Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Drugs Flashcards
When taking an anxiolytic drug, what effects will you expect to see?
Reduce anxiety/produce a calming effect. Does not depress CNS so doesn’t induce drowsiness
When taking a hypnotic drug, what effects will you expect to see?
Produces drowsiness and encourages sleep. Has a more pronounced effect on CNS depression.
What is the only class of anxiolytic/ hypnotic drug that you can not die on by taking it alone?
Benzodiazepine
What is the safest type of anxiolytic/hypnotic drug taken by itself?
Benzodiazepine
What two classes of anxiolytic/ hypnotic drugs are considered controlled substances?
Benzodiazepenes
Barbituates
What actions do benzodiazepines have?
Reduce Anxiety
Sedative and hypnotic
Anterograde Amnesia - temporary loss of memory of future events
Anticonvulsant- treatment of epilepsy
Muscle Relaxer at high doses
A patient recently underwent cataract surgery and tells you they were put to sleep during the surgery. You know this is false. They were awake but do not remember due to the drug they were given before surgery. What drug class was the patient given?
Benzodiazepines
* Alprazolam (Xanax) * Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) * Clorazepate * Clonazepam (Klonopin) * Diazepam (Valium) * Estazolam * Flurazepam * Lorazepam * Midazolam (Versed) * Oxazepam * Temazepam * Triazolam
What are benzodiazepines metabolized by?
Liver
How are benzodiazepines administered?
Orally or IV
A patient takes a benzodiazepine and is waiting for it to take effect. Would you expect a short or long time frame for it to take effect, why?
Benzodiazepines have a short time to take effect because they have a short latency to action and enters the brain very quickly.
What is something unique about the metabolism of benzodiazepines?
When metabolized by the liver, it can switch from one benzodiazepine to another, so it can have different durations of action.
If a person takes a benzodiazepine but wants to reverse the effects, what drug would they take?
Flumazenil.
Benzodiazepine antagonist
Describe resistance to benzodiazepines.
Reduces effectiveness due to reduced sensitivity. Does not increase elimination.
Describe resistance to barbituates.
Reduced effectiveness due to reduced sensitivity and more rapid elimination.
A person is taking a benzodiazepine but uses alcohol and barbiturate for a long period of time, what might occur?
Build resistance and cause decreased sensitivity and form a cross-tolerance
A patient has cataract surgery the following day and has been drinking alcohol frequently, would you need to increase or decrease the prescription given of benzodiazepine for the surgery? Why?
You would need to increase the dose because alcohol builds the resistance of benzodiazepines due to cross resisitance.