Behavioral Modification Drugs Pt 1 (Long Term) Flashcards
What are the FDA approved psychoactive drugs for dogs? Are their any for cats?
What must you have if you are going to prescribe drugs extra label?
1.) A reason
2.) Client Patient Doctor relationship.
3.) Informed Consent - owner must be aware why its being used over other options and agree to it.
Why do we use psychotropics in veterinary medicine?
What must always occur with prescriptions of psychoactives in animals?
Must be used in adjunct with behavioral modification. Must do the work.
What are other terms for behavior modifying drugs?
What are the 3 welfare states/models?
- Affective State
- Functioning
- Natural living
What are the 5 welfare domains?
When do you use psychotropics?
- When you have a veterinary client patient relationship
- After ruling out medical cause.
- Must have behavioral medical diagnosis.
- Plan for behavior modification
What are potential kinds of appropriate behavioral modification techniques?
Counter-conditioning, systematic
desensitization, positive reinforcement, etc.
What are the 6 key biogenic amine transmitters/ neurotransmitters
What is the main target of human psychotropics?
Serotonin is one of the main targets in human psychotropics as well.
What is serotonin responsible for in the CNS?
In CNS – regulates mood, appetite, sleep, and some cognitive functions
What percent of the brain contains serotonin? Where is the rest of it?
▪only 1-2% in brain; most in enteric nervous system
How do we get serotonin ? How is it used by the pre and post synaptic cells?
Tryptophan (from food) is converted to serotonin. Its stored in vesicles of presynaptic neurons. Stimulation releases serotonin -> binds to postsynaptic receptor and is activation.
Serotonin ends due to high affinity reuptake of serotonin in presynaptic terminal by SERT proteins
What causes the serotonin action to end?
Serotonin ends due to high affinity reuptake of serotonin in presynaptic terminal by SERT proteins
What are the 2 major categories of psychotropics?
Long term daily medication
Short term event medications
How long does it take for long term/ daily medications to take effect?
Weeks to effect
How long does it take for short term meds to take effect? When are they used?
- Short-term or “Event” medication for acute use
▪ Stressful events
▪ Quick onset, last for set # of hours
▪ Sometimes daily as multimodal/poly-therapy
A few of the short-term meds can also be used long-term
What are the indications for using long term/ daily medication?
▪ Generalized anxiety
▪ Fearful behavior leading to aggression
▪ Inter-pet conflict
▪ Separation anxiety
▪ Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
▪ Urine marking (vertical) in cats
▪ Stress related house soiling
▪ Repetitive behaviors (Compulsive disorders, e.g., spinning, licking, fly-biting,
etc)
What are the 5 common classes of Long term psychoactives?
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
▪ Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline - Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
▪ Clomipramine, amitriptyline - Azapirones (Serotonergic)
▪ Buspirone - Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
▪ Selegiline - Selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
▪ Venlafaxine (not commonly used; not discussed)
How are the long term psychoactives administered?
Orally administered
What class of long term medications are the most commonly used? Why?
SSRI
They are preferable due to efficacy and few side effects (transitory)
What is the mechanism of action of SSRIs?
-> Inhibits serotonin reuptake by blocking the SERT transporter for serotonin. This allows serotonin to remain near the postsynaptic terminal and increase serotonergic neuro transmission.
What causes side effects of SSRIs?
-> initiall there is a flood of serotonin because reuptake receptors are blocked. Subtype receptors get saturated which lead to side effects?
Why does it take too long for SSRIs to work?