Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Sept 14, 2010- Methacholine

1) Drug: Methacholine

Use: challenge test for asthma. As a Muscarinic agonist, it will cause bronchoconstriction. However, those with asthma, since their airways are very sensitive, bronchoconstriction occurs at a much lower dose.

Mechanism: Muscarinic agonist. With 'chol', always think of Ach

Side effects: nothing special. Same side effects as with any Muscarinic agonist

Mnemonic: 'chol' gives you the mechanism of action.
The most important thing here is to link 'methacholine' to asthma. I just think of 'meta-coal'. Meta-coal is a type of coal. It's usually called 'meta-anthracite'. I just think of smoking some 'meta-coal' which would be really bad for your lungs!
- you can also think of it as 'metal coal'. Smoking a mix of 'metal-coal' would be pretty bad for the lungs!


2) Drug: Edrophonium

Use: diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis
- it's use will make a cholinergic crisis worse but it will improve Myasthenia Gravis. That way, if you give it to a patient with muscle weakness and edrophonium improves it, then the patient has Myasthenia Gravis.

Mechanism: inactivates AchE (reversibly) thereby increasing Ach

Side effect: nothing special

Mnemonic: I just think of diplomacy which can prevent war. Diplomacy 'On the phone' (leaders talking on the phone) prevents 'graves' .
I want to point out that Edrophonium doesn't TREAT graves, it DIAGNOSES it.

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