NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
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.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V) Phenoxymethylpenicillin, commonly known as penicillin V, is the orally-active form of penicillin. It is less active than benzylpenicillin
Indications:
infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, skin infections, prophylaxis of rheumatic fever, moderate-to-severe gingivitis (with metronidazole)
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs)
e.g. venlafaxine and duloxetine
- Inhibit the reuptake of both 5-HT and norepinephrine
- Has a more favourable adverse effect profile than TCAs
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
e.g. bupropion, reboxetine
Monoamine receptor antagonists
e.g. mirtazapine, trazodone, mianserin
Methadone
Pharmacology and analgesic potency similar to morphine.
- Very effective following oral administration.
- Longer duration of action than morphine due to plasma protein binding (t1/2 approximately 25 hrs).
- Used in methadone maintenance programs for drug addicts and for opiate withdrawal. Opiate withdrawal is more prolonged but is less intense than it is following morphine or heroin.
Prostaglandines:
Every cell in the body is capable of synthesizing one or more types of PGS. The four major group of PGs are E, F, A, and B.
Pharmacological actions:
stimulation of cyclicAMP production and calcium use by various cells
CVS
PGE2 acts as vasodilator; it is more potent hypotensive than Ach and histamine
Uterous
PGE2 and PGF2α Contract human uterus
Bronchial muscle
PGF2α and thromboxan A2 cause bronchial muscle contraction.
PGE2 & PGI2 cause bronchial muscle dilatation
GIT: PGE2 and PGF2α cause colic and watery diarrhoea
Platelets
Thromboxan A2 is potent induce of platelets aggregation
Kidney
PGE2 and PGI2 increase water, Na ion and K ion excretion (act as diuresis) that cause renal vasodilatation and inhibit
tubular reabsorption
USE
PGI2: Epoprostenol (inhibits platelets aggregation)
PGE1: Alprostadil (used to maintain the potency of arterioles in neonates with congenital heart defects).
PGE2: Dinoproste (used as pessaries to induce labor)
Synthetic analogue of PGE1: Misoprostol (inhibit the secretion of HCl).
Celecoxib
is a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor and primarily inhibits this isoform of cyclooxygenase, whereas traditional NSAIDs inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2. Celecoxib is approximately 10-20 times more selective for COX-2 inhibition over COX-1.
Being a sulphonamide can cause skin rash & hypersensitivity rxn., occasional oedema& HT.
Indication
Osteoarthritis ( 100‐200mg BID ) , rheumatoid arthritis, dysmenorrhea, acute gouty attacks, acute musculoskeletal pain.
Drugs used to induce vomiting
In case of poisoning with noncorrosive agents, and assuming incomplete absorption of the poison has taken place, induction of vomiting can be carried out. One of the drugs used for this purpose is emetine which causes irritation of the upper gut and, on absorption, it also acts on CTZ.
Chemotherapeutic agents (or their metabolites) can directly activate the medullary chemoreceptor trigger zone or vomiting center; several neuroreceptors, including dopamine receptor Type 2 and serotonin Type 3 (5-HT3) from cell damage(GIT and pharynx) play roles in vomiting.