Antidepressants Flashcards
What is the mechanism of an SSRI?
Inhibits 5-HT (serotonin) re-uptake selectively.
What is the mechanism of an SNRI?
Inhibits re-uptake of both 5-HT and NE selectively.
What is the mechanism of a tricyclic antidepressant?
Inhibits re-uptake of both 5-HT and NE but acts on other receptors as well (ACh M / alpha 1 adrenergics / H1 receptors).
What is the mechanism of buproprion?
Inhibits re-uptake of NE and DA.
What is buproprion often used for?
Smoking cessation
What is the mechanims of MAOIs?
Inhibition of monoamine oxidase that breaks down neurotransmitters.
Are there selective advantages of choosing one antidepressant over another with respect to efficacy?
No. They are all about equal in efficacy.
What amino acid is serotonin and norepinephrine synthesized from respectively?
Tryptophan and Tyrosine
What is the mechanism of amphetamines effect on monoamines?
Amphetamine is a substrate for NE re-uptake transporter. Inside the cell amphetamine inhibits the vesicular monamine transporter and NE builds up in the cytoplasm. This build up causes reversal / leak of NE into the synaptic cleft.
MAO-A degrades which neurotransmitters?
5-HT, NE, tyramine
MAO-B degrades which neurotransmitter?
dopamine
Your patient is undergoing chemotherapy and they complain of extreme nausea. What medication could you prescribe and what receptor would it act on?
Odansetron antagonizes the 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptor in the nausea / vomitting centers of the brain.
How is trazadone a unique drug in the class of antidepressants?
Trazadone is a prodrug that is converted to a serotonin receptor antagonist (5-HT2A)
What is the mechanism of action for Vilazodone?
Acts as both an SSRI + serotonin antagonist at the 5-HT1A receptor in hippocampus.
What is the mechanism of imipramine? What category of anti-depressant is imipramine?
Imipramine is selective for the serotonin re-uptake transporter while its metabolite is selective for the NE re-uptake transporter. Tricyclic