CNUR 202 DRUGS AFFECTING THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM REVIEW | COMPLETE
PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE, MEDICATIONS & EXAM PREP 2026/2027
Adrenergic agonists - ✔✔Mimic or potentiate the effects of the sympathetic nervous system
-Norepinephrine
-Epinephrine
-Dopamine
= Catecholamines
Adrenergic Receptors - ✔✔Located throughout the body
Are receptors for the sympathetic neurotransmitters
Alpha-adrenergic receptors
Beta-adrenergic receptors
Dopaminergic receptors: respond only to dopamine
Direct acting adrenergic agonists - ✔✔epinephrine and norepinephrine; Directly stimulates
adrenergic receptor effector sites on smooth muscle
Indirect acting adrenergic agonists - ✔✔amphetamine
Stimulates release of norepinephrine from terminal nerve endings
mixed action adrenergic drugs - ✔✔ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
Alpha 1 Adrenergic Agonists MOA - ✔✔Directly stimulate a-adrenergic receptor sites on
smooth muscle causing airway relaxation, vasoconstriction and increased central blood flow,
increased HR, reduced GI motility, and pupil dilation; also cause contraction of uterus and
ejaculation
,Alpha 1 Adrenergic Agonists Therapeutic Effects - ✔✔-Airway dilation (bronchodilation)
-Vasoconstriction: maintenance of heartbeat and BP
-Reduced nasal decongestion
-Reduced intraocular pressure
Indications for Adrenergic Drugs - ✔✔Medical emergencies:
-Cardiac arrest
-Hypotension
-Shock states
-Anaphylaxis
Examples: Epinephrine and phenylephrine
Respiratory disorders:
-Asthma, pneumonia, COPD
-Acute bronchospasm
Colds, sinusitis, seasonal allergies
-Sudafed
Opthalmology (Eye gtt)
-Diagnostic procedures (mydriasis)
-Reduces intraocular pressure in open and angle glaucoma
Epinephrine Actions - ✔✔Alpha, beta1 and beta2 receptor agonist
, Epinephrine drug effects - ✔✔- ↑ HR
- ↑ BP
-Bronchodilation
-Vasoconstriction
-↓ Effects of histamine and inflammatory mediators
Epinephrine routes - ✔✔-Parenteral: IV, SC, IM
-Intracardiac
-Inhalation
-Intraosseous
-Topical (intranasal)
-Auto-injector
Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists MOA - ✔✔Stimulate receptors on presynaptic nerve terminals and
control (inhibit or decrease) release of sympathetic neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine
Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists Therapeutic Effects - ✔✔Decreased sympathetic activity, ess
outflow of SNS neurotransmitters
Alpha2 adrenergic medications examples:
Clonidine decreases HR and decreases BP
Methyldopa decreases BP, peripheral vascular resistance, decrease in HR, no change in CO
Beta1 Adrenergic Agonist - ✔✔Located in the heart
PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE, MEDICATIONS & EXAM PREP 2026/2027
Adrenergic agonists - ✔✔Mimic or potentiate the effects of the sympathetic nervous system
-Norepinephrine
-Epinephrine
-Dopamine
= Catecholamines
Adrenergic Receptors - ✔✔Located throughout the body
Are receptors for the sympathetic neurotransmitters
Alpha-adrenergic receptors
Beta-adrenergic receptors
Dopaminergic receptors: respond only to dopamine
Direct acting adrenergic agonists - ✔✔epinephrine and norepinephrine; Directly stimulates
adrenergic receptor effector sites on smooth muscle
Indirect acting adrenergic agonists - ✔✔amphetamine
Stimulates release of norepinephrine from terminal nerve endings
mixed action adrenergic drugs - ✔✔ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
Alpha 1 Adrenergic Agonists MOA - ✔✔Directly stimulate a-adrenergic receptor sites on
smooth muscle causing airway relaxation, vasoconstriction and increased central blood flow,
increased HR, reduced GI motility, and pupil dilation; also cause contraction of uterus and
ejaculation
,Alpha 1 Adrenergic Agonists Therapeutic Effects - ✔✔-Airway dilation (bronchodilation)
-Vasoconstriction: maintenance of heartbeat and BP
-Reduced nasal decongestion
-Reduced intraocular pressure
Indications for Adrenergic Drugs - ✔✔Medical emergencies:
-Cardiac arrest
-Hypotension
-Shock states
-Anaphylaxis
Examples: Epinephrine and phenylephrine
Respiratory disorders:
-Asthma, pneumonia, COPD
-Acute bronchospasm
Colds, sinusitis, seasonal allergies
-Sudafed
Opthalmology (Eye gtt)
-Diagnostic procedures (mydriasis)
-Reduces intraocular pressure in open and angle glaucoma
Epinephrine Actions - ✔✔Alpha, beta1 and beta2 receptor agonist
, Epinephrine drug effects - ✔✔- ↑ HR
- ↑ BP
-Bronchodilation
-Vasoconstriction
-↓ Effects of histamine and inflammatory mediators
Epinephrine routes - ✔✔-Parenteral: IV, SC, IM
-Intracardiac
-Inhalation
-Intraosseous
-Topical (intranasal)
-Auto-injector
Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists MOA - ✔✔Stimulate receptors on presynaptic nerve terminals and
control (inhibit or decrease) release of sympathetic neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine
Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists Therapeutic Effects - ✔✔Decreased sympathetic activity, ess
outflow of SNS neurotransmitters
Alpha2 adrenergic medications examples:
Clonidine decreases HR and decreases BP
Methyldopa decreases BP, peripheral vascular resistance, decrease in HR, no change in CO
Beta1 Adrenergic Agonist - ✔✔Located in the heart
