Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology Chapter 12 Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology

Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology Neuropharmacology is the study of drugs that alter processes controlled by the nervous system

Neuropharmacologic Agents There are two categories of neuropharmacologic agents Peripheral nervous system drugs Central nervous system drugs

Basic Mechanism of Neuropharmacologic Agents Synaptic transmission Information carried across the neuron gap and the postsynaptic cell Axonal conduction Action potential down the axon

Synaptic Transmission Five steps in synaptic transmission are Transmitter synthesis Transmitter storage Transmitter release Receptor binding Termination of transmission

Transmitter Synthesis Drugs can Increase transmitter synthesis Decrease transmitter synthesis Enhance the effect of the transmitter

Receptor Binding Neuropharmacologic drugs that act directly on the receptors can bind and Cause activation e.g., morphine Prevent activation e.g., naloxone Enhance activation e.g., diazepam