drug therapies Flashcards
what is the most common form of treating schizophrenia
antipsychotic drugs which can be taken as tablets or in the form of syrup
how do people who are at risk of failing to take their medication receive antipsychotics
for those at risk of failing to take their medication regularly, some antipsychotics are available as injections given every 2- 4 weeks
how long are antipsychotics usually takes
they may be required in the short or long term
some people with schizophrenia can take a short course of antipsychotics then stop their use without the returns of symptoms
some people require antipsychotics for life/ face the likelihood of a relapse of schizophrenia
what are typical antipsychotics
these have been around since the 1950s and include chlorpromazine
how can chlorpromazine be taken
they can be taken as tablets, syrups, or as an injection
what happens when chlorpromazine is taken orally
if taken orally, it is administered daily up to a maximum of 1000mg, although initially, doses are much smaller and for most people, the dosage is gradually increased to a max of 400 - 800 mg
Typically prescribed doses have declined over the last 50 years
what is the association between the use of typical antipsychotics like chlorpromazine and the dopamine hypothesis
there is a STRONG association between the use of typical antipsychotics like chlorpromazine and the dopamine hypothesis
how do typical chlorpromazine work
typical chlorpromazine work by acting as antagonists in the dopamine system - they work as antagonists which are chemicals that reduce the action of the neurotransmitter
Dopamine antagonists work by blocking dopamine receptors in the synapse of the brain, reducing the action of dopamine
what happens when patients begin taking chlorpromazine
their dopamine levels build up but then its production is reduced
According to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, this dopamine antagonist effect normalises neurotransmission in key areas of the brain, reducing symptoms e.g. hallucinations
why is chlorpromazine also an effective sedative
this is because it is believed to be related to its effect on histamine receptors but it is not fully understood how this leaves to sedation
what is chlorpromazine also used for
chlorpromazine is also used to calm people not only with schizophrenia but also with other conditions.
This has often been used to calm people not only with schizophrenia but also with other conditions
This has often been done when people are first admitted to hospitals and are very anxious.
why is chlorpromazine used as a syrup
syrup is absorbed faster than tablets so it tends to be use when chlorpromazine is used for its sedative properties
what are atypical antipsychotics
it has been used since the 1970s
The aim in developing newer antipsychotics was to maintain or improve upon the effectiveness of drugs in suppressing the symptoms of pychosis and also minimise the side effects
there are a range of atypical antipsychotics and they do not all work in the same way - in fact, we do not know how some of them work
what is clozapine
clozapine was developed in the 1960s and first rivalled in the early 1970s
It was discovered in the 1980s when it was discovered to be more effective than typical antipsychotics. Clozapine was remarked as a treatment for schizophrenia to be used when other treatments failed
what are the side - effects of clozapine
people taking it have regular blood tests to ensure they are not developing agranulocytosis
Potentially fatal side - effects: Clozapine is not available as an injection
what is the daily dosage of clozapine
the daily dosage is a little lower than for chlorpromazine which is typically 300 to 450 mg
how does clozapine work
clozapine binds to dopamine receptors but acts on serotonin and glutamate receptors
This action is believed to reduce depression and anxiety and may improve cognitive functioning
the mood-enhancing effects means that it is sometimes prescribed when a person is considered at high risk of suicide
what is risperidone
Risperidone is more recently developed atypical antipsychotic, has been around since the 1990s - it was developed in an attempt to produce a drug as effective as clozapine
how can risperidone be taken
it can be taken in the form of tablets, syrup or an injection that lasts for around 2 weeks
In common with other antipsychotics a small dose is initially given and this built up to a typical dose of 4- 8 mg and a maximum of 12mg
how does risperidone work
it is believed that risperidone binds to dopamine and serotonin receptors. Risperidone binds more strongly to dopamine receptors than Clozapine and is therefore effective in much smaller doses than most antipsychotics.
There is some evidence to suggest that this leads to fewer side effects than typical antipsychotics
