Antipsychotics Flashcards
The antipsychotic drugs fall into 2 major groups.. What are they?
First generation antipsychotics (FGAs)
-aka conventional antipsychotics
Second generation antipsychotics (SGAs)
-aka atpyical antipsychotics
Which group is better: FGA or SGA?
They are both equally effective
All of the FGAs produce strong blockade of receptors for ____ in the CNS. What does this result in?
Strong blockade of receptors for DOPAMINE in the CNS; this results in serious movement disorders
Extrapyramidial symptoms (EPS)
Serious movement disorders
What do the SGAs produce (like what blockade)?
Moderate blockade of receptors for dopamine; much stronger blockade of receptors for serotonin
Which has a lower risk for EPS: FGA or SGA?
SGA, since the blockade of receptors for dopamine is only moderate, whereas FGA has strong blockade of receptors for dopamine
Even thought the SGAs carry a lower risk for EPS, they cause significant risk for metabolic effects. What are some examples?
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Dyslipidemia
Define: A chronic psychotic illness characterized by disordered thinking and a reduced ability to comprehend reality
Schizophrenia
When do symptoms of schizophrenia usually emerge?
During adolescence or early adulthood
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
*Positive symptoms are viewed as an exaggeration or distortion of normal function
Hallucinations
Delusions
Disorganized speech
Bizarre behavior
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
*Negative symptoms can be viewed as a loss or diminution of normal function
Blunted affect
Poverty of thought
Loss of motivation
Inability to experience pleasure
Do FGAs improve positive symptoms, negative symptoms, or both?
Positive symptoms only
What are the 4 examples of FGAs?
Chlorpromazine
Haloperidol
Thiothixene
Trifuperazine
Which is more potent? Haloperidol or chlorpromazine?
Haloperidol
What does it mean when we say a drug is more potent?
The dose of the more potent drug (ex: haloperidol) required to believe psychotic symptoms is smaller than the required dose of the less potent drug (ex: chlorpromazine)
It DOES NOT mean that the more potent drug will produce greater effects.
If low potency and high potency neuroleptics (another name for FGAs) are equally effective, why do we distinguish between them?
These agents produce identical antipsychotic effects, but they differ SIGNIFICANTLY in their side effects
What is the primary indication for antipsychotic drugs?
Schizophrenia
FGA agents are equally effective, but individual patients may respond differently from one FGA to another. So how is selection on an FGA based?
It’s side effects
Do FGAs have many or few side effects?
Many
Of the many side effects that FGAs may produce, what is the most troubling?
Extrapyramidal reactions–especially tardive dyskinesia (TD)