Chapter 18 (neuropsychiatric drugs) Flashcards
anxiolytics
drugs that sedate and decrease anxiety; are ‘downers’
anxiety and depression
same drugs treat both conditions and both diseases have same underlying pathology; really two sides of same coin
sedative-hypnotics
minor tranquilizers; all drugs that work to depress the CNS
alcohol
a sedative, ‘downer’, drug that works on the CNS
*causes many seizures during withdrawls
opium
sedative used for hundreds of years
physical and emotional pain
very difficult to separate; all pain occurs in our brain and these two go together. There are nociceptive pain signals, but they are not interpreted as pain until they are in our brains.
barbituric acid
synthesized by Adolf von Baeyer in 1864, which led to barbiturates later
Veronal
barbital; first barbiturate, found to produce euphoria
lethal injection
high dose of KCl to cause MI with a barbiturate before to make it painless
barbiturates
used as sedatives, antiepileptics (first ones to do so), sleeping aids, and to induce general anesthesia
But are very addictive, have extremely long 1/2 lives, give nausea, and make people groggy
*too many side e’s and addiction to use indiscriminately
Miltown
meprobamate; first drug specific as a pyschotropic (not just a ‘downer’ for general population use) for anxiety
Often too weak to be used for anything but anxiety
Launched as a less addictive medication for anxiety; one specific year it was 1/3 of all Rx in USA
*originally thought to be fabled non-addictive sedative-hypnotic
benzodiazepines
work at GABA-A rc. Have amazing sedative properties; used for people w/anxiety disorders, general anesthesia, seizures, and a small application as sleep aids
Great acute for seizures, but long term requires switching to another drug for maintenance
*tend to stop processing of new memories for general anesthesia
*all end with -epam or -olam
Valium
diazepam; benzodiazepine.
Given IV to control acute seizure exposure
Oral form lasts almost a day (8-10 hours)
Versed
midazolam; benzodiazepine. Best acute seizure drug b/c can be IV, IM, or down endotracheal tube
Only AED that is remarkably effective against many types of seizures
Xanax
alprazolam; benzodiazepine commonly over Rx’ed and abused
Lasts for a number of hours and does not make people feel hungover, hence it is so commonly used
Restoril
temazepam; benzodiazepine used mainly for sleep b/c it lasts all night and has pretty fast onset of action
*developed to be longer lasting sleep aid version of Halcion
Halcion
triazolam; benzodiazepine used mainly to put people to sleep, with fast 10 minute onset of action orally, but only lasts 2 hours
Rohypnol
flunitrazepam; benzodiazepine; one of top date rape drugs
Quaalude
methaqualone; sedative-hypnotic that was so abused in the 70s that it was banned in US and many other countries
antihistamines
used as anxiolytics that are non-addictive
Vistaril
hydroxyzine; 1st gen antihistamine with antiemetic and sedative properties
Also used to stop itching following an epidural
Atarax
hydroxyzine; 1st gen antihistamine with antiemetic and sedative properties
Also used to stop itching following an epidural
herbal anxiolytic remedies
have lack of efficacy compared to Rx drugs, but aren’t addictive and can help people who don’t have actual disease
St. John’s Wort, chamomile, Valerian root, kava kava, and melatonin
medical marijuana
used for anxiety, as well as cachexia, nausea, glaucoma, and pain
It is not an analgesic, but in relieving psychological pain through sedative properties it may be helping people relieve physical pain
epilepsy
common neurological disorder characterized by seizures (the spontaneous firing of a group of cells in the cerebral cortex)
Lifelong disorder that is not outgrown and typically has grand mal seizures
first treatment for epilepsy (historically)
manipulating the diet, which was largely unsuccessful
phenobarbital
barbiturate used as an anti-seizure drug, but has undesirable side e’s of barbiturates (drowsiness, behavioral changes, addiction)
*backup drug for treating seizures to Dilantin/Tegretol
Dilantin
phenytoin; sodium channel blocker (stabilizer); hydantoin drug used for oral maintenance prevention of partial/generalized seizures
Tegretol
carbamazepine; sodium channel blocker (stabilizer), but also has other effects on Ca currents and GABA receptors; anticonvulsant drug used for maintenance prevention of partial seizures
hydantoin drugs
stabilize excitable areas in brain where seizures start; fairly safe for oral maintenance therapy
*unfortunate side e of coarsening facial features and gingival hyperplasia with long term use over many years
GHB
gabbahydroxybutyrate; one of most popular date rape drug
status epilepticus
life threatening seizure condition defined by two seizures happening back to back without recovery or one seizure lasting 30 minutes or longer
Long seizures take up tons of O2 and leave toxic metabolites from anaerobic respiration (and brain in O2 depleted) which causes damage
status epilepticus treatment
IV Valium, Versed, barbiturate like Pentothal (thiopental), Dilantin, or sometimes even a general anesthetic is required in most severe cases
Pentothal
thiopental; barbiturate anticonvulsant used IV to stop acute seizures
anorexia nervosa
disorder of body image leading to starvation; treated with cognitive therapy