Describe the pharmacodynamic effects and indications for the use of anticholinesterase drugs.
It was expected the answer would provide a structured approach to describing the
pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body) of this discreet class of drugs. A brief
acknowledgement of the drugs in this class followed by a catalogue of the various clinical
uses of this class of drugs would be a good start. If this was followed up with a description of
the effects of these drugs on the CVS, GIT, Salivary glands, eye, NMJ and the lungs a good
mark would have been awarded.
A number of candidates described the actions at the receptors in detail which did not attract
marks. The extensive range of clinical uses for this class of drugs was poorly appreciated.
Few answers demonstrated any understanding of the PD effects of the drug class. There was
generally a good knowledge of representative drugs within this class. Failing to achieve a
pass mark reflected scant/brief answers that just did not cover enough of the expected
material.