Anti-Anxiety Drugs Flashcards
What is the number one way people treat their anxiety
alcohol
What was the first drug specific for treating anxiety
Meprobamate
Norepinephrine is ___ in a person with anxiety
overproduced
GABA is ___ in a person with anxiety
inhibited
Common indications for Benzodiazepines (Benzos)
- chronic anxiety
- treatment for crisis (time limited)
- pre-surgery jitters
- acute mania
- panic disorder
Benzos treat the ___ of psychosis
symptoms
How do benzos work?
- enhance effects of GABA (helps tone down)
- slows down/halts neuron firing
- GABA receptors located on 40% of neurons
Benzos are a ___
CNS depressant
- reduce anxiety
- promote sleep
- promote amnesia, hypnosis
Sometimes a ___ reaction can occur when taking benzos, although rare
paradoxical reaction
- instead of calming it jacks them up even more
- can’t sleep
- elderly and children are more at risk
Common side effects of benzos
- drowsiness
- fatigue
- confusion
- ataxia (uncoordinated movement)
- HA, light-headedness
- constipation and urinary retention (less common)
When a persons body needs a medication to function normally, they are ___
dependent
Therapeutic Dose Dependence
- take drug as prescribed but develop need for drug
- have outgrown original reason needed for drug but now need it to get through the day
Prescribed High-Dose Dependence
- still taking prescribed dose but have talked doctor into escalating the dose
- sometimes these pt are receiving prescriptions from more than one clinician
Recreational Benzo Abuse
- use benzos outside traditional medical system
- typically amount used is significantly higher than the amount prescribed for medical purposes
- high end dose is 40 mg/day
- they can take up to 100 mg/day
___ is the way to withdrawal from benzos
-gradual tapering
Abrupt withdrawal from benzos will cause
- agitation
- tremor
- insomnia
- seizures
- psychotic episodes may occur
When an individual needs increasing amounts of a drug to receive the same effect, they have become
tolerant
Benzo tolerance to ___ occurs quickly, whereas tolerance to ___ effects occurs slower
- sedation
- anti-anxiety
Benzos are relatively safe when taken alone, but if combined with ___ or other drugs it can be fatal
-alcohol
S&S of benzo overdose
- hypotension
- somnolence (shutting down)
- confusion
- diminished reflexes
- coma
Nurse needs to monitor ___ when suspect signs of overdose
- vitals
- BP (watch for drop)
- respiration’s (decrease)
- pulse
- will give supportive care
- induced vomiting followed by gastric lavage then charcoal
Benzo teaching
- not intended for minor stressors
- OTC might enhance action
- kava, valerian (cause additive effect)
- avoid driving until tolerance is developed
- don’t exceed prescribed dose
- alcohol and other depressants exacerbate effects
While taking benzos ___
don’t stop abruptly
If pregnant may need to taper to lowest dose because benzos can cause
- floppy infant syndrome
- excreted in breast milk
