Exam 2 Flashcards
Adrenaline
Fight or flight
Produced in stressful situations
Increased HR and blood flow, leading to physical boost and heightened awareness
GABA
Calming
Calms firing nerves in the central nervous system
High levels improve focus, low levels cause anxiety
Also contributes to motor control and vision
Noradrenaline
Concentration
Affects attention and responding actions in the brain
Contracts blood vessels, increasing blood flow
Acetylcholine
Learning
Involved in thought, learning, and memory
Activates muscle action in the body
Also associated with attention and awakening
Dopamine
Pleasure
Feelings of pleasure, also addiction, movement, and motivation
People repeat behaviors that lead to dopamine release
Glutamate
Memory
Most common neurotransmitter
Involved in learning and memory
Regulates development and creation of nerve contacts
Serotonin
Mood
Contributes to well-being and happiness
Helps sleep cycle and digestive system regulation
Affected by exercise and light exposure
Endorphins
Euphoria
Released during exercise, excitement, and sex, producing well-being and euphoria, reducing pain
Anticholenergic side effects
Dry mouth
Constipation
Urinary retention/hesitance
Blurred vision
Photophobia
Nasal congestion
Decreased memory
Tachycardia
Extrapyramidal symptoms
- Antipsychotic side effects
Dystonia
Akathisia
Pseudoparkinson
Tardive Dyskinesia
Dystonia
Involuntary muscle spasms
Men, people less than 25
Emergent
Tx: Cogentine (benztropine)
Akathisia
Motor restlessness/fidgeting
More common in women
Pseudoparkinsons
Tremors, shuffling gait, drooling
Women, elderly, dehydrated
Tardive Dyskinesia
Bizarre face and tongue movements
Irreversible
Tardive dyskinesia tx
Austedo (deutrabenazine) and Ingrezza (valbenazine)
Supplements and vitamins that help control movement (tardive dyskinesia)
Ginko biloba
Melatonin
Vitamin B6
Vitamin E
Meds to treat Extrapyramidal sx
Cogentin
Benadryl
Artane
Symmetrel
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Rare but fatal complication from all antipsychotic drugs
Seen more with 1st gen drugs
Severe muscle rigidity
Serotonin syndrome
May begin 2-72 hrs after the start of treatment
Too much serotonin
Serotonin syndrome s/sx
- Mental confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Agitation
- Fever
Expected action of antipsychotics
Block dopamine, acetylcholine, histamine, and norepinephrine receptors in the brain and periphery
Examples of low potency antipsychotics
chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
thioridazine (Mellaril)
Examples of high potency antipsychotics
haloperidol (Haldol)
fluphenazine (Prolixin)
Therapeutic uses for antipsychotics
Acute/chronic psychosis
Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder
Tourette’s syndrome
Delusional and schizoaffective disorder
Dementia
Typical antipsychotic drug AE
Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)
Orthostatic hypotension
Sedation
Neuroendocrine effects (Gynecomastia, galatorrhea, menstrual irregularities)
Sexual dysfunction
Agranulocytosis
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Skin effects - photosensitivity, contact dermatitis
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome characteristics
Sudden high fever, BP fluctuations, dysrhythmias, muscle rigidity, changes in LOC, coma
Contraindication for antipsychotics
Pt with coma, severe depression, Parkinson’s disease, prolactin-dependent breast cancer, dementia, and severe hypotension
Use precautions with antipsychotics for pt with
Glaucoma, paralytic ileus, prostate enlargement, heart disorders, liver/kidney disorders, seizures
Antipsychotic drug interactions
Concurrent use with other anticholinergic drugs, CNS depressants, levodopa
Teaching with antipsychotic drugs
Administer anticholinergic, beta-blockers, benzodiazepines - to control EPS effects
Take as prescribed/regular schedule
Therapeutic effects take 2-4 weeks to several months
Advantages of atypical drugs
Relieves both positive and negative symptoms
Fewer EPS effects
Fewer anticholinergic effects
Decrease in affective symptoms (depression) and suicidal behaviors
Improvement in cognition
Atypical antipsychotic examples
risperidone (Risperdal)
clozapine (Clozaril)
quetiapine (Serpquel)
aripiprazole (Abilify)
olanzapine (Zyprexa)
ziprasidone (Geodon)
Atypical antipsychotic drug uses
Positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Bipolar disorders
Levodopa (Parkinson’s med) induced psychosis
Atypical antipsychotics AE
Low WBC count - agranulocytosis
New onset diabetes or loss of glucose control
Weight gain
Hypercholesterolemia
Orthostatic hypotension
Anticholinergic effects
Mild EPS effects
Lithium action
May stabilize electrical activity in the neurons and block serotonin receptors
- Gold Standard treatment
Lithium use
Mood stabilizer
Treatment of bipolar disorders (controls acute mania)
Lithium nursing consideration
Has the lowest therapeutic index of psychiatric drugs
- Easy to become toxic
Lithium AE
GI distress (N/V early sign of toxicity)
Fine hand tremors
Polyuria, mild thirst
Weight gain
Nephrotoxicity
Goiter and hypothyroidism (long term tx)
Bradydysrhythmias
Hypotension
Electrolyte imbalances (Esp. K+ and Na)
Normal lithium range
0.6-1.2 mEq/L
Monitor frequently
Lithium toxicity s/sx
N/V, weakness, delirium, seizures
Lithium pregnancy category
X or D (teratogenic)
How long does Lithium take to reach therapeutic levels
1-3 weeks
Anticonvulsant examples
carbamazepine (Tegretol)
valporic acid (Depakote)
lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Anticonvulsant action
Potentiating the inhibitory effects of GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Anticonvulsant uses
Tx of bipolar disorders, especially mixed episodes
Anticonvulsants AE
CNS effects (nystagmus, double vision, vertigo, staggering gait, H/A)
Blood dyscrasias (Leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia)
Hepatotoxicity
Serious skin rashes (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
Teratogenic
MAOI examples
phenelzine (Nardil)
isocarboxazid (Marplan)
tranylcypromine (Parnate)
selegline (Emsam) patch
MAOI’s action
Prevents the destruction of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and tyramine
- Increases in the brain