CNS Pharmacology Overview-Review

Question 1

Insomnia results from increased ______________.

Answer 1

acetylcholine (hence first-generation antihistamines –which are also anticholinergic – can treat insomnia)

Question 2

Why would you give memantine to someone with Alzheimer’s?

Answer 2

Because Alzheimer’s presents with excess glutamate activity (and memantine is an NMDA receptor antagonist)

Question 3

General anesthetics work by ________________.

Answer 3

blocking NMDA receptors, thus decreasing glutamate

Question 4

What are the stages of anesthesia?

Answer 4

Stage I: analgesia and loss of consciousness
Stage II: unconscious but most reflexes preserved
Stage III: three planes, ranging from cessation of eye movements to paralysis of intercostal muscles
Stage IV: medullary paralysis

Question 5

Increases in sodium chloride intake does what to lithium blood levels?

Answer 5

Decreases

Question 6

True or false: weight gain is common in the first few months that a patient is taking an SSRI.

Answer 6

False. Generally, nausea and vomiting come in the first few months and weight gain happens after the first few months.

Question 7

Review the “Lifetime U.S. Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders” chart in Dr. Schneck’s presentation.

Answer 7

Anxiety: 28.8% 
Impulse control disorder (e.g., ADHD, ODD, CD): 24.8%
Any mood disorder: 21%
Major depressive disorder: 17%
Bipolar: 3.9%

Question 8

Why does the VSCC-blocking action of lamotrigine aid in its treatment of epilepsy?

Answer 8

Because the VSCC cause glutamate release, and epilepsy is characterized by excess glutamate activity.

Question 9

Recall that cocaine can also cause _______________ (not a sympathetic symptom).

Answer 9

seizures

Question 10

Which antipsychotic is also a partial agonist at the D2 receptor?

Answer 10

Aripiprazole