Drugs that affect the Peripheral Nervous System

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to drugs affecting the peripheral nervous system, including cholinergics, anticholinergics, adrenergics, and their respective agents.

Direct-Acting Cholinergics

Drugs that directly stimulate muscarinic receptors.

Bethanechol

A direct-acting cholinergic that helps with bladder and gastrointestinal emptying.

Pilocarpine

A direct-acting cholinergic that reduces intraocular pressure.

Metoclopramide

A direct-acting cholinergic also known as Reglan, controls vomiting and promotes gastric emptying.

Indirect-Acting Cholinergics

Drugs that work by decreasing the breakdown of ACh, increasing available neurotransmitter to stimulate receptors.

Edrophonium (Tensilon)

An indirect-acting cholinergic used to diagnose myasthenia gravis.

Neostigmine

An indirect-acting cholinergic that promotes GI and bladder emptying, used to treat rumen and intestinal atony.

Physostigmine

An indirect-acting cholinergic similar to neostigmine.

Pyridostigmine

An indirect-acting cholinergic used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

Atropine

An anticholinergic that dilates pupils topically and prevents bradycardia.

Glycopyrrolate

An anticholinergic similar to atropine but more potent and with a longer duration of action.

Pralidoxime

Treats organophosphate toxicity by reactivating ACh esterase.

Adrenergic (Sympathomimetic) Agents

Drugs that mimic the sympathetic nervous system.

Epinephrine

A naturally occurring adrenergic drug that stimulates all receptors, increasing heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolism.

Norepinephrine

A naturally occurring adrenergic neurotransmitter.

Dopamine

A precursor to epinephrine and norepinephrine, used to treat shock and heart failure.

Phenylephrine

A synthetic alpha stimulator and nasal vasoconstrictor.

Phenylpropanolamine (Proin)

A synthetic adrenergic drug that treats urinary incontinence in dogs.

Dobutamine

A synthetic beta-1 stimulator for short term treatment of heart failure.

Albuterol

A synthetic beta stimulator used as a bronchodilator.

Acepromazine

An adrenergic receptor blocking drug that causes vasodilation.

Prazosin

An adrenergic receptor blocking agent used for urethral spasm in cats.

Yohimbine

An antidote for xylazine used in blocking adrenergic receptors.

Atipamezole (Antisedan)

A reversal agent for dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor).