drugs used for erectile dysfunction
Sildenafil: It is orally active selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 useful in treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Characteristics of Opioid Receptors
mu1
Agonists : morphine phenylpiperidines
Actions: analgesia bradycardia sedation
mu2
Agonists : morphine phenylpiperidines
Actions: respiratory depression euphoria physical dependence
delta
Actions: analgesia-weak, respiratory depression
kappa
Agonists: ketocyclazocine dynorphin nalbuphine butorphanol
Actions: analgesia-weak respiratory depression sedation
Sigma
Agonists: pentazocine
Action: dysphoria -delerium hallucinations tachycardia hypertension
epsilon:
Agonists: endorphin
Actions: stress response acupuncture