Pharmacology Quiz on Respiratory and Cardiovascular Drugs

Drugs Affecting Different Organ Systems

• Drugs affecting the reproductive system cover various hormones.

• Estrogens and androgens are sex hormones, produced by the gonads.

• These are necessary for conception, embryonic development, and development of primary and secondary sex characteristics during puberty.

• Clinically, they're used for contraception, menopausal symptom management, and hormone replacement therapy in deficiency cases.

• Different types of estrogens exist in women, including estradiol produced in the ovaries, estrone from fatty tissues and adrenal glands, and estriol produced in the placenta during pregnancy.

• Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are another category of reproductive system drugs.

• Progestogens (progestins) are another class of drugs used for contraception and hormone replacement therapy.

• Progesterone is a naturally occurring progestogen.

• Drugs like desogestrel, dienogest, drospirenone, levonorgestrel, and norethindrone are synthetic progestins.

• Medroxyprogesterone acetate is an injectable contraceptive.

• Mifepristone is a progesterone antagonist used in pregnancy termination.

• Androgens, like testosterone, are crucial for masculinization in both males and females.

• Testosterone is created by Leydig cells in the testes, thecal cells in the ovaries, and adrenal glands.

• Tamoxifen is used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer or as adjuvant therapy after mastectomy or radiation for breast cancer.

• Bazedoxifene is used for treating menopausal symptoms in women with intact uteruses, combined with conjugated estrogens.

• Clomiphene is used for infertility treatment.

• Ospemifene is used to treat dyspareunia related to menopause.

• Hormones relevant to the reproductive system are discussed, including estrogens, androgens, and progestogens.

• Various drugs with uses in the reproductive system are discussed, with specific examples presented.

• Drugs affecting the respiratory system include antihistamines, antitussives, COPD drugs, decongestants, and expectorants.

• Antihistamines block histamine release and action for allergic conditions.

• Antitussives relieve the cough reflex.

• COPD drugs encompass bronchodilators, inhaled steroids and leukotriene receptor blockers.

• Decongestants reduce blood flow to upper airways to decrease excessive secretions.

• Expectorants thin mucus to facilitate productive coughing and clear airways.

• First-generation antihistamines can sometimes cause drowsiness, whereas second-generation ones typically cause less sedation.

• Examples of first-generation are chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine, and meclizine, and examples of second-generation are loratadine, fexofenadine, and cetirizine.

• Examples of antitussives include benzonatate (narcotic), butamiate citrate (non-narcotic), codeine (narcotic), dextromethorphan (non-narcotic), and hydrocodone (narcotic).

• Mucolytics such as acetylcysteine and dornase alpha break down mucus in respiratory patients where it builds up.

• Drugs for COPD involve bronchodilators (adrenergics and xanthines), steroids and leukotriene modifiers for reducing inflammation in lung tissue, and cromolyn sodium and nedocromil as anti-inflammatory agents that reduce histamine release.

• Expectorants assist in loosening airway secretions.

• Xanthines, sympathomimetics, anitcholinergics, and inhaled steroids are examples of bronchodilators.

• Cardiovascular drugs differ widely in how they act.

• They are categorized by their action.

• ACE inhibitors block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and lower blood pressure.

• Angiotensin II receptor antagonists compete with angiotensin II.

• Adrenergic neuron blockers inhibit transmission by nerve ends in the body.

• Alpha and beta adrenergic blockers prevent vasoconstriction and reduce blood pressure leading to potential applications in treatment of hypertension and open-angle glaucoma.

• Calcium channel blockers reduce calcium influx which reduces blood pressure and has application in the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris & cardiac arrhythmias.

• Diuretics reduce blood volume by increasing urine volume.

• Loop diuretics, Thiazide diuretics and Potassium sparing diuretics and Osmotic diuretics and Carbonic-anhudrase inhibitors each have their own applications.

• Nitrates are vasodilators, increasing blood flow and reducing angina.

• Lipid regulating agents alter blood lipid levels to manage or prevent heart conditions.

• Statins, Fibrates, Bile acid binding resins and Nicotinates and Omega-3 fatty acids each have their role in managing blood lipids.

• Cardiac glycosides influence heart function, mainly in conditions with failing hearts.

• Centrally acting agents directly influence the nervous system to reduce blood pressure.

• Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents prevent blood clots and are important for preventing blood clots, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

• Drugs in the gastrointestinal system are designed for several purposes, antiemetics prevent nausea and vomiting, emetics induce vomiting, and laxatives/purgatives evacuate the bowel through use of osmotic or stimulant mechanisms.

• Common antiemetics include 5HT3 antagonists, antihistamines, metoclopramide, and anticholinergics.

• Examples of laxatives include magnesium hydroxide, which promotes fluid absorption, stimulant laxatives that enhance bowel activity and lubricant laxatives that make stool softer, and stool softeners which allow more fluid to penetrate the feces.

• Antacids neutralize stomach acid.

• Proton pump inhibitors work by inhibiting the proton pumps to decrease gastric acid secretion.

• Antidiarrheal drugs decrease intestinal motility and increase fluid absorption to counteract diarrhea.

• Histamine receptor antagonists, also known as H2 blockers, reduce the amount of acid released into the stomach.

• Drugs for the endocrine system cover several types of hormones and are often used to treat or regulate conditions related to hormones and hormone imbalances. -Examples of these categories include natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic hormones/compounds, hypothalamic/pituitary hormones, steroid hormones, thyroid hormones (and related drugs), and antidiabetic agents, such as insulin preparations (rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting).

• Analgesics, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used for various conditions.

• Analgesics address pain, and antipyretics lower temperature, and anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation.

• Sedative-hypnotics, a range of drugs used to induce or maintain sleep or reduce excitement, include barbiturates which are less common now.

• Anti-convulsants address and regulate seizures in various types of epilepsy.

• Antianxiety (anxiolytic) drugs mitigate anxiety by calming the nervous system.

• Anesthetics produce loss of feeling, classified as general, regional, or local.

• Antipscyhotics and antidepressants, address conditions like psychosis, schizophrenia, mania, and depression.

• Antidepressant drugs can be tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

• Other categories include anti-manic medications (like lithium) that target elevated mood conditions and antipsychotics used in cases of psychosis or schizophrenia.

• Agents are given depending on the problem in the nervous system, the disease or imbalance that is present in the system.