Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Drugs Flashcards
How prevelant are anxiety disorders
seen in 28.8 % populaiton in lifetime with 4% at any one time
Define GAD
• Generalized persistent anxiety for at least 1 months duration.
Absence of the specific symptoms and patterns that characterize other anxiety disorders such as phobias, panic attacks or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Psychological correlates include apprehensive expectation with worry fear and anticipation of misfortune to self and others, hyperattentiveness, distractibility, difficulty in concentrating, insomnia, feeling on edge and impatience.
How does the ANS respond to anxiety?
- Sweating
- Tachycardia and palpitations
- Cold clammy hands
- Dry mouth and lump in throat feeling
- GI upset
- Frequent urination and diarrhea
Voluntary Muscle Activation
•Jitteriness and an inability to relax
Complications - Abuse of alcohol, sedatives and antianxiety medications are common
____ has a role in slow wave sleep while ____ has a role in REM sleep
seratonin
Nepi
- ______ - disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep.
- ______ - disorders of excessive sleep or sleepiness.
Insomnia
Hypersomnia
Recommended tx for anxiety and insomina
• BENZODIAZEPINES and related drugs
- SSRIs are commonly used
- BUSPIRONE
- CLASSICAL ANTIHISTAMINES
• ALCOHOL, CANNABIS, OPIATES • BARBITURATES
Whats going on in the GABAergic synapse?
Uptake of glutamate; takes excitatory NT in brain to make the inhibitory NT
GABA is released, binds ot GABA receptors:
GABA-A key in anxiety
GABA-B in msl relaxants
Where in the brain is GABA localized?
- Substantia Nigra
- Globus Pallidus •Hippocampus
- Limbic structures - Amygdala
- Hypothalamus
- Spinal cord
Describe structure of GABA receptor
Has 5 units with 4 groups per unit
forms pore for Cl- to come in, enters and HYPERPolarizes and inhibits
describe interaction of Benzos on the GABA receptor
Binds to the Gamma subunit and enhances the action of GABA thus increase the Cl-release
works by INCREASING FREQUENCY of opening
What is the interaction of Barbituates on the GABA receptor?
They bind in allosteric site and increase duration of Cl- Channel opening
___ is the primary site of alcohol action and inhilation anesthetics
GABA
DIAZEPAM, ZOLPIDEM are examples of
Bensodiaezepines (work on GABA receptor)
What is the antagonist that would block benzos at their site of action on a GABA receptor?
Flumazenil
Partial agonist for 5-HT 1A - inhibition of adenylate cyclase and opens K+ channel
Also binds to dopamine receptors.
Buspirone
List of Benzos to tx anxiety
- Alprazolam (Xanax®)
- Diazepam (Valium®)
- Lorazepam (Ativan®)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin®) •Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®, Limbitrol®) •Clorazepate (Tranxene®)
•Oxazepam (Serax®)
Alprazolam
mechanism:
CNS effects:
Uses
GABA enhancement
Forebrain depression, dependence
Anxiolytic, antipanic
(short half)
Diazepam
CNS effects
mechanism
uses
Broad CNS depression, see dependence
GABA enhancement
anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant
Long 1/2
Buspirone
Mechanism
CNS effects
Uses
5-HT effect
Little sedation, no dependence
Anxiolytic
delayed effect
What two antioxlytics are used as hynotics, what;s their differences?
Flurazepam: rapid onset, lasts long time
Triazolam: rapid onset, last SHORT
What is the role of lipophilicity in Diazepam
Fast onset, oral drug
has HIGH solubility thus quick to brain with rapid distribution in one dose
active metabolites change this in mult dose setting
Role of lipophilicity in Lorezepam (sleep and anxiety)
less lipophilic then diazepam with slower onset of action
longer duraion of action after single dose
no active metabolites
what are the only two drugs given at their active metabolite?
Lorezepam and Oxazepam
What are teh CNS effects of Benzos?
- Decreased Anxiety
- Sedation
- Hypnosis
- Muscle Relaxation
- Anterograde Amnesia - IV administration
- Anticonvulsant Action
- Minimal CV and respiratory actions at therapeutic doses.
What drug interactions do we need to be aware of when prescribing benzos?
- Produce additive CNS depression with most other depressant drugs such as ethanol, other sedative hypnotics and sedating antihistamines.
- Drugs that affect hepatic metabolism such as cimetidine