1. Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology
Chapter 12
Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology

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

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

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

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

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

7. 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