Anxiolytic, Tranquilizing and Muscle Relaxant Medications Flashcards
Tranquilizer
Medication that produces emotional calming, reduces anxiety, tension, agitation and other related emotional states
* “Major tranquilizers” –antipsychotics
* “Minor tranquilizers” –anxiolytics
Anxiolytic
Reduces or relieves anxiety, fear, apprehension
Sedative
eneral slowing down of cognitive function, reduction of restlessness, impairment of memory formation
Hypnotic
induction of sleep
Myorelaxant
causing relaxation of the muscles
Antiepileptic/anticonvulsant
Used to treat epilepsy/convulsions
- Preferred term is antiseizure medication
Epilepsy
Chronic neurological disorder characterized by sudden recurrent episodes (seizures) of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain
Status Epilepticus
A seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes, or repeated seizures without returning to normal consciousness between seizures
Mania
ood episode associated with bipolar disorder, characterized by periods of great excitement or euphoria, increased psychomotor activity, racing thoughts and attention difficulties
Neurosis
An outdated term for any long-term psychiatric disorder in which contact with reality is retained and the condition is recognized by the patient as abnormal
* Typically referring to anxiety disorders
Neuralgia
Severe burning or stabbing pain along the course of a
nerve, e.g., post-herpetic neuralgia
Neuropathy
Any disease of the peripheral nerves, usually causing
weakness and numbness
Tolerance
A person no longer responds to a drug in the way they did at first, need a higher dose to achieve the same effect
Dependence
When a person taking a substance every day over a long period stops using the substance, their body goes through withdrawal
Withdrawal
Group of physical and mental symptoms that occur when stopping a substance; can range from mild (caffeine) to life-threatening (alcohol)
Addiction
Person taking a substance regularly and has difficulty stopping, despite negative consequences from using the substance
- Preferred term is substance use disorder