HRO 120 Pharmacology - Chapter 9: Central Nervous System Medications

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering nervous system anatomy, neurotransmission, and pharmacology for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and myasthenia gravis.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The control center of the body, consisting of the brain and the spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

The nervous structures that lie outside the cranial cavity and vertebral canal, including cranial and spinal nerves.

Autonomic Nervous System

The division of the nervous system providing involuntary control over the heart, digestive tract, respiratory system, and reproductive system.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for stressful situations by producing the "fight or flight" response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that provides basic, routine maintenance of body actions through the "rest and digest" response.

Neurons

The basic functional units of the nervous system (nerve cells) that conduct impulses across synapses to and from muscles, glands, and organs.

Synapse

The space between the junction of two neurons across which nerve impulses are conducted.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that stimulate cells beyond the synapse by either exciting or inhibiting them.

Adrenergic Fibers

Nerve fibers that release norepinephrine.

Cholinergic Fibers

Nerve fibers that release acetylcholine.

Adrenergic Receptor Agonists (Sympathomimetic Drugs)

Drugs that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to produce effects similar to norepinephrine, triggering the "fight or flight" response; also called catecholamines.

Adrenergic Blocking Agents

Drugs that block the sympathetic nervous system and produce actions opposite to those of sympathomimetics.

Cholinergic Drugs (Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists)

Drugs that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to produce the "rest and digest" response.

Anticholinergics

Drugs that block the parasympathetic nervous system, producing drying effects that "dry up" secretions.

Receptor Sites

Specific sites in the body where a medication bonds chemically; each neurotransmitter possesses specific receptor sites.

Parkinson's Disease

A chronic CNS disorder thought to involve an imbalance in chemical neurotransmitters (excess acetylcholine and decreased dopamine), causing muscle tremors, weakness, rigidity, slowness of movement, and a shuffling gait.

Dopamine Agonists

Antiparkinsonian medications sharing the same chemical structure as natural dopamine; examples include carbidopa/levodopa (Rytary, Sinemet), pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), and rotigotine (Neupro).

Wearing Off

A phenomenon where an antiparkinsonian medication loses its effectiveness, typically after several years of use, leading to rapid swings of symptoms.

Dyskinesia

Involuntary muscle movements that can occur as an adverse effect of dopamine agonists.

Akinesia

Loss of movement, evaluated during antiparkinsonian drug therapy.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Abnormal, involuntary movements, especially affecting the lower part of the face.

Dystonia

An impairment of muscle tone.

COMT Inhibitors

Antiparkinsonian drugs (such as entacapone and tolcapone) that block the COMT enzyme from breaking down dopamine and dopamine agonists, allowing dopamine to remain active in the brain longer.

MAO-B Inhibitors

Antiparkinsonian drugs (e.g., rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline) that block the MAO enzyme; patients must avoid tyramine-containing foods to prevent severe hypertension.

Alzheimer's Disease

A form of dementia characterized by tangled nerves and decreased levels of acetylcholine (ACh) in the brain.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Alzheimer's medications (e.g., donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) that inhibit the enzyme breaking down acetylcholine, allowing ACh to remain active in the brain longer.

Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) 11-Item

An assessment tool scored from $0$ to $70$ across Memory and new learning ($0\text{--}35$), Language ($0\text{--}25$), and Praxis ($0\text{--}10$), where increasing scores indicate worsening cognitive function.

NMDA Blockers

Alzheimer's drugs, such as memantine (Namenda), that reduce the amount of calcium entering neurons to counteract tangle formation.

Seizures

Symptoms of abnormal and excessive electrical discharge in the brain.

Epilepsy

A disease marked by chronic and recurring seizures, often with an unknown cause.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

The measurement of electrical activity in the brain used to categorize seizures as generalized or partial.

Generalized Seizures

Seizures that begin in one portion of the brain and rapidly spread through both hemispheres.

Partial (Focal) Seizures

Seizures that involve one area of the brain and do not spread throughout the entire brain, with symptoms depending on the location of the electrical discharge.

Grand Mal (Tonic-Clonic) Seizures

Seizures involving dramatic muscle contractions, loss of consciousness, and a recovery period characterized by confusion and exhaustion.

Petit Mal (Absence) Seizures

Seizures involving abrupt, brief periods of loss of consciousness.

Myoclonic Seizures

Seizures characterized by short, sporadic periods of muscle contractions lasting several minutes.

Status Epilepticus

The most dangerous seizure condition, defined as a state where seizures rapidly recur again and again.

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

A traditional antiepileptic drug that limits the spread of seizure activity by blocking sodium and calcium channels, primarily used for tonic-clonic and psychomotor seizures.

Gingival Hyperplasia

Overgrowth of the gums, occurring as a side effect/adverse reaction of phenytoin and traditional antiepileptic therapy.

Succinimides

A class of antiepileptics (e.g., ethosuximide) that suppresses abnormal electrical activity in the brain associated with absence seizures.

Barbiturates

CNS depressant controlled substances (e.g., phenobarbital, secobarbital, primidone) that raise the seizure threshold, depress respiration, and control grand mal seizures.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

An autoimmune, progressive disease that attacks myelin in the brain and spinal cord, interrupting nerve transmission.

Biological Response Modifiers

Multiple sclerosis therapies (such as beta-interferon, fingolimod, glatiramer, and teriflunomide) that modify the immune system response.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons while leaving cognitive function and senses intact, typically leading to death within $3\text{--}5\text{ years}$ of diagnosis.

Glutamine Antagonists

A drug class represented by riluzole used to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disease attacking the neuromuscular junction, characterized by muscle weakness that worsens with exercise, fatigue of voluntary muscles, and dysphagia.

Pyridostigmine Bromide

An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used to treat Myasthenia Gravis; doses must be spaced at least $6\text{ hours}$ apart, with atropine kept ready for severe bradycardia.