Drug Therapy Flashcards
What is the primary medication for treating schizophrenia?
Anti-psychotics
What symptoms do typical antipsychotics relieve?
Positive symptoms - hallucinations, delusions
How do typical antipsychotics relieve the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Helping correct chemical imbalance (dopamine) that enable brain cells to communicate with each other
What Typical antipsychotic medication do doctors usually prescribe following the first psychotic episode?
Chlorpromazine
Haloperidol
How does Chlorpromazine work to treat schizophrenia?
Blocks dopamine receptor sites, decreasing dopamine activity
How does Haloperidol work to treat schizophrenia?
Blocks dopamine receptor sites, decreasing dopamine activity
What are some side effects of Chlorpromazine and Haloperidol?
Muscle tightening in neck and jaw
Decrease of spontaneous movement
Decrease in motivation
Weight gain
Motor restlessness
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Combination of motor rigidity, hyperthermia and autonomic dysregulation of blood pressure and heart rate go up
Can be fatal in 5-20% of cases if untreated
What did Schooler et al identify about the side effects of Haloperidol?
55% relapse rate
What are some atypical antipsychotics?
Risperidone
Clozapine
In what way are atypical antipsychotics better at treating Schizophrenia than typical ones?
Better at relieving negative symptoms such as withdrawal, thinking problems and lack of energy
Why are atypical drugs not given first?
Can cause life threatening condition - Agranulocytosis, which suppresses development of bone marrow, reducing white blood cells leading to infection
What countries allow the forced administration of antipsychotic drugs?
America
Australia
