Mechanisms Of Drug Action On The Nervous System

Extensively revised from the first edition (1979). Examines the mechanisms by which drugs cause their therapeutic effects and side-effects, in relation to underlying physiological and pathological processes. A textbook for undergraduates in pre-clinical medicine, pharmacology, and natural sciences,

A textbook of neuropsychopharmacology focused on the mechanisms of drug action in the central nervous system, this volume covers drugs used in both psychiatry and neurology and gives a clear picture of their behavioural, therapeutic, and toxic effects. It deals with all the major drug classes that affect the CNS, including analgesics, anaesthetics, muscle relaxers, migraine drugs, anti-epileptics, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, sedative-hypnotics, drugs used for movement disorders, and common street drugs. Each chapter describes drug action against the backdrop of the basic neurobiology of the systems involved.

In this book the targets of drug action are the central focus - whether they be enzymes in a pathway or membrane-bound receptors and ion channels. This approach distinguishes the book from others in the f ield which consider the subject mainly in terms of disease.; The introductory chapter is concerned with the basic principles that cover enzyme inhibition and receptor binding by drugs. The next seven chapters deal with drugs that modulate biochemical pathways, both of synthesis and breakdown, while the last four chapters are concerned with organizational structures of the cell.; The book brings together the state of knowledge with respect to drug action and emphasizes mechanistic aspects of drug action. It encompasses the modes of action of drugs for infectious disease and those for endogenous conditions. There is a listing of reviews and essay questions are provided for each chapter.

This report from the Committee on Military Nutrition Research reviews the history of caffeine usage, the metabolism of caffeine, and its physiological effects. The effects of caffeine on physical performance, cognitive function and alertness, and alleviation of sleep deprivation impairments are discussed in light of recent scientific literature. The impact of caffeine consumption on various aspects of health, including cardiovascular disease, reproduction, bone mineral density, and fluid homeostasis are reviewed. The behavioral effects of caffeine are also discussed, including the effect of caffeine on reaction to stress, withdrawal effects, and detrimental effects of high intakes. The amounts of caffeine found to enhance vigilance and reaction time consistently are reviewed and recommendations are made with respect to amounts of caffeine appropriate for maintaining alertness of military personnel during field operations. Recommendations are also provided on the need for appropriate labeling of caffeine-containing supplements, and education of military personnel on the use of these supplements. A brief review of some alternatives to caffeine is also provided.

Physiological Pharmacology: A Comprehensive Treatise, Volume II: The Nervous System — Part B, Central Nervous System Drugs focuses on the effects of drugs on the functions of the central nervous system. The selection first offers information on depressant and anticonvulsant drugs. Topics include neurophysiological substrate of drug action; pharmacological properties of selected muscle relaxants; anticonvulsants and their mechanisms; and definitive seizure mechanisms. The book also takes a look at antitussive drugs and psychic energizers and antidepressant drugs. The publication examines emetic and antiemetic drugs, as well as neural mechanisms of emesis, emetic syndromes and agents, and antiemetic agents. The text also reviews the effects of drugs on the eyes and synoptic transmission in the central nervous system. Discussions focus on the effect of drugs used in the therapy of ocular disease; undesirable eye effects of ophthalmic and other drugs; and chemical transmitters in the central nervous system. The selection is a dependable reference for readers interested in the effects of drugs on the central nervous system.

The primary objective of this 4-volume book series is to educate PharmD students on the subject of medicinal chemistry. The book set serves as a reference guide to pharmacists on aspects of the chemical basis of drug action. Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs Affecting the Nervous System is the second volume of the series and it presents 8 chapters focusing on a comprehensive account of drugs affecting the nervous system. The volume informs readers about the medicinal chemistry of relevant drugs, which includes the mechanism of drug action, detail structure activity relationships and metabolism as well as clinical significance of drugs affecting autonomic and central nervous system. Chapters in this volume cover cholinergic drugs, adrenergic drugs, antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, antiepileptic drugs, anesthetics and antiparkinsonian drugs, respectively. Students and teachers will be able to integrate the knowledge presented in the book and apply medicinal chemistry concepts to understand the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of therapeutic agents in the body. The information offered by the book chapters will give readers a strong neuropharmacology knowledge base required for a practicing pharmacist.