08_Psychopharm Overview Flashcards
Effects of Psychoactive Drugs:
Mechanisms of Change
Increase/decrease NT production or reuptake
Increase or prevent release of NTs
Facilitate, mimic, or block effects of NTs at receptor sites
Four Classes of Psychoactive Drugs
Agonists
Inverse agonists
Partial agonists
Antagonists
Agonists
Produce effects similar to those produced by NT
Direct Agonists
Mimic the effect of NT at receptor site
Indirect Agonists
Facilitate action of NT by attaching to binding site on a receptor cell
Inverse Agonists
Produce effect opposite than NT or agonist
Partial Agonists
Produce effects similar to – but less than effects produced by NT or agonist
Antagonists
Reduce or block the effects of NT or agonists
Direct antagonists
Attach to NT’s receptor site
Indirect Antagonists
Interfere with action of NT by attaching to binding site on a receptor cell
Drugs and Older Adults:
Age-related factors to medication-related problems
Use of multiple medications
Noncompliance with medication regimen
Decreased or increased sensitivity to drug effects
Drugs and Older Adults:
Age-related changes in sensitivity
absorption
distribution
metabolism
excretion
Drugs and Older Adults:
Decreased renal function
May extend the half-life of some drugs
Increased risk for toxicity
Drugs and Older Adults:
General rule for Prescribing
Start Low and Go Slow
Poor Metabolizers
Asians (and African-Americans) can have Increased sensitivity to therapeutic and side effects of psychoactive drugs
“Start low and go slow”
