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This chapter will be most useful after having a basic understanding of the material in Chapter 22, Treatment of Central Nervous System Degenerative Disorders in Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 12th Edition. In addition to the material presented here, the 12th Edition includes:
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A discussion of the selective vulnerabilities of specific CNS neurons
A detailed discussion of the roll of genetics and environment in neurodegenerative disorders
The common cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration
A detailed discussion of the neural mechanisms and neuroprotective mechanisms of parkinsonism
A complete discussion of the genetics of Huntington’s disease
Chemical structures of the drugs used to treat and manage neurodegenerative disorders
Figure 22-8 Monosynaptic muscle stretch reflex with descending control via inhibitory interneurons
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Understand the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Understand the role of drugs in the treatment and management of the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.
Know the mechanisms of action and the adverse effects of drugs that are used to treat and manage neurodegenerative diseases.
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DRUGS INCLUDED IN THIS CHAPTER
Amantadine (SYMMETREL)
Apomorphine (APOKYN)
Baclofen (LIORESAL)
Carbidopa (LODOSYN)
Carbidopa/levodopa (SINEMET, ATAMET, others; orally disintegrating tablet, PARCOPA)
Dantrolene (DANTRIUM)
Donepezil (ARICEPT)
Entacapone (COMTAN; fixed combination with carbidopa/levodopa, STAVELO)
Galantamine (NIVALIN, others)
Levodopa (L-DOPA, LARODOPA)
Memantine (NAMENDA)
Pramipexole (MIRAPEX)
Rasagiline (AZILECT)
Riluzole (RILUTEK)
Rivastigmine (EXELON)
Ropinirole (REQUIP)
Selegiline (ELDEPRYL; oral disintegrating tablet, EMSAM; transdermal patch, ZELAPAR)
Tacrine (COGNEX)—discontinued in the United States
Tetrabenazine (XENAZINENITOMAN)
Tizanidine (ZANAFLEX)
Tolcapone (TASMAR)
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