NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
Antianginal Drugs
Organic Nitrates :
Short acting: Glyceryl trinitrate (Nitroglycerine, GTN), Amyl Nitrate
Long Acting: Isosrbide dinitrate (Short acting by sublingual route), Erythrityl tetranitrate, penta erythrityl tetranitrate
Beta-adrenergic blocking agents : Propanolol, Metoprolol
Calcium channel blockers Verapamil, Nifedipine, Dipyridamole
Mechanism of action
– Decrease myocardial demand
– increase blood supply to the myocardium
Inhalational Anesthetics
The depth of general anesthesia is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the anesthetic agent in the brain. These agents enter the body through the lungs, dissolve in alveolar blood and are transported to the brain and other tissues.
A. Rate of induction and rate of recovery from anesthesia:
1. The more soluble the agent is in blood, the more drug it takes to saturate the blood and the more time it takes to raise the partial pressure and the depth of anesthesia.
2. The less soluble the agent is in blood, the less drug it takes to saturate the blood and the less time it takes to raise the partial pressure and depth of anesthesia.
B. MAC (minimum alveolar concentration)
The MAC is the concentration of the anesthetic agent that represents the ED50 for these agents. It is the alveolar concentration in which 50% of the patients will respond to a surgical incision.
The lower the MAC the more potent the general anesthetic agent.
C. Inhalation Anesthetic Agents
- Nitrous Oxide
- Ether
- Halothane
- Enflurane
- Isoflurane
Griseofulvin
- Griseofulvin is an antifungal drug. It is used both in animals and in humans, to treat ringworm infections of the skin and nails. It is derived from the mold Penicillium griseofulvum.
- It is administered orally.
Eicosanoid compounds
Prostaglandines, Leukotriens and Thromboxanes.
They are produced in minute amounts by all cells except RBCs and they act locally at the same site of synthesis.
These agents have many physiological processes as mediators and modulators of inflammatory reactions.
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
Distal (Potassium Sparing) Diuretics
Agents:
spironolactone
triamterene
Mechanism of action
Inhibition of Na/K exchange at aldosterone dependent distal tubular site
Spironolactone - competes with aldosterone for regulatory site
Triamterene - decreases activity of pump directly
• Either mechanism decreases potassium wasting
• Either mechanism produces poor diuresis (when used alone)
o relatively unimportant Na recovery site
Diurectic activity increased if:
• sodium load (body) is high
• aldosterone concentrations are high
• sodium load (tubule) is high - secondary to diuresis
Other electrolytes unaffected
Toxicity
• spironolactone may produce adrenal and sex hormone effects with LONG-TERM use
• Both drugs may produce electrolyte imbalance
Chloral hydrate
1. Short-acting sleep inducer—less risk of “hangover” effect the next day.
2. Little change on REM sleep.
3. Metabolized to trichloroethanol, an active metabolite; further metabolism inactivates the drug.
4. Used for conscious sedation in dentistry.
5. Can result in serious toxicity if the dose is not controlled.