Anxiolytics, Hypnotics, Mood Stabilisers, Dementia Drugs, and ADD and ADHD Drugs Flashcards
What classes of drugs can be used to treat anxiety?
Beta-blockers
Benzodiazepines
Pregabalin
Antidepressants
How do beta-blockers work?
Reduce the autonomic nervous system activation by acting as adrenaline/noradrenaline antagonists
What beta-blockers is most commonly used in psychiatry?
Propranolol
What condition are beta-blockers contraindicated in?
Asthma
When do beta-blockers have limited effectiveness?
In enduring anxiety disorders
What is the most typically used benzodiazepines?
Diazepam
Lorazepam
What kind of half-life does diazepam have?
Long half-life
What kind of half-life does lorazepam have?
Short half-life
What receptors do benzodiazepines bind to?
GABA receptors
What effect do benzodiazepines have on GABA receptors?
Act as agonists
What is the result of GABA receptor agonism by benzodiazepines?
Reduced excitability of neurones
What kind of neurotransmitter is GABA?
Inhibitory
What do benzodiazepines have significant potential for?
Tolerance
Dependence
Misuse
When prescribing benzodiazepines what precautions should be taken?
Use cautiously
Use for no more than 6 weeks
What can benzodiazepines occasionally cause?
Paradoxical disinhibition
What is paradoxical disinhibition?
A poorly understood state of acute excitement that occurs occasionally in benzodiazepine use
Where does pregabalin bind?
Voltage-gated calcium channels in neurones
What effect does pregabalin have?
Increases the extra-cellular amounts of enzyme responsible for synthesis of GABA and therefore increases GABA concentration in the brain
What effect does pregabalin have on the brain?
Acts as a CNS depressant
What other conditions is pregabalin indicated in?
Neuropathic pain
Epilepsy
In what ways is pregabalin generally safer than benzodiazepines?
Less potential for misuse, dependence and tolerance
Is pregabalin misused?
Yes
For how long does the BNF recommend to sue pregabalin for?
Short term
What side-effects can pregabalin have?
Sedation
Weight gain
What are the most common and effective pharmacological agents used to treat anxiety?
Antidepressants
What are the two types of hypnotics used?
Benzodiazepines
Nonbenzodiazepines
What are some benzodiazepines used as hypnotics?
Temazepam
Lormatazepam
Nitrazepam
How do nonbenzodiazepines exert their effects?
In a similar way to benzodiazepines (positive allosteric modulator) but are structurally different
What is another name for nonbenzodiazepines?
Z drugs
What are two nonbenzodiazepines?
Zopiclone
Zolpidem
Which class of hypnotics are usually favoured?
Z-drugs
What do both classes of hypnotics have significant potential for?
Misuse
Dependence
Rebound insomnia