Anxiolytics Flashcards
Used to treat chronic anxiety, i.e. apprehension, restlessness, tension
anxiolytic drug
Decreases activity, moderates excitement and calms the patient
sedative drug
Produces drowsiness and facilitates the onset and maintenance of sleep
hypnotic drug
What are the clinical uses of CNS depressants? (7)
1) Reduce anxiety
2) Induce sleep
3) Sedation before surgery (amnesia-good)
4) Epilepsy
5) Balanced anesthesia for surgery
6) Control of withdrawal syndromes
7) Muscle relaxation
What’s the difference between Type A drugs and Type B drugs?
Type A lead to coma/death with increased dosage. Type B level off around hypnosis
Type A drugs (5)
Barbiturates, alcohol, chloral hydrate, GHB, some other general anesthetics
Type B drugs - what does this mean?
Benzodiazepines - great as anxiolytics!
Phenobarbital (Barbiturate) vs. Diazepam (benzo) : therapeutic index?
Diazepam’s is 10x that of phenobarbital’s
What is GABA?
primary inhibitory NT in brain
What are GABAa receptors like? What do they do?
ligand-gated, fast response. They allow Cl ions to go through membrane which keeps cell’s potential negative which makes AP’s less likely
How do benzodiazepines work on GABAa receptors? What don’t they do?
they increase the GABAa receptors’ affinity for GABA.They do NOT alone open the Cl channel
How do barbiturates work on GABAa receptors?
they increase the amount of opening by GABA AND at high concentrations can open the channel in the absence of GABA
What is the main mechanism of action of benzos? How do they do this? Are benzos agonists?
potentiation of GABA-stimutlation of GABA receptors. They bind to the GABA receptor and cause GABA to bind to the receptor with a higher affinity. They do NOT stimulate the receptor alone!! Therefore, NOT an agonist!! They increase GABA transmission, but only through GABA that has already been released into the synapse.
What do anxiolytics do in animal studies?
“release punishment suppressed behavior”
What are the two main classifications and which is the principle type*?
Type A: Barbituates, Type B: Benzodiazepines*
What is the model agent of barbiturates?
Pentobarbital
What are the model agents of benzodiazepines?
Alprazolam, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Triazolam, Midazolam
What determines the choice of benzodiazepines? What’s an exception?
Pharmacokinetics. Exception: alprazolam for panic disorders and agoraphobia