GNUR 294 FINAL EXAM
Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer’s Disease
Builds up these plaques and deposited between the nerve cells
When between the nerve cells cannot transmit nerve signals
Develop mainly in the area in which you learn and retain new information
Long term memory can stay intact, but the ability to learn new information is affected
The nerve fibers and cells become tangled
Begins slowly, the patient is aware that they are losing memory
We know what causes it but don’t know why
Discovered in 2014 a way to identify the beta amyloid in the blood system by 2020
Cannot cure alzheimer’s disease, can only slow it down
Ach deficiency also tend to see in movement disorders
Concerns:
o Safety- losing the ability to perform ADLs, want to maintain the same caregiver,
moving them out of their regular environment might make them worse
NMDA Receptor Blockers
o Different formulations
o Prevents glutamine from binding to cause from excitatory action
o If too low can impair memory and cognition
o Prevents the destruction of the neurons
o Would not give to someone who is in renal failure
o Cannot see plaques on a CT scan or an MRI
o Once a day
o Decrease in appetite, losing weight
o Sometimes taken with another drug
o Need to teach patient and caregivers that these medicines are not curative
o Will not give back what they already los
o Can come in patch, nice because they don’t have to remember to take everyday
Reversible Cholinesterase Inhibitor
o The most commonly prescribed
o First anti-alzhiermer’s drug
o Only PO
o Look at their electrolytes- especially potassium
o Can have abnormal dreams, can wake up and then fall
Pharmacotherapy of Seizures
Not a single disease
Broad spectrum of nervous system disorders- i.e. brain tumors, electrolyte imbalances
(sodium)
The word seizure is the actual electrical over firing on an EEG, a convulsion is the physical
manifestation of the over firing of the neuronal cell
Also medication induced, febrile seizures in children
Different types of seizures
We need to block the sodium channels and potentiation of GABA, and blocking calcium
channels, and blocking glutamate receptors
Barbiturates
o Very narrow therapeutic index
o Anti-epileptic drugs- have serum levels monitored
o Long half life: 50-120 hours
o Used commonly in the pediatric population
o GABA- is the inhibitory neurotransmitter
o Monitor of lethargy- should get drug level, might be at the toxic range
Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer’s Disease
Builds up these plaques and deposited between the nerve cells
When between the nerve cells cannot transmit nerve signals
Develop mainly in the area in which you learn and retain new information
Long term memory can stay intact, but the ability to learn new information is affected
The nerve fibers and cells become tangled
Begins slowly, the patient is aware that they are losing memory
We know what causes it but don’t know why
Discovered in 2014 a way to identify the beta amyloid in the blood system by 2020
Cannot cure alzheimer’s disease, can only slow it down
Ach deficiency also tend to see in movement disorders
Concerns:
o Safety- losing the ability to perform ADLs, want to maintain the same caregiver,
moving them out of their regular environment might make them worse
NMDA Receptor Blockers
o Different formulations
o Prevents glutamine from binding to cause from excitatory action
o If too low can impair memory and cognition
o Prevents the destruction of the neurons
o Would not give to someone who is in renal failure
o Cannot see plaques on a CT scan or an MRI
o Once a day
o Decrease in appetite, losing weight
o Sometimes taken with another drug
o Need to teach patient and caregivers that these medicines are not curative
o Will not give back what they already los
o Can come in patch, nice because they don’t have to remember to take everyday
Reversible Cholinesterase Inhibitor
o The most commonly prescribed
o First anti-alzhiermer’s drug
o Only PO
o Look at their electrolytes- especially potassium
o Can have abnormal dreams, can wake up and then fall
Pharmacotherapy of Seizures
Not a single disease
Broad spectrum of nervous system disorders- i.e. brain tumors, electrolyte imbalances
(sodium)
The word seizure is the actual electrical over firing on an EEG, a convulsion is the physical
manifestation of the over firing of the neuronal cell
Also medication induced, febrile seizures in children
Different types of seizures
We need to block the sodium channels and potentiation of GABA, and blocking calcium
channels, and blocking glutamate receptors
Barbiturates
o Very narrow therapeutic index
o Anti-epileptic drugs- have serum levels monitored
o Long half life: 50-120 hours
o Used commonly in the pediatric population
o GABA- is the inhibitory neurotransmitter
o Monitor of lethargy- should get drug level, might be at the toxic range
