NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
Loop (High Ceiling) Diuretics
Loop diuretics are diuretics that act at the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidney. They are primarily used in medicine to treat hypertension and edema often due to congestive heart failure or renal insufficiency. While thiazide diuretics are more effective in patients with normal kidney function, loop diuretics are more effective in patients with impaired kidney function.
Agent: Furosemide
Mechanism(s) of Action
1. Diuretic effect is produced by inhibit of active 1 Na+, 1 K+, 2 Cl- co-transport (ascending limb - Loop of Henle).
o This produces potent diuresis as this is a relatively important Na re-absorption site.
2. Potassium wasting effect
a. Blood volume reduction leads to increased production of aldosterone
b. Increased distal Na load secondary to diuretic effect
c. a + b = increase Na (to blood) for K (to urine) exchange which produces indirect K wasting (same as thiazides but more likely)
3. Increased calcium clearance/decreased plasma calcium
o secondary to passive decreases in loop Ca++ reabsorption.
o This is linked to inhibition of Cl- reabsorption.
o This is an important clinical effect in patients with ABNORMAL High Ca++
Cells of the Nervous System
1-Neurons (Nerve Cells):function units of the nervous system by conducting nerve impulses, highly specialized and amitotic. Each has a cell body (soma), one or more dendrites, and a single axon.
• Cell Body: it has a nucleus with at least one nucleolus and many of the typical cytoplasmic organelles, but lacks centriolesfor cell division.
• Dendrites:Dendrites and axons are cytoplasmic extensions (or processes), that project from the cell body. They are sometimes referred to as fibers. Dendrites (afferent processes) increase their surface area to receive signals from other neurons, and transmit impulses to the neuron cell body.
• Axon: There is only one axon (efferent process) that projects from each cell body.
It carries impulses away from the cell body.
2-Glial cells: do not conduct nerve impulses, but support, nourish, and protect the neurons. They are mitotic, and far more numerous than neurons.
Astrocyte: A glialcell that provides support for neurons of the CNS, provides nutrients regulates the chemical composition of the extracellularfluid.
• Oligodendrocyte: A type of glialcell in the CNS that forms myelin sheaths.
• Microglia:The smallest glialcells; act as phagocytes (cleaning up debris) and protect the brain from invading microorganisms.
• Schwann cell:A cell in the PNS that is wrapped around a myelinatedaxon, providing one segment of its myelin sheath.
ISOPRENALINE
It is beta-receptor stimulant, which stimulates the heart and causes tachycardia.
It relaxes the smooth muscles particularly the bronchial and GIT. It is mainly used in bronchial asthma, in the treatment of shock and as a cardiac stimulant in heart block.
ORCIPRENALINE
Is a potent β-adrenergic agonist.
Receptor sites in the bronchi and bronchioles are more sensitive to the drug than those in the heart and blood vessels.
AMPHETAMINE
increases the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Amphetamine is a potent CNS stimulant and causes alertness, insomnia, increased concentration, euphoria or dysphoria and increased work capacity.
Amphetamines are drugs of abuse and can produce behavioural abnormalities and can precipitate psychosis.
PHENYLEPHRINE
It is used as a nasal decongestant and mydriatic agent and also in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
UTERINE RELAXANTS (TOCOLYTICS)
ISOXSUPRINE
Isoxsuprine has a potent inhibitory effect on vascular and uterine smooth muscle and has been used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, threatened abortion, premature labour and peripheral vascular diseases.
Ethosuximide (Zarontin): use in absence seizures (may exacerbate tonic-clonic seizures)
Mechanism: ↓ T-type Ca currents in thalamic neurons, inhibits bursts of APs, ↓ synchronous neuronal firing
i. Thalamo-cortical reverberating circuits: during absence type seizures, have reverberating circuits between cerebral cortex and thalamus at 3 Hz maintained by T-type Ca channels (since blocking these channels blocks the reverberating circuit)
Side effects: quite non-toxic; common= N/V and anorexia; less common = headache, sedation, photophobia
Glucocorticoids
Cortisol (hydrocortisone) and its synthetic derivatives
|
Drug |
Duration |
| Cortisol | Short |
| Prednisone | Medium |
| Triameinolone | Intermediate |
| Betamethasone | Long |
| Dexamethasone | Long |
Mechanism
↓ the production of leukotrienes and prostaglandins - inhibits phospholipase A2 , inhibits expression of COX-2 , will also stimulate the bone marrow to produce neutrophils resulting in leukocytosis
halts inflammatory cascade
↓ leukocyte migration
↓ capillary permeability
↓ phagocytosis
↓ platelet-activating factor
↓ interleukins (e.g. IL-2)
may trigger apoptosis in dividing and non-dividing cells
used in cancer chemotherapy
Clinical use
anti-inflammatory
immunosuppression
cancer chemotherapy (prednisone most common)
CLL
Hodgkin's lymphomas
part of MOPP regimen
Addison disease
asthma
Toxicity
1) must taper dose to avoid toxicity
2) suppression of ACTH → shock state if abrupt withdrawal - > cortical atrophy, malaise, myalgia, arthralgia, fever
3) iatrogenic Cushing syndrome ->buffalo hump, moon facies, truncal obesity, muscle weakness and atrophy, thin skin, easy bruising, acne
4) osteoporosis - vertebral fractures, aseptic hip necrosis, ↓ skeletal growth in children
5) hyperglycemia (diabetes) -due to ↑ gluconeogenesis , glaucoma, cataracts, and other complications can subsequently result
6) ↑ GI acid release -ulcers
7) Na+ retention -> edema, HTN, hypokalemia alkalosis, hypocalcemia
8)↓ wound healing
9) ↑ infections
10) mental status changes
11) cataracts
Factors affecting onset and duration of action of local anesthetics
pH of tissue
pKa of drug
Time of diffusion from needle tip to nerve
Time of diffusion away from nerve
Nerve morphology
Concentration of drug
Lipid solubility of drug
Quinolone
Quinolones and fluoroquinolones form a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics. They are derived from nalidixic acid.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are highly potent and considered relatively safe.
MOA : Quinolones act by inhibiting the bacterial DNA gyrase enzyme. This way they inhibit nucleic acid synthesis and act bacteriocidically.
Drugs :Nalidixic acid, Ciprofloxacin , Levofloxacin, Norfloxacin ,Ofloxacin, Moxifloxacin , Trovafloxacin