1. TOPICS TO DISCUSS
1. Classifications of hypnotics.
2. Mechanisms of action of benzodiazepines and barbiturates.
3. Pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines.
4. Adverse effects of benzodiazepines as hypnotics. Effect on sleep structure (rebound effect on REM-sleep).
5. Adverse effects of barbiturates. Comparison with benzodiazepines.
6. Nonbenzodiazepine agonists of benzodiazepine receptors. Comparison with benzodiazepines.
7. Antihistamines. Chloral hydrate. Agonists of mela-tonin (MT) receptors. Orexin receptor antagonists. The main characteristics and therapeutic uses.
8. Ethanol. Absorption, distribution and metabolism. Pharmacological effects and their mechanisms. Clinical uses.
9. Ethanol dependence. Drugs used in the treatment of alcoholism. Mechanism of disulfiram action.
10. The main principles of action of antiepileptic drugs.
11. Classification of antiepileptic drugs based on their mechanisms of action.
12. Classification of antiepileptics according to their therapeutic uses. Therapeutic use of individual drugs in different types of epilepsy.
13. The main adverse effects of benzodiazepines, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, sodium valproate.
14. The main approaches to the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Classification of antiparkinso-nian drugs based on mechanism of action.
15. Levodopa. Mechanisms of action and penetration to the CNS. Levodopa - carbidopa combination.
16. Peripheral adverse effects of levodopa, their mechanisms and correction.
17. Central adverse effects of levodopa. On-off phenomenon and its correction. COMT inhibitors.
18. Dopamine receptor agonists. Comparison of bromocriptine and newer drugs (pramipexole and ropinirole). Adverse effects.
19. MAO-B inhibitor. Selegeline and its significance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.