Antipsychotic Drug Treatment Flashcards
How can antipsychotics be prescribed?
Injection, tablet or syrup
What is the average daily dose of an antipsychotic?
4.8mg
What is the maximum daily dose of antipsychotics?
12mg
What do antipsychotics act as?
Dopamine antagonists
When were typical antipsychotics created?
1950’s
What is a type of typical antipsychotics?
Chlorpromazine
Define dopamine antagonist
Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain to reduce the amount of dopamine. Increases and then reduces dopamine which normalises the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain.
What symptoms do dopamine antagonists help?
Reduces hallucinations
State 3 side effects of typical antipsychotics
Constipation
Low sex drive
Tardive dyskinesia
Define what is meant by tardive dyskinesia
Uncontrollable movements of the face, jaw, younger, neck, lip sucking, cheek sucking.
State two types of atypical antipsychotics
Clozapine and resperidone
What happens when you take atypical antipsychotics?
Glutamine and Serotonin receptors are bound together in order to relieve negative symptoms such as avolition.
What type of patients are atypical antipsychotics typically prescribed too?
Patients that are a high suicide risk
What percentage of patients attempt suicide?
30-50%
What fatal blood condition is associated with atypical antipsychotics and how do you prevent it?
Agranulocytosis is associated with atypical antipsychotics and it is prevented by having regular blood tests.
State 3 side effects of atypical antipsychotics
High cholesterol
Agranulocytosis
Decreased sex drive
What is the difference between atypical and typical antipsychotics?
Atypical is seen to be safer due to the decreased amount of side effects
Who carried out research into atypical and typical antipsychotics?
Bagnall et al
What was the Aim of Bagnall et al’s research into typical and atypical antipsychotics?
To compare the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost of antipsychotics against treatment resistant and first onset schizophrenia.
What was the Procedure of Bagnall et al’s research into typical and atypical antipsychotics?
Compiled data from 171 randomly controlled trials and 52 non-randomised trials of effectiveness. Data compiled from 31 economic evaluations which were analysed by 2 independent researchers to increase inter-rater validity.
What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Effectiveness
Atypical drugs were more effective in reducing symptoms with no difference in first onset schizophrenics
What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Cost
Atypical are more expensive
What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Side effects
Atypical = fewer movement disorders but were associated with cardiac death Typical = increase salivation, movement, temperature and nasal congestion
What were the findings from Bagnall et al’s research: Drop-out rates
Fewer patients left atypical drug trials
What did Bagnall et al conclude from his research into atypical and typical antipsychotics?
Atypical drugs are more effective and different drugs suit different patients better which is determined via trial and error.
