CNS depressants,CNS stimulants, anti-seizure Drugs Flashcards
(35 cards)
what are the 4 stages of non-REM sleep?
stage 1: dozing 2-5% of normal sleep BUT those with insomnia have longer stage 1
stage 2: relaxed but person can easily be awakened (50% of sleep)
stage 3: deep sleep - BP, HR may decrease (5 % of sleep)
stage 4: difficult to wake - dreaming occurs in this stage. (10-15% of sleep)
What is REM sleep?
when vivid dreams occur and irregular breathing
why is the use of benzodiazepines long term contraindicated?
may have a similar effect on the brain as alcohol and can cause dependancy so its best not to use long term but short term
what can patients face with benzodiazepines?
hangover effect in the morning and rebound insomnia
what neurotransmitter do benzodiazepines increase and why ?
benzodiazepines increase GABA which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA calms the CNS and reduces the firing of neurone so you can sleep better and be calm
what is the relationship between zopiclone and benzos?
they used to think zopiclone is safer than benzos but it was found that zopiclone might actually be more addictive.
why is longterm use of muscle relaxant contraindicated?
increase tolerance and dependency
where so muscle relaxants work on?
It is believed that the muscle relaxant effects are a result of this CNS depressant activity.
which muscle relaxant actually works on the skeletal muscle?
dantrolene. It belongs to a group of relaxants known as direct acting skeletal muscle relaxants and closely resembles GABA
how does dantrolene work?
it directly affects skeletal muscles by decreasing the response of the muscle to stimuli. it does this by decreasing the amount of calcium released from the muscles storage
how do the other muscle relaxant work?
By CNS depression specifically at the brainstem and enhances GABA’s inhibitory effects at the level os the spinal cord.
in terms of GABA in most muscle relaxants, what about Baclofen? And why is it the most effect drug in this class
Baclofen is one of the more effective drugs in this class and is a derivative of GABA. It is believed to work by depressing nerve transmission in the spinal cord.
when are muscle relaxants best effective?
when used in conjunction with rest and physiotherapy.
how does dantrolene work?
it directly affects skeletal muscles by decreasing the response of the muscle to stimuli. it does this by decreasing the amount of calcium released from the muscles storage to help decrease contraction
what is the main side effects of muscle relaxants?
they cause sedation and drowsiness! also cirrhosis
what is the main pt teaching for muscle relaxants?
pt should NOT abruptly stop taking this medication as it can cause a rebound effect
summarize the 3 muscle relaxant drugs
1) cyclobenzaprine
2) baclofen
3) dantrolene
why not use muscle relaxants and benzos long term?
double AA. abuseand addiction
what are CNS stimulants?
increase excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain. basically you will have lots of energy and alertness, decrease appetite and enhance task performance by reducing fatigue
these neurotransmitters are:
1) dopamine
2) serotonin
3) norepinephrine
how do amphetamines and phenidates work?
Amphetamines stimulate areas of the brain associated with mental alertness.
The amphetamines and phenidates increase the effects of norepinephrine and dopamine in CNS synapses by increasing their release and blocking their reuptake. As a result, both neu- rotransmitters are in contact with their receptors longer, which lengthens their duration of action.
CNS stimulants are first line defence for which 2 conditions?
1) ADHD
2) narcolepsy
what is a drug holiday?
usually once per week in order to decrease chance of becoming addicted to them.
Often, school-aged children taking these drugs do not take them on weekends or during school vacations.
when should stimulants not be used?
when taking MOAI and glaucoma
what is the side effects of stimulants?
everything in the body is sped up; metabolism, BP, HR etc..
