Pharmacology

Loperamide Similar chemically and pharmacologically to Diphenoxylate. Slows gastrointestinal motility by effects on the circular and longitudinal muscles of the intestine. Not well absorbed following oral administration. Useful in the treatment of diarrhea.…

Calcium Channel Blocking Agents  • Act on contractile and conductive tissues of the heart and on vascular smooth muscles  • Prevent movement of extracellular calcium into the cell  – Coronary and peripheral arteries dilate – Myocardial contractility decreases  – Depress conduction system Therapeutic Actions • Inhibit movement of calcium ions across the membranes of myocardial and arterial muscle cells. …

Specific Agents Hydralazine [orally effective] MOA: Not completely understood. Seems to be partially dependent on the release of EDRF and perhaps partially due to K+-channel activation - in clinical doses action is manifest primarily on vascular smooth muscle (non-vascular muscle is not much affected). - Re: Metabolism & Excretion. In cases of renal failure the plasma half life may be substantially increased (4-5 fold). One mode of metabolism is via N-A…

Mixed Narcotic Agonists/Antagonists These drugs all produce analgesia, but have a lower potential for abuse and do not produce as much respiratory depression. A. Pentazocine Has a combination of opiate analgesic and antagonist activity. Orally, it has about the same analgesic potency as codeine. In contrast to morphine, cardiac workload tends to increase due to an increase in pulmonary arterial and cerebrovascular pressure. Blood pressure and heart …