Pharmacology: Cancer Treatment, Respiratory System, and Mental Health Disorders

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering antineoplastic pharmacology and supportive oncology care, upper and lower respiratory agents, and psychotherapeutic drugs for mental health disorders.

Chemotherapy (Antineoplastic Drugs)

Chemical agents used to treat malignant and non-malignant conditions, representing the treatment of choice for widespread cancers.

Cell Cycle

The sequence of growth and division stages through which a cell passes—encompassing Gap 1 ($\text{G}_1$), Synthesis ($\text{S}$ phase), Gap 2 ($\text{G}_2$), and Mitosis ($\text{M}$)—used to categorize chemotherapeutic agents as either cell cycle-specific or cell cycle-nonspecific.

Cell Cycle-Nonspecific Drugs

Antineoplastic medications that exert cytotoxic effects during any phase of the cell cycle.

Cell Cycle-Specific Drugs

Antineoplastic medications that exert cytotoxic effects only during a particular designated phase of the cell cycle.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy administered prior to a primary intervention (such as surgery or radiation) specifically to debulk or reduce the size of a tumor.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy administered alongside or after other primary treatment modalities, such as surgery or radiation therapy.

Hematopoietic Drugs

Biological response modifiers (e.g., filgrastim, darbepoetin alfa) administered by injection to reduce the duration of chemotherapy-induced anemia and neutropenia, which can cause bone pain as an adverse effect.

Extravasation

The leakage of an infused vesicant medication into surrounding perivascular tissues; when detected, the infusion must be stopped immediately while keeping the intravenous catheter in place to administer the antidote.

Acute Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)

Nausea and vomiting occurring within $24\text{ hours}$ of chemotherapy administration, typically managed with scheduled serotonin blockers like ondansetron and prokinetics like metoclopramide.

Delayed Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)

Nausea and vomiting developing $24$ to $48\text{ hours}$ post-chemotherapy administration, typically treated by adding a corticosteroid such as dexamethasone to enhance serotonin blocker efficacy.

Nadir

The lowest point to which white blood cell counts fall following chemotherapy administration, typically reached approximately $10$ to $28\text{ days}$ after dosing.

Febrile Neutropenia

An oncologic emergency defined by a white blood cell count of $< 1000/\text{mm}^3$ combined with an elevated body temperature of $> 38.0^\circ\text{C}$.

Antihistamines (H1 Receptor Antagonists)

Drugs that competitively block histamine from binding to $H_1$ receptors on surfaces such as basophils and mast cells, preventing further histamine-mediated allergic symptoms without displacing pre-bound histamine.

Non-Sedating Antihistamines

Peripherally acting second-generation antihistamines (such as fexofenadine and loratadine) designed with a longer duration of action and minimal capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier, avoiding central nervous system sedation.

Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride

A first-generation antihistamine that acts both peripherally and centrally, indicated for allergy prevention, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, and insomnia, but not advised for older adults due to fall risks and hangover effects.

Rebound Congestion

Rapid and aggravated nasal mucosal swelling associated with the prolonged or excessive use of topical adrenergic sympathomimetic nasal sprays.

Opioid Antitussives

Prescription-only cough-suppressing agents (such as codeine phosphate and hydrocodone) that inhibit the cough reflex via direct suppression of the cough center located in the medulla.

Nonopioid Antitussives

Non-addictive medications (such as dextromethorphan) that suppress nonproductive coughs without providing analgesic properties or inducing central nervous system depression.

Expectorants

Oral agents (such as guaifenesin) that aid in loosening and liquefying respiratory secretions to promote productive coughing.

Beta 1 Adrenergic Receptors

Adrenergic receptors primarily located on the heart and kidneys whose activation leads to an increase in heart rate and myocardial contractile force.

Beta 2 Adrenergic Receptors

Adrenergic receptors situated in the smooth muscle tissues of the bronchioles that trigger bronchodilation upon stimulation.

Salbutamol Sulphate

A short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) utilized as a first-line inhalational rescue bronchodilator for acute bronchospasm and acute asthma attacks.

Anticholinergic Bronchodilators

Inhaled agents (such as ipratropium bromide and tiotropium bromide) that block acetylcholine action on vagally mediated pathways to prevent bronchospasm in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Xanthine Derivatives

Bronchodilators (including theophylline and intravenous aminophylline) that increase intracellular $\text{cAMP}$ to relax smooth muscles, possessing a narrow therapeutic range that demands frequent plasma level monitoring.

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (LTRAs)

Oral maintenance medications (e.g., montelukast, zafirlukast) that block leukotriene receptors to prevent inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and excessive mucus production in chronic asthma.

Roflumilast

A phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitor indicated to diminish pulmonary inflammation, coughing, excess mucus, and the frequency of life-threatening COPD exacerbations.

Omalizumab

A targeted monoclonal antibody that binds to circulating $\text{IgE}$, decreasing the available levels capable of initiating the allergy-inflammatory cascade in allergy-specific asthma.

Benzodiazepines

Anxiolytic medications (such as diazepam, lorazepam, and alprazolam) that depress activity within the brainstem and limbic system by augmenting the inhibitory action of the neurotransmitter GABA.

Flumazenil

A specific benzodiazepine receptor blocker utilized as an antidote to reverse the sedative and central nervous system depressant effects of benzodiazepine overdoses.

Buspirone Hydrochloride

A miscellaneous non-sedating, non-addictive anxiolytic agent administered on a scheduled basis that acts as an agonist at serotonin and dopamine receptors.

Lithium

A mood-stabilizing medication indicated for bipolar disorder with a narrow therapeutic serum range of $0.6$ to $1.2\,\text{mmol/L}$, which requires normal sodium levels of $135$ to $145\,\text{mmol/L}$ to avoid toxicity.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

First-generation antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) that block the presynaptic reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, bearing high overdose mortality ($70\%$ to $80\%$) caused by severe cardiovascular and central nervous system toxicity.

Cheese Effect (Hypertensive Crisis)

A severe, acute hypertensive response precipitated when clients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) ingest stimulant drugs or foods containing tyramine.

Serotonin Syndrome

A toxic condition stemming from excessive serotonin levels characterized by delirium, agitation, tachycardia, hyperreflexia, shivering, coarse tremors, myoclonus, and potentially hyperthermia and rhabdomyolysis.

Bupropion Hydrochloride

A second-generation antidepressant acting as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, indicated for depression, smoking cessation (Zyban), and alleviating SSRI-associated sexual dysfunction.

Mirtazapine

A second-generation antidepressant that promotes presynaptic release of serotonin and norepinephrine without blocking reuptake, commonly causing drowsiness and increased appetite via $H_1$ receptor affinity.

Atypical Antipsychotics (Second-Generation)

Antipsychotic agents (e.g., risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine) that block specific dopamine and serotonin receptors, showing enhanced efficacy against both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia with a reduced risk of extrapyramidal symptoms.

Clozapine

An oral atypical antipsychotic associated with minimal extrapyramidal symptoms that carries a serious risk of agranulocytosis, mandating regular white blood cell (CBC) monitoring.

Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA)

A standardized clinical assessment instrument used to evaluate withdrawal severity and guide symptom-triggered benzodiazepine administration in clients undergoing alcohol detoxification.