| Drug Name |
Category |
Mechanism, Indications, Adverse
Effects, Unique Properties |
| Paramethasone |
Glucocorticoid
Intermediate-acting |
No salt-retaining activity. |
| Parathion |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Organophosphate (Irreversible) |
Common insecticide. |
|
| Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) |
Hormone
Calcium-regulation |
Used diagnostically to diagnose pseudo
hypothyroidism, a disorder characterized by insensitivity to PTH. |
| Pargyline |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Potentiating Agent
MAO Inhibitor |
Non-selective MAO inhibitor. |
| Pemoline |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Releasing Agent
Amphetamine |
Similar to Methamphetamine, with abuse
potential. |
| Penbutolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Has partial beta-agonist activity. |
| Perchlorate (ClO4-) |
Hormone
Anti-Thyroid
Ionic Inhibitor |
Inhibits uptake of iodide into the Thyroid.
In large doses, this drug causes aplastic anemia. Only use in small
doses. |
| Phenmetrazine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Releasing Agent
Amphetamine |
Similar to Metham phetamine, with abuse
potential. |
| Phenoxy benzamine |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, non-selective |
Used in management of pheochromocytoma, and
surgery that follows.
Irreversible binding to alpha-receptors. 14 to 48
hour duration after a single dose. Causes marked orthostatic
hypotension.
Causes hypotension (primary effect), reflex tachycardia, and reflex
release of renin. |
| Phentolamine |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, non-selective |
Used in management of pheochromocytoma.
Blocks alpha-receptors and serotonin receptors. It is an agonist at
muscarinic and histaminic receptors. Poor oral bioavailability, and
short duration of action.
Causes hypotension (primary effect), marked tachycardia (both due to
reflex, and because NE release is increased because of alpha2
blockade), and reflex release of renin. |
| Phenylephrine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha1-selective |
Used topically as a nasal decongestant
(restrict blood flow to nose), and to induce mydriasis for ophthalmic
exam.
Not a catechol, and not broken down by COMT, thus it has longer
half-life (20 minutes) then catecholamines.
alpha-Agonist ------> increase b.p. ------> reflex bradycardia. |
| Physostigmine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Carbamate (Reversible) |
Is a tertiary nitrogen and does enter CNS.
It is therefore used in treatment of Atropine poisoning. |
| Pilocarpine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Direct
Muscarinic
Alkaloid |
|
| Pindolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Has good oral bioavailability. Has partial
beta-agonist activity. Local anesthetic membrane-stabilizing activity. |
| Pirbuterol |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
beta2-selective |
Bronchodilator |
| Pirenzepine |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
3 Amine |
Crosses BBB |
| Porcine Insulin |
Diabetes
Insulin
Short-acting |
Regular insulin, clear solution. Rapid
onset and duration of a few hours. It is taken before meals for its
immediate effects. |
| Pralidoxime
(2-PAM) |
Cholinesterase Activator |
Antidote to organophosphate poisoning, as
long as it is administered within first half-hour, before aging
occurs. |
| Prazosin |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, alpha1-Selective |
Has less of an effect on reflex tachycardia
and renin release, because it does not block the inhibitory alpha2
receptors. It can be used to treat hypertension. |
| Prednisolone |
Glucocorticoid
Short-acting |
Some salt-retaining activity (aldosterone
cross-reactivity) |
| Prednisone |
Glucocorticoid
Short-acting |
Some salt-retaining activity (aldosterone
cross-reactivity) |
| Prolactin |
Hormone
Prolactin |
No therapeutic use. |
| Propanolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism.
Lipophilic, readily crosses BBB, used to treat migraines and other CNS
disorders.
Local anesthetic membrane-stabilizing activity. |
| Propantheline |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
4 Amine |
Does not cross BBB |
| Propylthiouracil |
Hormone
Anti-Thyroid
Thionamide |
Inhibits organification (iodination) steps
of Thyroid synthesis. Therapeutic effect is delayed.
Also inhibits peripheral conversion of T4 to T3. |
| Protirelin (Thyrotropin-Releasing
Hormone, TRH) |
Hormone
TRH |
Used diagnostically to distinguish between
primary and secondary hypothyroidism. |
| Pseudoephedrine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
Mixed-receptor agonist |
Taken orally, long duration of action. Used
in asthma, as nasal decongestant, and sometimes as a pressor.
Has direct effects (alpha1, beta1, beta2),
and indirect effects (potentiate NE release).
Uptake I is required for the indirect effects. Cocaine eliminates
this response. Tachyphylaxis is observed peripherally but not centrally. |
| Pyridostigmine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Carbamate (Reversible) |
Quaternary ammonium compound, does not
enter CNS.
Can be used to treat Myasthenia Gravis. |
| Radio-Iodine, 131I |
Hormone
Anti-Thyroid |
Used to treat hyperthyroidism. The 131I
gets concentrated in the Thyroid, where it diffusely kills thyroid
cells.
Ultimately it will lead to hypothyroidism, which can then be treated
with T4. |
| Reserpine |
Adrenergic Antagonist, Indirect
NE-depleting agent |
Blocks the transport of NE and Dopamine
into vesicles, thus depleting their stores. Effect is irreversible: a
single dose depletes all amines until more can be synthesized.
Side effects: Sedation, Parkinsonian symptoms, increased gastrin
secretion, psychic depression. |
| Ritodrine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
beta2-selective |
Used to relax the uterus during labor. |
| Sarin |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Organophosphate (Irreversible) |
Nerve gas. |
| Scopolamine |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
3 Amine |
Can be given as a patch to treat motion
sickness.
Crosses BBB |
| Sermatorelin (Growth-Hormone Releasing
Hormone, GHRH) |
Hormone
GHRH |
Given diagnostically, to diagnose primary
(pituitary) or secondary (hypothalamic) GH deficiency (Dwarfism) |
| Soman |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Organophosphate (Irreversible) |
Nerve gas. |
| Somatrem (Growth Hormone, GH, Somatomedin) |
Hormone
GH |
Given as replacement therapy, only to
children with open epiphyses. Contraindicated in people with closed
epiphyses.
Biosynthetic, identical to endogenous GH |
| Succinylcholine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Direct
Muscarinic
Choline ester |
Binds to nicotinic receptors with higher
affinity than ACh. Early on: muscle fasciculations. Later: paralysis due
to depolarization blockade. |
| Tabun |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Organophosphate (Irreversible) |
|
| Tamoxifen |
Hormone
Anti-Estrogen |
Used to treat breast cancer. Antagonizes
the action of estrogen on breast tissue. |
| Terazosin |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, alpha1-Selective |
Similar to Prazosin but with longer
half-life. |
| Terbutaline |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
beta2-selective |
Bronchodilator |
| Thiocyanate (SCN-) |
Hormone
Anti-Thyroid
Ionic Inhibitor |
Inhibits uptake of iodide into the Thyroid. |
| Thyroid- Stimulating Hormone (TSH) |
Hormone
TSH |
Used to promote uptake of radioactive
131I, to treat Thyroid carcinoma. Derived from bovine pituitaries. |
| Thyroxine (T4) |
Hormone
Thyroxine |
Given orally to treat hypothyroidism. T4
is given -- not T3, which is too potent and has cardiotoxic
side-effects. |
| Timolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Decrease aqueous humour production, used to
treat open-angle glaucoma. Local anesthetic membrane-stabilizing
activity. |
| Tolazamide |
Diabetes
Sulfonylurea |
Relatively long-acting. |
| Tolazoline |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, non-selective |
Similar to Phentolamine, but less potent
and more readily absorbed orally.
Causes hypotension (primary effect), reflex tachycardia, and reflex
release of renin. |
| Tolbutamide |
Diabetes
Sulfonylurea |
Relatively long-acting. |
| Tranylcypromine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Potentiating Agent
MAO Inhibitor |
Non-selective MAO inhibitor. |
| Triamcinolone |
Glucocorticoid
Intermediate-acting |
No salt-retaining activity. |
| Trihexyphenidyl |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
3 Amine |
Crosses BBB |
| Trimethaphan |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Ganglionic Blocker
Blocks NG receptors |
Blocks all autonomic responses. |
| Tropicamide |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
3 Amine |
Crosses BBB |
| Tyramine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Releasing Agent |
Potentiates NE release in pre-synaptic
neuron. Serves as a false substrate for MAO. Uptake I of tyramine is
required in order for it to work, thus it is neutralized by Cocaine.
It is dangerous to eat tyramine (wine + cheese) in patients taking
MAO-inhibitors, as it can lead to hypertensive crisis. |
| Ultralente Insulin |
Diabetes
Insulin
Long-acting |
Cloudy solution. Poorly soluble complex of
zinc and insulin. Due to poor manageability, used only with Type I
Diabetics. |
| Urapidil |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, alpha1-Selective |
Has less of an effect on reflex tachycardia
and renin release, because it does not block the inhibitory alpha2
receptors. It can be used to treat hypertension. |
| Urofollitropin |
Hormone
FSH |
Natural FSH extracted from urine. Used to
treat infertility. |
| Vasopressin (ADH) |
Hormone
Vasopressin |
Used to treat Diabetes Insipidus.
Administered IV, IM, intranasally.
V1 Receptors: Vascular vasoconstriction. V2
Receptors: Tubular reabsorption of water. |
| Xylometolazine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha1, alpha2 |
Topical nasal decongestant. |
| Yohimbine |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, alpha2-selective |
The only alpha2-selective
antagonist there is. May be useful in autonomic insufficiency. |
