Autonomic help

Page 1: Introduction to Autonomic Help

• AUTONOMIC: Refers to processes that are involuntary and automatic in nature.

• Help: Implies assistance that occurs without conscious control.

Page 2: Understanding Drug Half-Life

• Definition of Half-Life:

  • The time taken for the amount of a drug in the body to reduce to half its initial concentration.

  • Symbol for half-life: t.

• Example Calculation:

  • Initial dosage: 100mg with a half-life of 60 minutes.

  • Estimated remaining concentrations over time:

    • 60 minutes: 50mg remains

    • 120 minutes: 25mg remains

    • 180 minutes: 12.5mg remains

    • 240 minutes: 6.25mg remains

    • 300 minutes: 3.125mg remains

• Significance of Half-Life:

  • After 300 minutes, approximately 97% of the drug is eliminated.

  • Most drugs lose therapeutic effect after four to five half-lives of administration.

Page 3: Key Terms in the Autonomic Nervous System

• Adrenergic Receptors:

  • Alpha Receptors: Primarily affect smooth muscle.

  • Beta Receptors: Primarily affect the heart, lungs, and vascular smooth muscle.

• Function of Receptors:

  • Adrenergic receptors respond to norepinephrine (norepi) and epinephrine (epi).

  • Cholinergic Receptors: Respond to acetylcholine, which includes:

    • Muscarinic Receptors

    • Nicotinic Receptors

• Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System:

  • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Aids in "rest and digest" processes, interacts with cholinergic receptors.

  • Sympathetic Nervous System: Triggers "fight or flight" responses, interacts with adrenergic receptors.