9.1 Introduction to the Nervous System and Medications
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to
1. Describe the purpose of the nervous system, its key components, and how they work
2. Describe common pathologies that affect the nervous system
3. Identify common medications used to treat seizure disorders
4. Identify common medications used to treat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
5. Identify the most common medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease
6. Identify common medications used to treat insomnia
Chapter Overview
The nervous system is a very complex body system. Even though there have been continual advancements in the scientific discipline of neuroscience, our understanding of the intricacies in this area are limited. Simply put, the nervous system may be too complex for us to completely understand. The complexity of the nervous system and difficulty understanding the brain can make treating and preventing diseases that affect this system complicated; however, there are a number of common medications that are important to be familiar with when treating pathologies that affect the nervous system. This chapter will provide an overview of the nervous system, its common pathologies, and medication options for patients with these pathologies.
Attribution
Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been adapted from the following resource:
Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (Eds.). (2020). Nursing pharmacology. Chippewa Valley Technical College. https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/pharmacology/ licensed under CC BY 4.0
