http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/eraxion/eraxion0806/eraxion080600296/3241269-human-active-nerve-cell.jpg
Understanding Medications Which Effect the Autonomic Nervous System
Autonomic nervous system- divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic;
Sympathetic- fight or flight;
Parasympathetic- rest and digest. (McCorry, 2007)
To determine the effects/side effects of anticholinergics/cholinergic agonists/etc, first determine which nervous system is inhibited or activated
ie...
Anticholinergics- inhibit the parasympathetic;
Cholinergic agonist- stimulates parasympathetic (Kee, et al., 2012, p. 278)
Sympatholitic- inhibits sympathetic (Kee, et al., 2012, p. 659)
http://www.qhrv.com/img/dt/img/ab/ab1.gif
Then think, if the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated or the parasympathetic is inhibited, what would happen to the body if you were getting ready to fight a tiger? Pupils will dilate to see the tiger better, the bronchi dilate and heart rate increases to better deliver oxygen, digestion and urination are not important at this time (decreased GI motility, urinary retention), also sexual arousal is not important at this time (McCorry, 2007).
Sympathetic- fight or flight;
Parasympathetic- rest and digest. (McCorry, 2007)
To determine the effects/side effects of anticholinergics/cholinergic agonists/etc, first determine which nervous system is inhibited or activated
ie...
Anticholinergics- inhibit the parasympathetic;
Cholinergic agonist- stimulates parasympathetic (Kee, et al., 2012, p. 278)
Sympatholitic- inhibits sympathetic (Kee, et al., 2012, p. 659)
http://www.qhrv.com/img/dt/img/ab/ab1.gif
Then think, if the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated or the parasympathetic is inhibited, what would happen to the body if you were getting ready to fight a tiger? Pupils will dilate to see the tiger better, the bronchi dilate and heart rate increases to better deliver oxygen, digestion and urination are not important at this time (decreased GI motility, urinary retention), also sexual arousal is not important at this time (McCorry, 2007).
If the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated or the sympathetic nervous system is inhibited, pupils may constrict since there is no danger to be seen, heart rate slows, bronchi constrict since the body won't need extra oxygen to meet the demands of fighting the tiger, and the body can focus on things like digestion and urination (increased gastric motility and urinary spasm) (McCorry, 2007).
Also keep in mind that certain drugs will have more targeted effects, acting on more specific receptors or neurotransmitters, but this same basic idea can be applied. Consider the effect of a beta-2 agonist like ventolin (Bass, 2011). It essentially increases the effect of epinephrine on the beta receptors in the lungs (Bass, 2011).
http://wallpaperswide.com/tiger_fight-wallpapers.html
Since in the situation of fighting a tiger we know that we would need to increase oxygen uptake, we can deduce that a beta-2 agonist then must cause broncho-dilation.
Also keep in mind that certain drugs will have more targeted effects, acting on more specific receptors or neurotransmitters, but this same basic idea can be applied. Consider the effect of a beta-2 agonist like ventolin (Bass, 2011). It essentially increases the effect of epinephrine on the beta receptors in the lungs (Bass, 2011).
http://wallpaperswide.com/tiger_fight-wallpapers.html
Since in the situation of fighting a tiger we know that we would need to increase oxygen uptake, we can deduce that a beta-2 agonist then must cause broncho-dilation.