ANTICHOLINESTERASESANTICHOLINESTERASES
These are the agents which inhibit ChE, protect These are the agents which inhibit ChE, protect
ACH from hydrolysis-produce and potentiates ACH from hydrolysis-produce and potentiates
cholinergic effects .cholinergic effects .
Mechanism of actionMechanism of action
Acetylated enzyme reacts with water very Acetylated enzyme reacts with water very
rapidly and the esteretic site is freed in fraction rapidly and the esteretic site is freed in fraction
of milli sec.of milli sec.
Carbamylated enzyme reacts slowly (reversible Carbamylated enzyme reacts slowly (reversible
inhibitors)inhibitors)
Phosphorylated enzyme reacts extremely slowly or Phosphorylated enzyme reacts extremely slowly or
not at all.not at all.
OPPs attaches only to the esteretic site whereas drugs OPPs attaches only to the esteretic site whereas drugs
like Tacrine & Endrophonium attaches to the anionic like Tacrine & Endrophonium attaches to the anionic
site.site.
Carbamate Inhibitors : Carbamate Inhibitors :
NeostigmineNeostigmine
Neostigmine Neostigmine
synthetically prepared.synthetically prepared.
Quaternary amine
Less lipid soluble
Pyridostigmine resembles Pyridostigmine resembles
neostigmine but has neostigmine but has
longer DOAlonger DOA
Some are used as Some are used as
insecticides, Carbarylinsecticides, Carbaryl
PropoxurPropoxur
FEATURES PHYSOSTIGMINE NEOSTIGMINE
1.Source
2.Chemistry
3.Oral absorption
4.CNS action
5.Corneal penetration
6.Action on Nm
7.Prominent effect
8.USE
9.DOA
Natural
Tertiary amine
Good
Present
Good
Absent
Autonomic effectors
Miotic (Glaucoma)
0.5-1mg oral/ parental
0.5-1% eye drops
4-6 hrs
Synthetic
Quaternary ammonium
Poor
Absent
Poor
Present
Skeletal muscles
Myasthenia gravis
0.5-2.5mg im/sc
15-30mg orally
3-4 hrs
Physostigmine and NeostigminePhysostigmine and Neostigmine
Competitive Inhibitors : Competitive Inhibitors :
EdrophoniumEdrophonium
Alcohol bearing a Alcohol bearing a
quaternary ammoniumquaternary ammonium
Very short durationVery short duration
Rapidly excreted by the Rapidly excreted by the
kidneyskidneys
Resembles neostigmineResembles neostigmine
Suitable as diagnostic Suitable as diagnostic
agent for MGagent for MG
Organophosphate DrugsOrganophosphate Drugs
b. Organophosphate Insecticidesb. Organophosphate Insecticides
Mechanism of ActionMechanism of Action
Phosphorylating the active
Site of serine.
Covalent modification
Duration: days
““Aging” of Organophosphates Aging” of Organophosphates
By the loss of one of the By the loss of one of the
alkyl group the phosporylated alkyl group the phosporylated
enzyme may become enzyme may become
resistant to hydrolysis thus resistant to hydrolysis thus
causing irreversibility.causing irreversibility.
Reactivation time of Reactivation time of
carbamylated enzyme is carbamylated enzyme is
less(30mins) whereas less(30mins) whereas
phospory. E is more than phospory. E is more than
regeneration time.regeneration time.
Pharmacology of AChE InhibitorsPharmacology of AChE Inhibitors
Act at both muscarinic and nicotinic Act at both muscarinic and nicotinic
synapsessynapses
They potentiates synaptic transmission both They potentiates synaptic transmission both
parasympathetic and sympathetparasympathetic and sympatheticic
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONSPHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS
a.a. Central nervous system Central nervous system: :
Ache inhibitors are Lipid soluble Ache inhibitors are Lipid soluble
(Physostigmine and Ops) Cross BBB(Physostigmine and Ops) Cross BBB
Low doses: CNS activationLow doses: CNS activation
High: coma and respiratory arrestHigh: coma and respiratory arrest
b.b. Eye, respiratory tract, GI & urinary tract:Eye, respiratory tract, GI & urinary tract:
The same as muscarinic agonists The same as muscarinic agonists
(regulated by parasympathetic neurons)(regulated by parasympathetic neurons)
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONSPHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS
c. c. Cardiovascular:Cardiovascular:
ComplexComplex
Bradycardia, decrease contraction, cardiac outputBradycardia, decrease contraction, cardiac output
Blood vessels? No effectBlood vessels? No effect
d. d. Neuromuscular junction:Neuromuscular junction:
Increase force of contraction (low dose)Increase force of contraction (low dose)
Muscle fasciculation and depolarizing blockade Muscle fasciculation and depolarizing blockade
(high dose) weakness and paralysis(high dose) weakness and paralysis
Therapeutic UsesTherapeutic Uses
A. Eye: A. Eye:
Miosis and constriction of the ciliary muscle, and are Miosis and constriction of the ciliary muscle, and are
used to treat glaucomaused to treat glaucoma
B. GI and urinary tractB. GI and urinary tract: : Neostigmine 0.5-1mg s.cNeostigmine 0.5-1mg s.c..
Paralysis of the stomach and intestines Paralysis of the stomach and intestines
(paralytic illeus)(paralytic illeus)
Postpartum urinary retentionPostpartum urinary retention
C. Neuromuscular junctionC. Neuromuscular junction::
Myastenia Gravis----Neostigmine 0.5-2mg i.v.Myastenia Gravis----Neostigmine 0.5-2mg i.v.
Post operative decurarization induced by NMBPost operative decurarization induced by NMB
Cobra biteCobra bite
D. CNSD. CNS::
Belladona poisoningBelladona poisoning
Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease
Overdose of phenothiazides, TCAsOverdose of phenothiazides, TCAs
GlaucomaGlaucoma
Group of disease characterized by progressive Group of disease characterized by progressive
optic nerve damage ass. with raised IOT optic nerve damage ass. with raised IOT
Treatment aims:Treatment aims:
Lower IOT by Lower IOT by :1.Reducing aqueous secretion :1.Reducing aqueous secretion
2. Promoting its drainage.2. Promoting its drainage.
TypesTypes--
Open angle glaucoma Open angle glaucoma (wide angle, chronic simple)(wide angle, chronic simple)
Closed angle glaucoma Closed angle glaucoma (narrow angle, acute congestive)(narrow angle, acute congestive)
Myasthenia GravisMyasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune Disease that is
characterized by a decrease in number of AChR
Myasthenia GravisMyasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common primary disorder of neuromuscular
transmission. The usual cause is an acquired immunological abnormality, but
some cases result from genetic abnormalities at the neuromuscular junction
Myasthenia Gravis – Effect on the Myasthenia Gravis – Effect on the
Neuromuscular JunctionNeuromuscular Junction
NormalNormal Myasthenia gravisMyasthenia gravis
Myasthenia GravisMyasthenia Gravis
Symptoms: Symptoms:
Specific muscle weakness, and not of Specific muscle weakness, and not of
generalized fatigue. Ocular motor generalized fatigue. Ocular motor
disturbances, ptosis or diplopia, disturbances, ptosis or diplopia,
Oropharyngeal muscle weakness, difficulty Oropharyngeal muscle weakness, difficulty
chewing, swallowing, or talking, limb chewing, swallowing, or talking, limb
weakness. weakness.
The severity of weakness fluctuates during the The severity of weakness fluctuates during the
day, usually being least severe in the morning day, usually being least severe in the morning
and worse as the day progresses, especially and worse as the day progresses, especially
after prolonged use of affected muscles.after prolonged use of affected muscles.
Prognosis:Prognosis:
With treatment, most MG patients will have With treatment, most MG patients will have
excellent improvement of their muscle excellent improvement of their muscle
weakness.weakness.
Drugs Used in Myasthenia GravisDrugs Used in Myasthenia Gravis
Diagnosis: Diagnosis:
EdrophoniumEdrophonium iv (improvement)iv (improvement)5-15 min5-15 min
TreatmentTreatment: :
ANTICHOLINESTERASESANTICHOLINESTERASES
Neostigmine Neostigmine 0.5-2 hours0.5-2 hours
Pyridostigmine Pyridostigmine 3-6 hours3-6 hours
CORTICOSTEROIDS AND THYMECTOMYCORTICOSTEROIDS AND THYMECTOMY
Alzheimer’s Disease - SymptomsAlzheimer’s Disease - Symptoms
AD is a neurodegenerative disorder AD is a neurodegenerative disorder
Charcterized by progressive dementia Charcterized by progressive dementia
primarily affecting cholinergic neurones primarily affecting cholinergic neurones
in the brain.in the brain.
AChE Inhibitors Used to Treat AChE Inhibitors Used to Treat
Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease
The first to become The first to become
available available
The first to become The first to become
passpasséé
AChE Inhibitors Used to Treat AChE Inhibitors Used to Treat
Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease
Are They Worth It?Are They Worth It?
Effect of Rivastigmine in Alzheimer’s DiseaseEffect of Rivastigmine in Alzheimer’s Disease
RivastigmineRivastigmine Placebo Placebo
ImprovedImproved 37%37% 20% 20%
Adverse EffectsAdverse Effects23%23% 7% 7%
Organophosphorous poisoningOrganophosphorous poisoning
Skeletal MuscleSkeletal Muscle:: Fasciculations, weakness, paralysis Fasciculations, weakness, paralysis
CNSCNS:: Ataxia, confusion, convulsions, coma, paralysisAtaxia, confusion, convulsions, coma, paralysis
Death:Death:
Respiratory depression due to bronchoconstriction, Respiratory depression due to bronchoconstriction,
increased secretions, paralysis of diaphragm and increased secretions, paralysis of diaphragm and
intercostal muscles and central respiratory depressionintercostal muscles and central respiratory depression
Treatment of AChE PoisoningTreatment of AChE Poisoning
Atropine:Atropine:
Reverses muscarinic but not nicotinicReverses muscarinic but not nicotinic
2 mg i.v. repeated every 10 mins till 2 mg i.v. repeated every 10 mins till
signs of full atropinization i.e dilatation signs of full atropinization i.e dilatation
of pupils ,tachycardia.of pupils ,tachycardia.
Pralidoxime (2-PAM):Pralidoxime (2-PAM):
Mechanism of Action of PralidoximeMechanism of Action of Pralidoxime
Clinical pharmacology of acetylcholinesterase inhibitorsClinical pharmacology of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Drug
Type of
inhibition
Route of
administrationClinical Use
Edrophonium Rev IM or IV Diagnostic for Myasthenia Gravis
Neostigmine Rev IM, IV, or oralMyasthenia Gravis, post-operative ileus and
bladder distention, surgical adjunct
Physostigmine Rev IM, IV, or localGlaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, antidote to
anticholinergic overdose
Tacrine Rev Oral Alzheimer’s disease
Donepezil Rev Oral Alzheimer’s disease
Isofluorophate Irrev Local Glaucoma
Echothiophate Irrev Local Glaucoma