Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

A Comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards covering basic CNS neurochemistry, stimulant drugs, psychopharmaceuticals, and neurodegenerative disease treatments based on the lecture notes.

GABAA Receptor

Rapid receptors that open chloride channels, leading to an influx of $Cl^-$, hyperpolarization of the cell, and reduction of excitability (inhibitory action).

Glutamate

An abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS that acts on AMPA, NMDA, and kainite receptors; it is the precursor of GABA and is involved in learning and memory.

Nitric Oxide (NO)

A central and peripheral neurotransmitter synthesized from L-arginine with a short half-life that interacts by diffusion through membranes and is not stored in vesicles.

Psicotónicos (Cortical Stimulants)

Drugs such as caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline that exalt sensory and psychic functions, decrease fatigue, and enhance the analgesic action of ASA and acetaminophen.

Nootropics

Drugs that improve the efficiency of brain activity and favor learning, such as Piracetam, which is a derivative of GABA.

Citicoline

An intermediate product in lecithin and sphingomyelin synthesis used in CVV and post-traumatic cerebral edema for its vasodilator and antiplatelet effects.

Alostasis

A constant crisis state where the response is the release of hormones that lead to cellular inflammation.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A condition characterized by floating anxiety or apprehension lasting more than $6$ months, muscle tension, and autonomic hyperactivity.

Flumazenil

A benzodiazepine antagonist with a half-life of $35-50\,min$, used for reversing high doses or post-endoscopy sedation.

Buspirone

A partial $5HT1A$ agonist used for mild to moderate chronic anxiety that does not interact with benzodiazepine binding sites or potentiate GABA.

Monoamine Theory

A theory of depression suggesting that the depletion of neurotransmitters causes up-regulation of receptors, which can be reversed by antidepressants.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)

A class of antidepressants including fluoxetine and sertraline that block serotonin reuptake and are effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety.

Lithium

A mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder that inhibits inositol monophosphatase and has a narrow therapeutic range with a toxic concentration at $1.5\,mmol/L$.

Nigrostriatal Pathway

A dopaminergic pathway responsible for motor programming; hypoactivity in this pathway leads to extrapyramidal symptoms and Parkinson's disease.

Mesolimbic Pathway

A dopaminergic pathway that controls mood; hyperactivity in this pathway is associated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Typical Antipsychotics

Drugs like Haloperidol and Clorpromazina that block $D2$ receptors by $80-100\%$, reducing hallucinations but potentially increasing negative symptoms and prolactin.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Drugs like Clozapine and Risperidone that block $D2$ ($30-50\%$) and $5HT2A$ ($>80\%$) receptors, offering fewer extrapyramidal side effects.

Phenytoin (Difenilhidantoína)

A first-generation anticonvulsant that blocks sodium channels and exhibits saturable kinetics, shifting from first-order to zero-order kinetics.

Carbamazepine

A first-line drug for focal epilepsy that acts on sodium channels and can cause autoinduction of its own metabolism.

Valproic Acid (Ácido valproico)

A broad-spectrum anticonvulsant that increases GABA levels and is associated with the risk of fetal malformations and hepatotoxicity.

Lamotrigine

A second-generation anticonvulsant and antiarrhythmic (Class 1B) that inhibits sodium and calcium channels and is used for various seizure types and bipolar depression.

Levetiracetam

A second-generation anticonvulsant that binds to the $SV2A$ protein of synaptic vesicles, believed to reduce neurotransmitter exocytosis.

Levodopa

The natural precursor amino acid to dopamine used in Parkinson's treatment; it competes with amino acids for intestinal absorption.

AChE Inhibitors

Drugs like Donepezil, Galantamine, and Rivastigmine used in Alzheimer's to increase deficient levels of acetylcholine.

Memantine

A partial $NMDA$ receptor agonist used for Alzheimer's that inhibits pathological tonic glutamate activity while allowing physiological function.

ARIA (Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities)

Edema or hemorrhage side effects associated with monoclonal antibody therapy (like Lecanemab) for Alzheimer's caused by the immune response to amyloid decomposition.