NEET MDS Lessons
Pharmacology
Laxatives and cathartics (purgatives)
Constipation is a common problem in older adults and laxatives are often used or overused. Non drug measures to prevent constipation (e.g. increasing intake of fluid and high–fiber foods, exercise) are much preferred to laxatives.
Laxatives and cathartics are drugs used orally to evacuate the bowels or to promote bowel elimination (defecation). Both terms are used interchangeably because it is the dose that determines the effects rather than a particular drug. For example, Castor oil laxative effect = 4ml while Cathartic effect = 15-60ml
The term laxative implies mild effects, and eliminative of soft formed stool. The term cathartic implies strong effects and elimination of liquid or semi liquid stool.
Laxatives are randomly classified depending on mode of action as:
1. Bulk-forming laxatives: are substances that are largely unabsorbed from the intestine.
They include psyllium, bran, methylcellulose, etc. When water is added, the substances swell and become gel-like which increases the bulk of the faecal mass that stimulates peristalsis and defecation.
2. Osmotic laxatives such as magnesium sulphate, magnesium hydroxide, sodium phosphate, etc. These substances are not efficiently absorbed and cause water retention in the colon. The latter causes increase in volume and pressure which stimulates peristalsis and defecation.
Lactulose is a semisynthetic disaccharide sugar that also acts as an osmotic laxative.
Electrolyte solutions containing polyethylene glycol(PEG) are used as colonic lavage solutions to prepare the gut for radiologic or endoscopic procedures
3. Stimulant (irritant) laxatives: these are irritant that stimulate elimination of large bowel contents. Individual drugs are castor oil, bisacodyl, phenolphthalein, cascara sagrada, glycerine, etc. The faeces are moved too rapidly and watery stool is eliminated. Glycerine can be administered rectally as suppositories.
4. Faecal softeners: they decrease the surface tension of the faecal mass to allow water to penetrate into the stool. They have detergent– like property e.g. docusate(docusate sodium, docusate calcium, and docusate spotassium. )
5. Lubricant laxatives e.g. liquid paraffin (mineral oil). It lubricates the intestine and is thought to soften stool by preventing colonic absorption of faecal water. They are used as retention enema.
6. Chloride channel activators
Lubiprostone works by activating chloride channels to increase fluid secretion in the intestinal lumen. This eases the passage of stools and causes little change in electrolyte balances. Nausea is a relatively common side effect with lubiprostone.
Clinical indications of laxatives
1. To relieve constipation.
2. To prevent straining.
3. To empty the bowel in preparation for bowel surgery or diagnostic procedures.
4. To accelerate elimination of potentially toxic substances from the GI tract.
5. To accelerate excretion of parasite after anti-helmintic drugs have been administered.
Hypothalamic - Pituitary Drugs
Somatropin
Growth hormone (GH) mimetic
Mechanism
agonist at GH receptors
increases production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
Clinical use
GH deficiency
increase adult height for children with conditions associated with short stature
Turner syndrome
wasting in HIV infection
short bowel syndrome
Toxicity
scoliosis
edema
gynecomastia
increased CYP450 activity
Octreotide
Somatostatin mimetic
Mechanism
agonist at somatostatin receptors
Clinical use
acromegaly
carcinoid
gastrinoma
glucagonoma
acute esophageal variceal bleed
Toxicity
GI upset
gallstones
bradycardia
Oxytocin
Mechanism
agonist at oxytocin receptor
Clinical use
stimulation of labor
uterine contractions
control of uterine hemorrhage after delivery
stimulate milk letdown
Toxicity
fetal distress
abruptio placentae
uterine rupture
Desmopressin
ADH (vasopressin) mimetic
Mechanism
agonist at vasopressin V2 receptors
Clinical use
central (pituitary) diabetes insipidus
hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency)
increases availability of factor VIII
von Willebrand disease
increases release of von Willebrand factor from endothelial cells
Toxicity
GI upset
headache
hyponatremia
allergic reaction
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
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
Valproic acid: broad spectrum (for most seizure types)
Mechanism: blocks Ca T currents in thalamic neurons (prevents reverberating activity in absence seizures), ↓ reactivation of Na channels (in tonic/clonic seizures; prolongs refractory periods of neurons, prevents high frequency cell firing)
Side effects: very low toxicity; common = anorexia, N/V; at high doses inhibits platelet function (bruising and gingival bleeding); rarely see idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity
Drug interactions: induces hepatic microsomal enzymes (↓ effectiveness of other drugs), binds tightly to plasma proteins so displaces other drugs
Needle selection
Nerve blocks:
Inferior alveolar- 25 G short (LLU technique)
PSA- 25 G short
Mental/Incisive- 25 G short
Palatal- 27/30 G short/ultrashort
Gow-Gates/Akinosi- 25 G long
Infraorbital- 25 G long
Field Block:
ASA 25/27 short
Infiltration:
Infiltration/SP 25/27 short
PDL/Intraosseous
PDL 27/30 short
Intraosseous 30 short/ultrashort
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics is the study of what drugs do to the body and how they do it.
Dose-Response Relationships
- Basic Features of the Dose-Response Relationship: The dose-response relationship is graded instead of all-or-nothing (as dose increases, response becomes progressively larger).
- Maximal Efficacy and Relative Potency
- Maximal Efficacy: the largest effects that a drug can produce
- Relative Potency: Potency refers to the amount of drug that must be given to elicit an effect.
- Potency is rarely an important characteristic of a drug.
- Potency of a drug implies nothing about its maximal efficacy.