Nr565 Advanced Pharmacology Fundamentals
Midterm and Final Exam 2025
Transmitters of the CNS: - ANSWER ✔️ 1. Peripheral NS
(everything else, autonomic (glands + involuntary) + somatic
(voluntary, skeletal)
2. Central NS (brain and spinal cord)
Blood Brain Barrier (BBB): - ANSWER ✔️ Impedes entry of drug
into the brain
-passage limited to lipid-soluble drugs (ex: seizure, pain meds,
etc.)
-protein-bound or highly ionized drugs cannot cross (stays in
tissues to work, water soluble, ex: hypertension, respiratory
meds)
CNS and prolonged Drug Exposure: - ANSWER ✔️ -Certain
drugs must be taken for several weeks before full therapeutic
effects develop (ex: depression and anxiety meds take 6 weeks) -
Decreased side effects w/ this (intensity of side effects may
decrease, but therapeutic effects remain undiminished)
Tolerance: - ANSWER ✔️ Decreased response occurring during
,the course of prolonged drug use (cells are exposed to drugs for
long periods --> receptors change and adapt)
Physical dependence: - ANSWER ✔️ -State in which abrupt
discontinuation of drug use will precipitate a withdrawal syndrome
(taper off, increase HR+BP+irritability+nausea+headaches)
-Withdrawal symptoms peak 12-24 hours after last dose of drug
2 types of pain: - ANSWER ✔️ 1. Neuropathic pain
2. Nociceptive pain
Neuropathic Pain: - ANSWER ✔️ -Damage of the nerves (ex:
diabetic neuropathy + shingles)
-body did it, not fixable
Nociceptive pain: - ANSWER ✔️ -Injury to a tissue (ex: surgical,
bones, cuts)
-We caused it --> we can fix it
NOCICEPTIVE PAIN PROCESS (4 STEPS): - ANSWER ✔️ 1.
Transduction
2. Transmission
, 3. Perception
4. Modulation
Transduction: - ANSWER ✔️ **injure yourself --> chemicals
released**
-noxious stimuli cause cell damage with the release of sensitizing
chemicals (ex: prostaglandins, bradykinin, serotonin, substance
P, histamine)
-These substances activate nociceptors and lead to generation of
action potential
Transmission: - ANSWER ✔️ **send signal to spinal cord**
-Action potential continues from:
1. site of injury --> spinal cord
2. spinal cord --> brainstem and thalamus
3. Thalamus --> cortex for processing
Perception: - ANSWER ✔️ **brain perceives what it is + what to
do about it**
-conscious experience of pain
Midterm and Final Exam 2025
Transmitters of the CNS: - ANSWER ✔️ 1. Peripheral NS
(everything else, autonomic (glands + involuntary) + somatic
(voluntary, skeletal)
2. Central NS (brain and spinal cord)
Blood Brain Barrier (BBB): - ANSWER ✔️ Impedes entry of drug
into the brain
-passage limited to lipid-soluble drugs (ex: seizure, pain meds,
etc.)
-protein-bound or highly ionized drugs cannot cross (stays in
tissues to work, water soluble, ex: hypertension, respiratory
meds)
CNS and prolonged Drug Exposure: - ANSWER ✔️ -Certain
drugs must be taken for several weeks before full therapeutic
effects develop (ex: depression and anxiety meds take 6 weeks) -
Decreased side effects w/ this (intensity of side effects may
decrease, but therapeutic effects remain undiminished)
Tolerance: - ANSWER ✔️ Decreased response occurring during
,the course of prolonged drug use (cells are exposed to drugs for
long periods --> receptors change and adapt)
Physical dependence: - ANSWER ✔️ -State in which abrupt
discontinuation of drug use will precipitate a withdrawal syndrome
(taper off, increase HR+BP+irritability+nausea+headaches)
-Withdrawal symptoms peak 12-24 hours after last dose of drug
2 types of pain: - ANSWER ✔️ 1. Neuropathic pain
2. Nociceptive pain
Neuropathic Pain: - ANSWER ✔️ -Damage of the nerves (ex:
diabetic neuropathy + shingles)
-body did it, not fixable
Nociceptive pain: - ANSWER ✔️ -Injury to a tissue (ex: surgical,
bones, cuts)
-We caused it --> we can fix it
NOCICEPTIVE PAIN PROCESS (4 STEPS): - ANSWER ✔️ 1.
Transduction
2. Transmission
, 3. Perception
4. Modulation
Transduction: - ANSWER ✔️ **injure yourself --> chemicals
released**
-noxious stimuli cause cell damage with the release of sensitizing
chemicals (ex: prostaglandins, bradykinin, serotonin, substance
P, histamine)
-These substances activate nociceptors and lead to generation of
action potential
Transmission: - ANSWER ✔️ **send signal to spinal cord**
-Action potential continues from:
1. site of injury --> spinal cord
2. spinal cord --> brainstem and thalamus
3. Thalamus --> cortex for processing
Perception: - ANSWER ✔️ **brain perceives what it is + what to
do about it**
-conscious experience of pain
