Medical Pharmacology Chapter 23: Ergot Alkaloid Pharmacology

Ergot is a fungal product:
1. True
2. False
Pharmacological actions of ergot alkaloids are due to:
1. Ergot actions as partial agonist sacting at varied receptors including adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic sites
2. Ergot actions as partial antagonists acting at varied receptors including adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic sites
3. Both
4. Neither
For therapeutic applications natural alkaloids of focus are amide derivatives of d-lysergic acid.
1. True
2. False
Concerning synthetic derivatives of natural ergot structures:
1. Bromocriptine is effective in controlling prolactin secretion.
2. LSD and methysergide are examples of serotonin antagonists.
3. LSD binds to serotonin (5-HT) receptors, acting as an agonist/partial antagonist.
4. A & B
5. B & C
6. A & C
7. A, B & C
Bromocriptine acts to enhance prolactin secretion secondary to its dopamine antagonist effect.
1. True
2. False
Concerning the hallucinogenic agent psilocybin:
1. This agent is the active agent in "shrooms".
2. Psilocybin induces brain activation patterns apparently similar to those found in schizophrenic individuals experiencing hallucinations.
3. Both
4. Neither
Psilocybin-induced brain activation patterns can be prevented by pretreatment with a 5-HT_2A/_2C antagonist.
1. True
2. False
Concerning use of ergot alkaloids in managing migraine:
1. Acute antimigraine effects appear to be mediated by ergot alkaloids activity at 5-HT_1B/_1D receptors.
2. Clinical use of ergot alkaloids from migraine should be used only in those patients exhibiting either frequent, moderately intense migraine or infrequent occurrences of severe migraine attacks.
3. Both
4. Neither
Concerning the administration of ergot alkaloids in the management of migraine:
1. Ergot alkaloids are absorbed erratically by the G.I. tract; this observation suggests the basis for large variation patient response.
2. Ergot alkaloids-based treatment should be administered as soon as possible following onset of migraine headache.
3. Both
4. Neither
Concerning the drug methysergide:
1. This drug is clinically employed for migraine prophylaxis and prophylaxis of other vascular-based headaches.
2. This agent exhibits strong vasoconstrictive and oxytocic activity.
3. Both
4. Neither