Pharmacology

[MrsCurly]

Hi everyone, this is the first time I have ever posted, I usually only read what everyone else has to say. I am in nursing school and in Adv. Pharm. this semester. I am having fits understanding about parasympathomimetic and sympathomimetic drugs and what it all means. I know how important it is to get a good understanding of these drugs and how they affect the body, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could understand them better? Thank you so much for your time.

[blueyes2004]

when you went through human anatomy, you probably learned about sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Read those chapters again if you still have your books. It will refresh your memory on those two systems. Then, when you are studying your drugs, try to associate the drug with one of the two systems by deductive reasoning. It all makes sense but you have to give it some time. It will be okay --- you will get it.

[ADNRN]

Originally posted by blueyes2004

when you went through human anatomy, you probably learned about sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Read those chapters again if you still have your books. It will refresh your memory on those two systems. Then, when you are studying your drugs, try to associate the drug with one of the two systems by deductive reasoning. It all makes sense but you have to give it some time. It will be okay --- you will get it.

sympathomimetic drugs "mimic" an adrenalin rush: fast heart rate, faster respiratory rate, alertness: Epinephrine is the classic sympathomimetic drug. Also think of ephedrine like in diet pills.

parasympathomimetic slows things down. urocholine is the example. But you can better imagine it as the opposite of epinephrine. It's like in the morning "before" you have your coffee. My heart rate is typically around 58. It's that low because I have an exaggerated parasympathetic response from regular jogging.

Hope that helps