Antidepressants Flashcards
A person taking an antidepressant might experience dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension), what type of antidepressant may that person be taking?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor
Selegeline
Tranylcypromine
Phelezine
What are some adverse effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors? (7)
Orthostatic hypotension
Serotonin Syndrome (acute excessive hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia)
Sleep disturbances
Weight gain
blurred vision
dry mouth
sexual dysfunction
A person takes an antidepressant medication that also blocks serotonergic, alpha-adrenergic, histaminic, and muscarinic receptors, what category of antidepressant may that person be taking?
Tricyclic antidepressant
Desipramine
Imipramine
Amitriptyline
Nortriptyline
Where are tricyclic antidepressants metabolized?
Liver
What category of antidepressant is the worst for drinking alcohol with?
tricyclic antidepressant
Desipramine
Imipramine
Amitriptyline
Nortriptyline
What are the adverse effects of tricyclic antidepressants? (7)
Dry mouth
confusion
weight gain
blurred vision
increased IOP
sedation
sexual dysfunction
What is the most common class of antidepressant that is prescribed?
Serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor
Sertraline
Fluoxetine
Paroxetine
Escitolopram
Citalopram
What serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor is the only drug that undergoes first pass metabolism?
Sertraline
What serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor has the longest half-life?
Fluoxetine
How many times do you usually take SSRI’s a day?
Once daily due to long half life
How are SSRIs mainly excreted?
by the kidneys
A patient stopped taking an antidepressant and is experiencing dizziness, vertigo, nausea, fatigue, and headaches, what class of antidepressant may they be taking?
Serotonin Selective reuptake inihbitors.
Could be experiencing SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
1/3 of patients experience this.
Adverse effects of SSRIs
Less common than MAOs and TCAs:
Dry mouth
GI
Agitation, insomnia
sexual dysfunction
SSRI discontinuation syndrome
What class of drug may be more effective for depression that comes along with chronic pain?
Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
Venlafaxine
Duloxetine
Other than being an antidepressant, what can bupropion also be used for?
Decreasing craving and withdrawal symptoms for nicotine. Can help people to stop smoking.
What antidepressant drug is contraindicated in a patient who has a seizure disorder?
Bupropion
Adverse effects of bupropion
Dry mouth
sweating
nervousness/tremor
increased risk for seizures at high dose
Other than being an antidepressant, what can mirtazapine also do?
Has antihistamine activity which can be used as a sedative for people who have trouble sleeping.
Makes patients sleep better.
What are some side effects of
trazodone and nefazodone?
Hepatotoxicity
Orthostasis
Dizziness
What antidepressant drugs have antihistamine activity and are also sedatives?
Trazodone
Nefazodone
Mirtazapine
When switching from a monoamine oxidase inhibitor to another antidepressant, what must you remember?
Wait a minimum of 2 weeks when switching to another therapy because it takes monoamine oxidase several weeks to regenerate after the medication is stopped.
What type of antidepressant has extensive first-pass metabolism?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Selegeline
Phenelzine
Tranlycypromine
What category of antidepressants has amphetamine-like metabolites that stimulate the central nervous system?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Selegeline
Phenelzine
Tranlycypromine
A person is experiencing symptoms of serotonin syndrome from taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, what things might make her symptoms worse?
Other antidepressants
Food with tyramine
Amphetamines
OTC cold meds
What antidepressant drug would you not give if someone has glaucoma?
Tricyclic antidepressant because it may increase IOP
