Anxiety Flashcards
How do you treat acute anxiety?
Benzodiazepines
How do you treat chronic anxiety?
SSRI’s: sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram and fluoxetine
Propranolol - alleviates symptoms only
What are long acting benzodiazepines?
Diazepam, Alprazolam, Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and Clobazam
What are the short acting benzodiazepines?
Lorazepam and Oxazepam
In what patients are short acting benzodiazepines preferred?
Hepatic impairment and the elderly
Greater risk of withdrawal syndromes
Use for 2-4 weeks.
Side effects of benzodiazepines
Paradoxical effects: Aggression, hostility, talkative, anxious, excited etc
Sedation increased with use of alcohol, CNS depressants or CYP enzyme inhibitors
What benzos have a legal driving limit?
Clonazepam, Oxazepam, Lorazepam, Diazepam, Flunitrazepam and Temazepam
COLD TF
How do you treat benzodiazepine overdose?
Flumazenil
What are the withdrawal symptoms
Anxiety, sweating, weight loss, tremors, loss of appetite
How to treat benzo withdrawal
Convert all medications to a once nightly dose of diazepam
Reduce by 1-2mg (1/10th on larger doses) every 2-4 weeks
Reduce further (0.5mg near the end)
What SSRI is licensed age 5-17
Fluoxetine
What is the max dose of citalopram in the elderly?
20mg OD
Usually its 40mg if not elderly
What SSRI can prolong QT interval?
Citalopram
What is the first like SSRI?
Sertraline
What is the SSRI that’s best for patients with multiple chronic diseases?
Sertraline