Medications for Neuromuscular, Neurocognitive, Otic, Ophthalmic, ADHD, and Related Disorders (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on CP, MS, PD, neuropathy, otic/ophthalmic disorders, ADHD, and major neurocognitive disorders.

Diazepam

A benzodiazepine used in cerebral palsy to reduce spasticity and control seizures; enhances GABA activity in the CNS.

Baclofen

A skeletal muscle relaxant acting on GABA-B receptors to reduce spasticity in cerebral palsy.

Diazepam vs. Baclofen

Diazepam is a CNS-acting benzodiazepine (GABA-A) for spasticity/seizures; baclofen is a GABA-B agonist that reduces spasticity with different effects and side effects.

Immunomodulators (Multiple Sclerosis)

Drugs that modify the immune response to reduce relapse in MS (e.g., interferon betas, natalizumab, glatiramer acetate).

Interferon beta

Immunomodulator used in MS to reduce relapse rate by modulating the immune response.

Natalizumab

Monoclonal antibody immunomodulator for MS that reduces relapses by blocking immune cell migration into the CNS.

Glatiramer acetate

Immunomodulator for MS that mimics myelin basic protein and reduces relapse activity.

Immunosuppressants (Multiple Sclerosis)

Drugs that suppress immune function in MS (e.g., cladribine, mitoxantrone hydrochloride) to alter disease activity.

Cladribine

Purine analog immunosuppressant used in MS to reduce disease activity.

Mitoxantrone hydrochloride

Immunosuppressant used in MS to reduce immune-mediated damage.

Effects of CP on health

Cerebral palsy can affect seizures, learning, posture, feeding, movement, communication, and behavior.

Carbidopa-levodopa

Dopaminergic combination therapy that replenishes brain dopamine in Parkinson’s disease; carbidopa inhibits peripheral decarboxylation.

Selegiline

MAO-B inhibitor used in Parkinson’s disease to reduce dopamine breakdown and extend dopaminergic effects.

Pramipexole

Direct-acting dopamine receptor agonist used to stimulate dopamine receptors in Parkinson’s disease.

Ménière’s disease

Otic disorder with episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Inner ear disorder causing brief episodes of vertigo triggered by head position.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis)

Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration.

Anti-VEGF therapy

Drugs that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor to treat ocular neovascular disorders (e.g., wet AMD).

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Neovascular AMD with abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina; treated with anti-VEGF therapy.

Primary open-angle glaucoma

Most common form of glaucoma with gradual optic nerve damage from elevated intraocular pressure.

Angle-closure (narrow-angle) glaucoma

Glaucoma due to closed angles causing rapid intraocular pressure rise; ophthalmic emergency.

Memantine

NMDA receptor antagonist used in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease to reduce excitotoxicity.

Donepezil

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that increases acetylcholine in the brain to improve cognition in Alzheimer’s disease.

Rivastigmine

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (also inhibits butyrylcholinesterase) used for Alzheimer’s disease; available in oral or transdermal form.

Lecanemab

Monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid-beta; investigated for slowing progression in Alzheimer’s disease.

Aducanumab

Monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid-beta; approved for certain Alzheimer’s disease indications with controversy.

ADHD medications: Methylphenidate

A stimulant that blocks reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine to improve ADHD symptoms.

ADHD medications: Amphetamines

Stimulants that increase catecholamines (dopamine/norepinephrine) to improve ADHD symptoms.

Bupropion (NDRI)

Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor used for ADHD and depression; non-stimulant option in some regimens.

NDRIs

Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors; class includes bupropion.

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (ADHD)

Non-stimulant ADHD medications such as clonidine and guanfacine that reduce sympathetic activity.