CNS flashcards
What makes up the nervous system?
Brain
Spinal Cord
Nerve
What transports messages in the nervous system?
Neurons
What kind of cells support the function of the neurons?
Glial cells
What is anxiety?
A condition associated with tension, apprehension, fear or panic.
What are the four major types of anxiety disorders?
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Post traumatic stress disorder
Treatment of anxiety is done by medications that effect which three neurotransmitters?
GABA
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
What are some symptoms of a panic attack?
Dyspnea Chest pain Dizziness Sweating Hot flashes
What four classes of medications are used to treat anxiety?
Benzodiazepines
Azapirones
Anxiolytics
Antidepressants
How do benzo’s work to reduce anxiety?
Reduce neuronal excitability
What are some side effects of benzo’s
Drowsiness
Impaired reflexes
Muscle relaxation
Dependence
What are some examples of benzo’s used to treat anxiety?
diazepam alprazolam temazepam lorazepam oxazepam
How do azapriones work to decrease anxiety?
They bind to dopamine and serotonin receptors and decrease neuron firing.
What is the most common severe psychiatric disorder?
Clinical depression
Are men or women more likely to have depression?
Women
What are the peak years that people get depression?
35-45
What are the four classes of antidepressants?
SSRI
SNRI
TCA
MAOI
How do SSRIs work?
Block the reuptake of serotonin
What are some common SSRI’s?
Prozac - fluoxetine
Paxil - paroxetine
Zoloft - sertraline
Celexa - citalopram
What two disorders is Prozac/fluoxetine used to treat?
Major depression and OCD
What are some side effects of Prozac/fluoxetine?
Drowsiness
Insomnia
Nausea
Loss of appetite
What three disorders is Paxil/paroxetine indicated for?
Depression
OCD
Panic disorder
What are some side effects of paxil/paroxetine?
Nausea
Headache
Sweating
What is a common SNRI used to treat depression?
Effexor / venlafaxine
How does effexor / venlafaxine work to treat depression?
Blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
What are some side effects of Effexor / venlafaxine?
Nausea Somnolence Dry mouth blurred vision headache
What drug class can be used for children with bed wetting problems?
TCA’s
What are some side effects of TCAs?
Sedation
dry mouth
constipation
Urinary retention
What auxiliary label is used for TCAs?
Patients should avoid prolonged sun exposure.
What are some common TCA’s used?
Elavil - amitriptyline
Anafranil - clomipramine
Sinequan - doxepin
What does MAOI stand for?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor
Are MAOIs a first or second line treatment?
Second because their is many interactions with food and other drugs.
What are some foods to be avoided when the patient is taking MAOIs?
Cheese
Pickled fish
Sauerkraut
What are some drugs when the patient is taking MAOIs?
Meperidine
Methyphenidate
Levodopa
Amphetamine
What are some drugs considered to be MAOI’s?
Nardil
Eldepryl
Parnate
What antidepressants do not fall into the 4 categories of antidepressants? (2)
Desyrel - trazadone
Zyban, wellbutrin - bupropion
What drugs cause serious interactions with trazodone?
Xanax - alprazolam
Halcion - triazolam
What are some side effects of bupropion?
Dry mouth
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Impotence
What is bipolar disorder?
Cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression)
What are some symptoms of mania?
Overactive Overtalkative Lots of energy Disorganized thoughts Short attention span Easily distracted
What are some symptoms of depression?
Low mood
Lack of energy
Changes in eating and sleeping
Sadness
What is the most commonly used compound for bipolar?
Lithium compounds
What is the usual dose of lithium?
300mg two-three times a day
What are some common drugs for bipolar?
Tegretol - carbamazepine
Depakene - valproic acid
Depakote - divalproex
What is schizophrenia?
A chronic phsychotic disorder
What are some symptoms of schizophrenia?
Delusions
Hallucinations
Withdrawal
bizarre or regressive behavior
What are some common drugs used to treat schizophrenia?
Zyprexa Clozaril Seroquel Risperdal Haldol
What is epilepsy?
A recurrent seizure disorder characterized by a sudden, excessive, disorderly discharge from cerebral neurons.
How do seizures happen?
A sudden, excessive firing of a small number of neurons
What are some causes of seizures?
Alcohol Epilepsy High fever Toxic substances Infection (meningitis)
What are the two major types of seizure?
Partial
General
What is a partial seizure?
Effects only one hemisphere of the brain
What causes a partial seizure?
Injury to the cerebral cortex
What are the two types of partial seizures?
Simple
Complex
What is the most common type of seizures?
Partial Seizure
What happens during a simple partial seizure?
Stiffening or jerking in one extremity followed by a tingling sensation
Is consciousness lost during simple partial seizures?
No
What happens in a complex partial seizure?
Purposeless behavior
aura immediately before seizure
How long do complex partial seizures last?
up to 20 minutes
What is a generalized seizure?
Involves both hemispheres simultaneously.
What are the four main categories of general seizures?
Grand mal (tonic-clonic seizure)
Petit mal (absence seizure)
Myoclonic (blateral massive epileptic myoclonus)
Atonic or Akinetic (drop attacks)
What happens during a Grand Mal seizure?
Body becomes rigid for a minute or two. The muscle jerks, shallow breathing ad loss of bladder control occurs. After the attack the patient is usually drowsy and confused for some hours.
What are some first line therapies for Grand Mal seizures
Tegretol
Dilantin
Valproic acid
What is a second line therapy used for the treatment of Grand Mal seizures
phenibarbital
What happens during a Petit Mal seizure?
Inturruption of the patients activities, blank stare, rotating eyes, No convulsions. After the attack the patient continues normally.
What are two medications used in the treatment of Petit Mal seizures?
Valproic Acid
Clonazepam
What is a myoclonic seizure?
Sudden massive muscle jerks which throw the patient down.
What is the first line therapy for myoclonic seizures?
Valproic acid
What is the second line therapy for myoclonic seizures?
Lamotrigine
Clonazepam
What is an atonic seizure?
Sudden loss of both muscle tone and consciousness. The patient may collapse, the head may drop and the jaw may slacken.
What is the first line therapy for atonic seizures?
Valproic acid
What is the second line therapy for Atonic seizures?
Lamotrigine
clonazepam
What is status epilepticus?
A medical emergency brought on by repeated generalized seizures that can deprive the brain of oxygen.
How is antiseizure medication delivered to patients with status epilepticus?
Intravenously
What are the who goals of therapy with anticonvulsants?
- Control or reduce frequency of seizures
2. Prevent emotional or behavioral changes
What are some examples of Hydrantoins used to treat seizures?
Dilantin - phenytoin
Cerebyx - fosphenytoin
What are some examples of valproates used to treat seizures?
Divalproex
valproic acid
What are some examples of iminostilbenes?
Carbamazepine
Trileptil - oxcarbazepine
What are some examples of y-aminobutyric acid analogs used to treat seizures?
Gabapentin
pregabalin
Sabril - vigabatrin
What are some examples of Barbiturates used to treat seizures?
Phenobarbital
What are some benzodiazepines used in the treatment of seizures?
Clonazepam
clorazepate
diazepam
What is Phenytoin / Dilantin used to treat?
Manage generalized, grand mal, simple and complex partial
What are some side effects of Phenytoin?
Dizziness Drowsiness Hirsutism Ataxia Slowed thinking
What is a major alert that comes with Phenytoin / Dilantin?
It is a known teratogen and are classified as a risk category D
What are some interactions with Phenytoin / Dilantin?
Alcohol Carbamazepine Clonazepam Fluoxetine Oral contraceptives Warfarin Corticosteroids
What is Parkinsons Disease?
A progressive disorder of the nervous system involving the degeneration of neurons causing impaired muscle movement.
What causes the symptoms of parkinsons disease?
An imbalance between dopamine and acetylcholine
What are some characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease?
Resting tremor and rigidity Bradykinesia Akinesia Short steps Forward tilt of trunk
What are some drugs used to treat Parkinson’s?
Levodopa - Carbidopa
Ropinirole
Selegeline
Pramipraxole
What is Huntington’s Disease?
A hereditary progressive and degenerative disease of neurons that affects muscle movement, cognitive function, and emotions
What are some symptoms of Huntington’s Disease?
Tremors Rhythmic oscillations Sudden abnormal movements Speech impairment Difficulty swallowing
What is a drug that depletes dopamine stores in Huntington’s Disease?
Nitoman - tetrabenazine
What is a drug that blocks dopamine receptors in Huntington’s Treatment?
Haloperidal
What is Alzehimer’s Disease?
A neurodegenerative disease that causes memory loss and behavioural changes
What neurotransmitter is lacking in Alzheimer’s disease?
Acetylcholine
What are 4 examples of drugs approved to treat Alzheimer’s?
Donepezil
galantamine
rivastigmine
memantine
What does ALS stand for?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
What is another name for ALS?
Lou Gehrig’s disease
What is ALS?
A progressive degenerative disease of nerves that leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventual death.
What is insomnia?
A condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both.
What is narcolepsy?
Inappropriate episodes of falling asleep suddenly and without warning.
How long do narcolepsy attacks last?
a few seconds to 30 minutes
What is an example of a barbiturates used in the treatment of insomnia?
pentobarbital
What are some examples of benzo’s used in the treatment of insomnia?
temazepam
lorazepam
What are some miscellaneous drugs used in the treatment of insomnia?
Zopiclone
What class of drug is the preferred choice of hypnotics for insomnia? Why?
Benzos for their long duration of effectiveness and low rate of fatal overdose
What are some natural / non-prescription remedies for insomnia?
diphenhydramine
doxylamine
Melatonin
Valerian
What class of drug is the primary treatment for narcolepsy? Give examples
Stimulants
- methylphenidate
- dextroamphetamine
- modanafil
What are the three characteristics of ADHD?
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity
Distractibility
Is ADHD and ADD more common in men or women?
Men
What is a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy?
Methylphenidate
What are some other drugs used to treat ADHD?
Adderall XR
Dexedrine
Vyvanse
How does a headache happen?
Dilation of the cerebral surface vessels
What are some common side effects of a headache?
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia
Sensitivity to light and sound are common in headaches. What are the technical names for this?
Photophobia
Phonophobia
What are the 5 components of a classic migraine?
Prodrome Aura Headache Headache relief Postdrome
Describe the vascular theory of migraines
Migraines are caused by vasodilation and naturally occurring mechanical stimulation of sensory nerve endings.
The medications used in migraine therapy can be divided into what two classes?
Abortive therapy
Prophylactic therapy
What is abortive therapy for migraines?
Treats acute migraines after they occur, and are taken at the first sign of a headache.
What do triptans do, and what are they used to treat?
They bind to serotonin receptors during vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the dura - used to treat migraines
What are some examples of Triptans used to treat migraines?
Axert Zomig Amerge Maxalt Frova
What is prophylactic therapy for migraines?
Attempts to prevent or reduce occurrence
What are some drug classes used in prophylactic therapy of migraines?
Beta blockers
Valprates
Estrogen
TCAs
What are the four common effects of Narcotics?
Analgesia
Sedation
Euphoria
Dysphoria
What is neuropathic pain?
Nerve injury caused by trauma, infection, or chronic diseases
What are some examples of different types of neuropathic pain?
Diabetic neuropathy
Phantom Limb
Shingles
What are some classes of drugs used to treat neuropathic pain?
Antidepressants
Antiseizure drugs
Anesthetics
Topical medications
How long does pain have to last to be considered chronic?
Over three months
What are the three primary classes of analgesics?
Narcotics
NSAIDs
Acetaminophen
What are the two types of narcotic analgesics
Opioids
Opiates
What are Opiates?
Alkaloids found in opium
What are opioids?
Derivatives of opiates
What are some side effects of opioids?
Nausea Vomiting Drowsiness Dry mouth urinary retention Constipation
What are two more severe side effects of narcotic analgesics?
Respiratory depression and fatal overdose
What are three non-narcotic analgesics?
NSAIDs
Salicylates
Acetaminophen
What is the major problems with NSAIDs?
Can cause ulcers
What is an example of an NSAID that blocks Cox-2, but has little effect on Cox-1?
celecoxib - Celebrex
What is special about Aspirin?
The only NSAID that is able to inhibit the clotting of blood for a prolonged period.
What are some common side effects of NSAIDs?
Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Dizziness Headache Drowsiness
What is the recommended dose for ibuprofen?
400mg every 8 hours.
What is the most commonly used OTC non-narcotic analgesic?
Acetaminophen
What is the most important trait of anesthesia?
Controllability
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the nervous system?
Nerve tissue function in the PNS is depressed
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the respiratory system?
Lung function is depressed
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the Hepatic system?
Some anesthetics can cause liver changes
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the Endocrine system?
Some anesthetics can cause ADH to be released causing urinary retention.
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the cardiovascular system?
Cardiac muscle activity reduced
Blood pressure reduced
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the Skeletal Muscular system?
Muscle relaxation occurs
What are the physiological effects of anesthesia on the GI system?
Vomiting and nausea can occur
What are the four reversible actions of General Anesthesia?
Unconsciousness
Analgesia
Skeletal Muscle relaxation
Amnesia on recovery
What drugs are sometimes given before anesthesia and why?
Narcotics for pain relief
Benzo’s for amnesia
What is a common inhaled anesthesia?
Nitrous oxide - also called laughing gas
What is an antagonist used for? Give an example.
To reverse benzo and narcotic overdoses. An example is naloxone
When using local anesthetics, loss of sensory action occurs in what order? (5 steps)
- Pain perception
- Temperature
- Touch sensation
- Proprioception
- Skeletal muscle tone
What are the two categories of local anesthetics?
Esters
Amides
What are esters? (local anesthesia)
Short acting and metabolized mainly in plasma and issue fluids and excreted in urine.
What are two examples of esters used in local anesthesia?
Benzocaine
Procaine
What are amides? (Local anesthesia)
Amides are longer acting and are metabolized by liver enzymes and excreted in the urine
What are two examples of amides used in local anesthesia?
Marcaine
Xylocaine