Anti-depressants Flashcards
Monoamine hypothesis
Generally a consistenet deficiency in the monoaminergic NTs (NE & 5-HT)
(functional deficiency = how much is available at the synapse, can neurotransmission be maintained by the amount that is there?)
only ______% of patients responsd to anti-depressants
40-50
(most end up on combination drugs)
What are the top drugs used in households?
- Sertraline
- Escitalopram
- Fluoxetine
(antidepressants)
The last antidepressant was developed in _____.
1990
(they’ve been around since the 50’s. They are the most used drugs, says a lot about how we are doing w/mental health)
______ helps with neural plasticity.
Psychedelics - use must be monitored by physicians
(sprouts new dendrites. These will likely be used in psychiatry soon. research trials are increasing)
What are some substances being researched for future depression treatment?
- NO
- Psychodelics (psilocybin)
Most common mood disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
Reserpine: MOA
blocks VAMT → inhibits NE re-uptake
(depletion of monoamine & symptoms of depression)
Iproniazid: MOA
inhibits MAO (monoamine oxidaze) enzymes
(alleviates symptoms of depression)
Limitations of the monoamine hypothesis of depression
- Therapeutic lag for up to 1 month
- No scientific basis for depletion / lack of NTs
- Hippocampal atrophy and loss of BDNF (brain derived neurotropic factor - food for the brain)
Serotonin promotes neurogenesis through ____ during depression and may underlie the beneficial effect of certain antidepressants.
BDNF
Rapid relief of depressive symptoms with ______.
Ketamine
Stress hypothesis of depression (3)
- Chronically elevated levels of glucocorticoids limits transcription and translation of BDNF (brain food)
- Thyroid dysregulation→ increases thyroxine
- Estrogen & testosterone decreases
(loss of dendritic sprouts, decreased TH4)
Why is there a therapeutic lag with antidepressants?
It takes time to increase the transcription of “brain food” (BDNF)
(note how cortisol inhibits this process)
Comorbidities of antidepressants
- Smoking cessation
- Epilepsy or bulimia
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
(antidepressants may also treat these conditions)
Bupropion treats depression & ______.
- smoking cessation
SNRI’s & TCAs treat depression & also ______ .
- chronic pain (fibromyalgia & diabetic peripheral neuropathy)
SNRI & TCA pain modulation MOA
Facilitate descending pain modulation at second and first order neurons
Which antidepressant is being used to treat covid symptoms?
Fluvoxamine
(prevents cytokine storm)
Considerations in prescribing antidepressants
- Sexual dysfunction
- Weight gain
- Hypertension (SNRI’s)
- Bipolar
(this is especially important for PCP’s to understand)
______ (2) antidepressant types that increase the incidence of sexual dysfunction
- SSRI
- SNRI
(bupropion does not cause this, and actually may alleviate it)
Antidepressant that may increase the risk of hypertension
SNRI
(it basically activates the sympathetic nervous system)