Which of the following drug is Neurotransmitter?

Appeared in: UPPSC 2023

Explanation

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter belonging to the catecholamine family, acting as a chemical messenger between nerve cells in the brain.
It plays a crucial role in essential brain functions, including motor control, motivation, reward pathways, and cognitive functions like attention and memory.
While it is a natural body chemical, it is also synthesized as a drug (inotropic vasopressor) used in critical care settings to manage shock and severe hypotension.

Option A: Largactil (Chlorpromazine) is an antipsychotic drug, not a neurotransmitter. Its mechanism involves blocking dopamine receptors.
Option C: Tramadol is a centrally-acting synthetic opioid analgesic used for pain relief. It affects neurotransmitter systems but is not a neurotransmitter itself.
Option D: Lithium is an element (a monovalent cation) used as a mood stabilizer. It influences neurotransmitter function but is not a neurotransmitter.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacology: Identification of Neurotransmitters helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the difference between a neurotransmitter and a drug that acts on neurotransmitter systems is fundamental for safe medication administration and patient education.
Nurses often administer dopamine as a critical care drip, requiring close monitoring of vital signs, IV site for extravasation, and urine output to manage its potent effects on the cardiovascular system.
What if a patient on a dopamine drip complains of pain and swelling at the IV site? The nurse must immediately stop the infusion, as this suggests extravasation. The antidote, phentolamine, should be prepared for local injection to prevent severe tissue damage.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Neurotransmitter'.
Define 'neurotransmitter' in your mind as a chemical messenger that transmits signals across a chemical synapse from one neuron to another.
Evaluate each option based on its pharmacological class and mechanism of action.
Recall that Largactil is an antipsychotic, Tramadol is an opioid analgesic, and Lithium is a mood stabilizer.
Recognize that Dopamine is a well-known endogenous chemical that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain.
Select the option that directly fits the definition of a neurotransmitter, not a drug that merely affects neurotransmitter systems.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qyemas0yi4i-EZkd7kiGlG

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 2219-2221

E6 Pharmacology Nurses Shanbhag 3e p. 173-175

E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi OneStop 9e p. 88-90

Practise the full UPPSC 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.