Final answer:
The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems have opposite effects on the body, with sympathetic causing "fight or flight" responses using adrenergic compounds, and parasympathetic facilitating "rest and digest" with cholinergic compounds. Drugs can mimic or block these systems, classified as sympathomimetic, sympatholytic, parasympathomimetic, or anticholinergic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic pharmacological differences between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems stem from their opposing functions in the body's response to stimuli. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, activating in stressful situations to prepare the body for quick action. It uses adrenergic compounds like norepinephrine and epinephrine that bind to adrenergic receptors and stimulate target organs. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system is associated with the "rest and digest" response, promoting calm and normal function after a stress response. It utilizes cholinergic compounds, such as acetylcholine (ACh), which bind to muscarinic receptors to enhance organ function.
Medications affecting these systems are classified based on their action on these pathways. Sympathomimetic drugs mimic the action of sympathetic neurotransmitters, while sympatholytic drugs inhibit it. Conversely, parasympathomimetic (or muscarinic agonists) drugs enhance the parasympathetic system responses, and anticholinergic drugs block the parasympathetic signals.
Understanding these pharmacological differences allows us to interpret how drugs can alter autonomic functions, impacting various organ systems, and relate to the management of conditions related to imbalances in autonomic control, as well as to the consequences of substances like nicotine that can profoundly affect the cardiovascular system through autonomic pathways.