Antidepressants & Anxiolytics Flashcards
What is the first line pharmacological therapy for depression?
SSRIs and SNRIs
MOA of SSRIs and SNRIs
Both work to increase dopamine transmission in the CNS
What are the other uses of SSRIs and SNRIs
SSRIs and SNRIs are first line therapy for:Generalized Anxiety DisorderPanic DisorderPTSDSSRIs management of OCD, depression, bulimia and social anxiety disorder
What is bulimia?Is it related to anorexia?
Bing eating and then purging out food either by vomiting or diarrheaNot related to anorexia
Explain the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. What drugs are used for this?
Benzodiazepines provide much more rapid relief of anxiety, but SSRIs and SNRIs are just as effective for long-term treatment and do not carry the same risk of physical dependence & addiction that benzodiazepines do
What is a disadvantage of using SSRIs or SNRIs for treatment of anxiety disorder
Don’t provide acute relief, have to wait at least 1 to 2 months to determine if they are effective or not
What do we use for pain management? SSRIs or SNRIs?What kind of pain can be managed with this agent?
SNRIs are used for neuropathic pain disorder (such as back pain etc)
Name SNRIs used for pain management
Venlafaxine and duloxetine
What specific pain management can be achieved with SNRIs?
Both can be used for painful sensation associated with diabetic neuropathy, duloxetine specifically is used for pain associated with fibromyalgia
Name SSRIs
“Fly out” Fluoxitine, “Parrot Air” Paroxetine, “Desert Airline” Sertraline, and “The City” Citalopram
Name SNRIs
“Fax Machine” Venlafaxine, Duloxetine “Duel copy scanner”
MOA of SSRIs
Work by inhibiting the presynaptic Serotonin Reuptake Transporter (SERT)
MOA of SNRIs
Work by inhibiting the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine (NET) and serotonin (SERT)
What are the side effects of SSRIs
- Hyponatremia due to excessive ADH release2. Decreased libido, disrupted arousal, inorgasmia, and increased ejeculation latency 3. Weight gain4. Drowsiness
What are the side effects of SNRIs
SNRIs can cause hypertension d/t increasing norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft or just autonomic malfunction in general such as tachycardia, excessive sweating etc
What is a common side effect of SSRIs and SNRIs
Serotonin syndrome
What causes neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Dopamine blockers such as anti psychotics
Explain serotonin syndrome and NMS and how do they differ
Serotonin syndrome shares many of the characteristics as neuroleptic malignant syndrome or NMS, however there is a subtle difference in the 2. Just like in NMS serotonin syndrome can present with (1) agitation, (2) autonomic instability, (3) hyperthermia and (4) hypertension but there is one thing that should clue us into thinking serotonin syndrome specifically, look for hyper reflexia and clonus whereas in NMS we see hyporeflexia and rigidity.NMS ALSO has Rhabdomyolysis
How do you treat serotonin syndrome
Involves discontinuation of the offending drug, stabilizing vitals, and possibly administration of a Serotonin inhibitor such as Cyproheptadine
What is cyprohepatidine
5HT-2 blocker
What happens when someone being treated with SSRIs or SNRIs suddenly stops taking their medication
Withdrawal symptoms from SSRIs and SNRIs include flu-like symptoms 1-2 days after stopping the medication - so you need to slowly taper patients of the medication
What are tricyclics used for
They have numerous side effects so are used as 2nd or 3rd line for treatment of depression
Tricyclics MOA
Tricyclic Antidepressants work by inhibiting the reuptake of Norepinephrine (NET) and Serotonin (SERT)