NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
PHARMACOLOGY OF VASOCONSTRICTORS
All local anesthetics currently used in dentistry today produce some degree of vasodilatation. This
characteristic results in the increased vascularity of the injected site and results in a shorter duration of local
anesthetic action due enhanced uptake of the local anesthetic into the bloodstream.
- Using a “chemical tourniquet” to prolong the effect of local anesthetics
- The vasoconstrictive action of epinephrine reduces uptake of local anesthetic resulting in a significant increase in the duration of local anesthetic action.
- the addition of vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic solutions will:
1. Prolong the effect of the local anesthetic
2. Increase the depth of anesthesia
3. Reduces the plasma concentration of the local anesthetic
4. Reduces the incidence of systemic toxicity
5. Reduces bleeding at surgical site
Local anesthetics containing epinephrine produce:
1. Localized
VASOCONSTRICTION MEDIATED BY ALPHA RECEPTOR ACTIVATION
i. Hemostasis at surgical site
ii. Ischemia of localized tissue
2. Systemic
HEART
i. Increased heart rate (β1)
ii. Increased force and rate of contraction (β 1)
iii. Increased cardiac output
iv. Increases oxygen demand
v. Dilation of coronary arteries
vi. Decreases threshold for arrhythmias
LUNGS
i. Bronchodilation (β2 )
SKELETAL MUSCLE
i. Predominately vasodilation (fight or flight response) (β 2 )
CNS
i. Minimal direct effect due to difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier. Most effects on the CNS are manifestations of the vasoconstrictor on other organs such as the heart.
Concentrations of vasoconstrictors
1. Epinephrine The most commonly used epinephrine dilution in dentistry today is 1:100000. However it appears that a 1:200000 concentration is comparable in effect to the 1:100000 concentration.
2. Levonordefrin Levonordefrin is a synthetic compound very similar in structure to epinephrine. It is the only alternate choice of vasoconstrictor to epinephrine. It is prepared as a 1:20000 (0.05mg/ml)(50 mcg/ml) concentration with 2 % mepivacaine.
Cardiovascular considerations
The plasma concentration of epinephrine in a patient at rest is 39 pg/ml.1 The injection of 1 cartridge of lidocaine 1:100000 epinephrine intraorally results in a doubling of the plasma concentration of epinephrine.
The administration of 15 mcg of epinephrine increased heart rate an average of 25 beats/min with some individuals experiencing an increase of 70 beats/min.
Clinical considerations
It is well documented that reduced amounts of epinephrine should be administered to patients with:
HEART DISEASE (ANGINA HISTORYOF MI)
POORLY CONTROLLED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
It is generally accepted that the dose of epinephrine should be limited to 0.04 mg (40 mcg) for patients that have these medical diagnoses
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
MAC 100%, blood/gas solubility ratio 0.47
- An inorganic gas., low solubility in blood, but greater solubility than N2
- Inflammable, but does support combustion.
- Excreted primarily unchanged through the lungs.
- It provides amnesia and analgesia when administered alone.
- Does not produce muscular relaxation.
- Less depressant to both the cardiovascular system and respiratory system than most of the other inhalational anesthetics.
- Lack of potency and tendency to produce anoxia are its primary limitations.
- The major benefit of nitrous oxide is its ability to reduce the amount of the secondary anesthetic agent that is necessary to reach a specified level of anesthesia.
Neomycin
used as a topical preparation
Neomycin is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and has been used as a preventative measure for hepatic encephalopathy and hypercholesterolemia. By killing bacteria in the intestinal tract, it keeps ammonia levels low and prevents hepatic encephalopathy, especially prior to GI surgery. It is not given intravenously, as neomycin is extremely nephrotoxic (it causes kidney damage), especially compared to other aminoglycosides.
Morphine
Morphine is effective orally, but is much less effective than when given parenterally due to first-pass metabolism in the liver. Metabolism involves glucuronide formation, the product of which is excreted in the urine.
1. Central Nervous System Effects
• Morphine has mixed depressant and stimulatory actions on the CNS.
• Analgesia:
• Dysphoria – Euphoria
- morphine directly stimulates the chemoreceptor trigger zone, but later depresses the vomiting center in the brain stem. This center is outside the blood/brain barrier.
- opiates appear to relieve anxiety
• Morphine causes the release of histamine and abolishes hunger.
- causes the body to feel warm and the face and nose to itch.
• Pupils are constricted.- due to stimulation of the nuclei of the third cranial nerves.
- tolerance does not develop to this effect.
• Cough reflex is inhibited. - this is not a stereospecific effect.
- dextromethorphan will suppress cough but will not produce analgesia.
• Respiration is depressed
- due to a direct effect on the brain stem respiratory center.
- death from narcotic overdose is nearly always due to respiratory arrest.
- the mechanism of respiratory depression involves:
• a reduction in the responsiveness of the brain stem respiratory centers to an increase in pCO2.
• depression of brain stem centers that regulate respiratory rhythm.
- hypoxic stimulation of respiration is less affected and O2 administration can produce apnea.
2. Cardiovascular Effects
• Postural orthostatic hypotension.- due primarily to peripheral vasodilation, which may be due in part to histamine release.
• Cerebral circulation is also indirectly influenced by increased pCO2, which leads to cerebral vasodilation and increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
• In congestive heart failure, morphine decreases the left ventricular workload and myocardial oxygen demand.
3. Endocrine Effects
• Increases prolactin secretion
• Increases vasopressin (ADH) secretion
• Decreases pituitary gonadotropin (LH & FSH) secretion.
• Decreases stress induced ACTH secretion.
4. Gastrointestinal Tract Effects
• Constipation (tolerance does not develop to this effect).
• Several of these agents can be used in the treatment of diarrhea.
There is an increase in smooth muscle tone and a decrease in propulsive contractions.
Adverse Reactions
Generally direct extensions of their pharmacological actions.
1. respiratory depression, apnea
2. nausea and vomiting
3. dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, edema
4. mental clouding, drowsiness
5. constipation, ileus
6. biliary spasm (colic)
7. dry mouth
8. urine retention, urinary hesitancy
9. hypersensitivity reactions (contact dermatitis, urticaria)
Precautions
1. respiratory depression, particularly in the newborn
3. orthostatic hypotension
4. histamine release (asthma, shock)
5. drug interactions (other CNS depressants)
6. tolerance:
- analgesia, euphoria, nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression
7. physical dependence (psychological & physiological)
Heroin (diacetyl morphine)
Heroin is synthetically derived from the natural opioid alkaloid morphine
Largely owing to its very rapid onset of action and very short half-life, heroin is a popular drug of abuse
It is most effective when used intravenously
Heroin is rapidly deacetylated to 6-monoacetyl morphine and morphine, both of which are active at the mu opioid receptor
More lipid soluble than morphine and about 2½ times more potent. It enters the CNS more readily.
VITAMIN -K
- Group of lipophilic, hydrophobic vitamins.
- Needed for the post-translational modification of coagulation proteins.
- Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) is the major dietary form of vitamin K.
- Vitamin K2 (menaquinone, menatetrenone) is produced by bacteria in the intestines.
Histamine:
Involved in inflammatory and anaphylactic reactions
Local application causes swelling redness, and edema, mimicking a mild inflammatory reaction.
Large systemic doses leads to profound vascular changes similar to those seen after shock or anaphylactic origin.
Storage: widely distributed; in tissues, primarily in mast cells; in blood- in basophils, platelets; non-mast cell sites (epidermis, CNS, regenerating cells)
Histamine Stored in complex with:
Heparin
Chondroitin Sulfate
Eosinophilic Chemotactic Factor
Neutrophilic Chemotactic Factor
Proteases
Release: during type I (IgE-mediated) immediate hypersensitivity rxns, tissue injury, in response to some drugs
a. Process: Fcε receptor on mast cell or basophil binds IgE, when Ag binds → ↑ PLC activity → histamine
Symptoms: bronchoconstriction, ↓ Pa, ↑ capillary permeability, edema
Action
H1 receptors are located mainly on smooth muscle cells in blood vessels and the respiratory and GI tracts. When histamine binds with these receptors producing the following effects.
-Contraction of smooth muscle in the bronchi and bronchioles producing bronchoconstraction.
-stimulation of vagus nerve endings to produce reflex bronchoconstraction and cough.
-Increased permeability of veins and capillaries, which allows fluid to flow into subcutaneous tissues and form edema (little lower blood pressure).
-Increased secretion of mucous glands. Mucosal edema and increased nasal mucus produce the nasal congestion characteristic of allergic rhinitis and the common cold.
-Stimulation of sensory peripheral nerve endings to cause pain and pruritus.
Histamine promotes vasodilation by causing vascular endothelium to release nitric oxide. This chemical signal diffuses to the vascular smooth muscle, where it stimulates cyclic guanosine monophosphate production, causing vasodilation.
H2-receptors present mostly in gastric glands and smooth muscle of some blood vessels. When receptors are stimulated, the main effects are increased secretion of gastric acid and pepsin, increased rate and force of myocardial contraction.
The H3-receptor functions as a negative-feedback mechanism to inhibit histamine synthesis and release in many body tissues. Stimulation of H3 receptors opposes the effects produced by stimulation of H1 receptors.
The H4- receptor is expressed in only a few cell types, and their role in drug action is unclear.
Drugs cause release of histamine:
Many drugs can cause release of histamine in the body.
-Intracutaneouse morphine injection in humans produced localized redness, localized edema and a diffuse redness. This is due to release of histamine.
-I.V. inj of curare may cause bronchial constriction due to release of histamine.
-codeine , papaverine, meperidine (pethedine), atropine, hydralizine and sympathomimetic amines, histamine releases by these drugs may not be significant unless they are administered I.V in large doses
Pharmacological effects
- If injected I.V. (0.1 mg of histamine) causes a sharp decline in the blood pressure, flushing of the face and headache.
- There is also stimulation of gastric acid secretion.
- If this injection is given to an asthmatic individual, there will be a marked decrease in vital capacity and a sever attack of asthma.
Circulatory effects of histamine:
The two factors involved in the circulatory action of histamine are:
Arteriolar dilatation and
Capillary permeability
So it leads to loss of plasma from circulation
Effect on gastric secretion:
Histamine is a potent stimulant of gastric Hcl secretion.