Anxiety & Sleep Flashcards
What are some clinical uses of hypnotics and anxiolytics?
- relief of anxiety states
- induction of sleep and sedation
- control of withdrawal states in addiction
- muscle relaxation
- severe behavioural disturbance
What is the sleep wake cycle mediated by?
Suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus to control circadian rhythm
- neurons increase activity during light phase
- increase in melatonin in dark phase
What neural projections control wakefulness?
Cholinergic systems
Monoaminergic Projections
What parts of the cholinergic system control wakefulness?
- pedunculopontine (Ach)
- laterodorsal tegmental nuclei (Ach)
Which parts of the monoaminergic projections control wakefulness?
- locus coeruleus (noradrenaline)
- raphe nuclei (serotonin)
- tuberomammillary nucleus (histamine)
What neural projections affect sleep?
GABA and Galanin neurons
- ventrolateral preoptic nucleus
Which neurotransmitters maintain wakefulness?
Noradrenaline Dopamine Histamine Acetylcholine Orexin
Which neurotransmitters promote sleep?
GABA
Galanin
Melatonin
Adenosine
Why does caffeine keep you awake?
Blocks adenosine which promotes sleep
How long does a sleep cycle last?
- last 90 minutes
What are the phases in a normal sleep cycle?
REM - rapid eye movement phase
NREM - non-rapid eye movement phase
SWS - slow wave sleep (a type of NREM)
What is the relationship between sleep and memories?
Sleep consolidates memories through gene expression changes
What are the 3 types of insomnia? What are some examples?
- transient (jet lag)
- ST (associated with illness/bereavement stress)
- chronic (lasts longer than 3 weeks)
What may sleep be an early sign of?
Neurodegeneration
What are the current treatments for insomnia?
Benzodiazapines (short acting) (end in pam) and Z drugs (longer acting)
Which drugs should be used to treat insomnia in the ST?
Lorazepam
Temazepam
Which drugs should be used to treat insomnia in the LT?
- eszopiclone (Z drug)
- Zolpidem (extended release
(still have short half life)
What do Z drugs target?
Alpha subunits
- alpha 1 (hypnotic role)
- alpha 3 (anxiolytic effects)