Pharmacology & Nervous System Introduction

Study Notes

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with the body and how the body responds to drugs.
Drugs are chemical compounds affecting living processes. They are used for treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of diseases.
Factors affecting drug action include absorption rate, distribution rate, metabolism rate, and elimination rate.

The nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system.
The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord.
The peripheral nervous system includes neurons located outside the brain and spinal cord.

The efferent neurons carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to peripheral tissues.
The afferent neurons bring information from the periphery to the CNS.
The somatic nervous system controls voluntary actions like skeletal muscle contraction.
The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions like smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glandular secretion.
- The autonomic system is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Causative factors for peptic ulcers include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori infection.
Ulcers are caused by inadequate mucosal defense mechanisms against excess gastric acid.
Treatment includes eradicating H. pylori, reducing gastric acid secretion, and protecting the gastric mucosa from damage.
Drugs used to treat peptic ulcers include H2-receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
Antimicrobial agents may be necessary for infection eradication.
Mucosal protective agents like bismuth subsalicylate and prostaglandins may also be helpful.

Inhibitors of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole.
Antacids like aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and sodium bicarbonate.
Anticholinergic agents like dicyclomine.
Mucosal protective agents like bismuth subsalicylate and misoprostol.