Exam II Flashcards
This diagnosis is characterized by feelings of intense sadness and despair, mental slowing, loss of concentration, pessimistic worry, agitation and self-deprecation - what is it?
Major Depression
- an affective disorder, ie altered mood
What does the acronym SIGECAPS stand for?
changes noted in depression
S - sleep I - interest G - guilt E - energy C - concentration A - appetite P - psychomotor disturbance S - suicidal ideation
a chemical family including - dopamine - norepinephrine - serotonin what family is this and which drugs act on this family?
Monoamine neurotransmitters
- most antidepressants work on metabolism of these neurotransmitters and their receptor sites
All anti-depressants carry an increased risk of what?
Suicide*
black box warning on all antidepressants
can also lower the threshold for seizure
(especially in combination with alcohol)
These are:
- used less commonly than other anti-depressants (d/t serious side effect profile of: weakness, dizziness, severe HA, tremors and HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS)
what are they?
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
- tranylcypromine / parmate
- phenelzine / nardil
- isocarcarboxazid / marplan
- selegiline
This amino acid has the ability to enter presynaptic terminals and inhibit serotonin, it can also do this in the blood vessels - it’s thought to displace NE from neuronal storage vesicles - which amino acid is it and why is this important?
tyramine
- MOAIs prevent breakdown of this AA which causes marked HTN with MAOIs
- found in all the good foods: cheese, soy, dried fruits, meat, wine - anyone on MAOIs must avoid these foods!
- fatal HTN emergencies have been reported when patients reported intake of tyramine containing foods with their MAOIs
Tyramine is thought to act directly as a neurotransmitter, through which recently discovered receptor?
TA1
a G protein-coupled receptor (high affinity for tyramine)
found in
- brain
- peripheral tissue
- kidney
The MOA is thought to
- diminish re-uptake of monoamine neurotransmitters, sp. Serotonin and NE (increasing amt of neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft)
with subsequent down regulation of post-synaptic receptors (potentially the main action) - which drug class is this?
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
amitriptyline / elavil
- generally taken at bedtime due to sedative effects.
- takes approx. 4 weeks to meet therapeutic dose (will not see results until this time)
The chief side effects of these are anti-cholinergic in nature - DRY MOUTH being one of the best known SEs, ALL have potential to be CARDIOTOXIC - which class is this?
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
anti-cholinergic reminder:
- dry mouth
- constipation
- urinary hesitancy
- orthostatic hypotension
- sedation
What is most disconcerting about tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants?
dangerous in OVERDOSE
- 10x daily dose can be fatal
- generally due to prolongation of QT interval.
- a week’s supply taken at once can be fatal for many individuals.
this tricyclic antidepressant works primarily on the serotonin transporter, moderately on the NE transport to effectively increase both in synapse.
Generally taken PO or IM. Which drug is this and can it be stopped abruptly?
Amitriptyline/Elavil
- stopping treatment abruptly causes withdrawal-like symptoms:
N, HA, dizziness, lethargy, flu-like sx
ie - discontinuation syndrome
This tetracyclic is a potent antagonist of
- 5-HT2, 5-HT3 and Histamine (H1) receptors
- creates prominent sedative effects.
A moderate antagonist of peripheral alpha-1 adrenergeic receptors explaining a common side effected noted with it’s use - what drug is it and what’s the side effect?
Remeron / Mirtazapine
S/E: occasional orthostatic hypotension
Another common SE of TeCAs is WEIGHT GAIN
this tetracyclic works as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and partial antagonist (decreases serotonin at pre-synaptic and increases at post-synaptic R sites)
- it’s an ANXIOLYTIC and induces sleep - which drug is this?
Trazodone / Desyrel
This TeCA has off-label indications for use with:
fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, control of nightmares, panic disorder, diabetic neuropathy, bulimia nervosa, OCD, alcohol withdrawal and - best yet - ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION - what drug is this and what significant SEs should be noted?
Trazodone / Desyrel
- HYPOTENSION - fatalities are rare
- possible MANIA in patients w/ bipolar
Appears to be safer than TCAs and MAOIs
This class of drugs has been helpful in 50-70% of patients with major depression, it’s the most commonly prescribe anti-depressant - their full effect takes 3-8 weeks or more before a patient finds relief - what drug class is this and what two neuro-protective proteins increase as the hypothesized “downstream” effect of their action?
SSRIs
increases in serotonin lead to increased neuro-protective proteins:
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and
- Bc1-2
Many users of SSRIs complain of apathy, lack of motivation, emotional numbness, feelings of detachment and indifference to surroundings - SSRIs, SNRIs and serotonergic TCAs can all cause this to varying degrees - what is the term for this notorious side effect?
mood anesthesia
- ie emotional blunting
- All SSRIs also come with the side effect of
sexual dysfunction
This SSRI decreases serotonin re-uptake at presynaptic cleft allowing for increased serotonin in the synapse and at post-synaptic R sites
- it is the antidepressant drug of choice for CHILDREN and TEENS. This drug is generally given PO, with a half life of 48-72 hours - what drug is this?
Fluoxetine / Prozac
- kid friendly, mother approved?
- SE: Serotonin syndrome (fever, agitation, diarrhea, HTN)
Painkillers of what family may interfere and reduce the efficiency of SSRIs and may compound the increased risk for GI bleed caused by SSRI use - these agents are?
NSAIDs
- aspirin
- ibuprofen
- naproxen (aleve)
The effects of this SNRI drug are dose-dependent
- low dose (<150 mg/day) acts on serotonergic transmission
- moderate dose (>150mg/day) acts on serotonergic and noradrenergic systems
- high doses (>300mg/day) they affect dopaminergic neurotransmission
What drugs is this?
venlafaxine / effexor
- first and MC used SNRI
This SNRI is C/I for use in patients with heavy alcohol use OR chronic liver disease (can cause ACUTE HEPATITIS**) - used mainly for major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, painful peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia.
- approved in Canada and Europe for stress urinary incontinence, not approved by the US due to concern of liver toxicity and suicidal events.
What drug is this?
Duloxetine / Cymbalta
(SNRI)
- don’t forget
antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents and young adults (Black Box)
This SNRI the active metabolite of venlafaxine - evidence suggests a lower efficacy when using this compared to venlafaxine and duloxetine - what drug is this?
Desvenlafaxine / Pristiq
This NDRI (NE and dopamine) and nicotine receptor antagonist - is indicated for depression, bipolar disorder and ADD - however, under a separate brand name it also aids in smoking cessation. What drug is this? What is its separate brand name?
Bupriopion / Wellbutrin
As a smoking cessation drug:
Bupriopion / Zyban
- approved for up to 6 months to prevent relapse for those quitting.
Takes 5-7 days to reach steady state blood levels
- 150mg/day x 3 days
then bid each day to follow
This drug is
- a partial nicotine agonist indicated for smoking cessation
- has a serious SE profile of neuropsychiatric events such as mood disturbances, psychosis and hostility - occurring in those W and W/OUT PRE-EXISTING psychiatric disease.
In combination with nicotine withdrawal - incidence of neuropsychiatric events increases - what is the name of this drug that is NOT recommended, ever.
Varenicline / Chantix
“No chance you’ll prescribe Chantix” (cheesy, deal with it)
Marketed in the US as a “medical food.”
- indicated for management of suboptimal folate levels in depressed patients
- assumed MOA w- acts as a trimonoamine modulator (TMM) enhancing synthesis of:
dopamine, NE and serotonin
- boosts efficacy of antidepressants.
What is the name of this active form of folic acid, and what is the medical food brand name?
Levomefolic acid / Deplin
Activated name:
Levomefolic acid / methyltetrahydrofolate / 5-MTHF
Medical food name: Deplin
- substantial evidence suggests deficiency in folic acid is associated with depression
When sedative or hypnotic agents are used for their anesthetic effects - how are they usually administered?
IV administration
Fun fact:
- when used to induce sleep, doses of sedatives are generally higher than when used for anxiety
What are the 5 things that can cause FATAL withdrawal syndromes?**
- alcohol
- barbituates (NO reversal agent)
- benzodiazapines (reversal agent
- chloral hydrate
- miltown / meprobamate
Both of these drug classes
- bind GABA receptors
- increasing affinity for GABA, prolonging the action of the receptor
- although, the locations of binding for these drug classes are not the same - what drugs are these?
Barbituates (low TI)
Benzodiazapines (High TI)
- could be seizure protective (blocking GABA induces seizure)
There are two classes of GABA receptors - GABAa and GABAb, that bind the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter of the CNS - what is the difference between these two receptors?
GABAa - ligand-gated ion channels (ionotropic Rs)
GABAb - G protein-coupled receptors (metabotropic)
These drugs can cause sleep followed by anesthesia at high doses (IV) can cause retro- or antero-grade amnesia, however, they DO NOT RAISE PAIN THRESHOLD therefore have NO analgesic properties - what drug class is this?
Barbituates
- low therapeutic index
- cause resp. and CV depression
- suppress REM sleep
- neuronal depression
History Buff?
- Bayer created the first barbituate by combining urea and malonic acid
this ultra-short acting barbituate, reaches the brain in 3-45 seconds following IV administration, causing unconsciousness. Dose peaks at one minute in the brain (60%)
- with NO analgesic property
- most commonly used as “truth serum” (makes patients chatty and cooperative with interrogators, confessions may be unreliable)
- With ability to depress the CV and respiratory system, it is the first of three drugs administered for LETHAL INJECTION in the US - what is this drug?
Thiopental / Pentothal
- largely being replaced with propofol (milk of amnesia) surgically
- SE - nocturnal emission
This category of barbituate is administered either orally or IV, produces effects in 15-30 mins with a DOA of 6-8 hrs. Primarily used to treat insomnia and pre-operative sedation, they also have been used for physician assisted suicide in Oregon (orally) - which category is this and what is the most common drug used in this barbituate category?
SHORT-ACTING barbituates
SCHEDULE II**
Pentobarbital / Nembutal
- also used for anesthesia and euthanasia by veterinarians
These drugs are primarily used for insomnia and pre-operative sedation - with onset of 20-40 mins and DOA of up to 6 hrs. They can be combine with analgesics (aspirin or acetaminophen) to treat migraine and cluster headaches - what are these drugs and what is a common example of these drugs?
INTERMEDIATE-acting barbituates
Butalbital / Fiorinal
Fiorinal is a combination analgesic medication (with aspirin and caffeine) used to tx migraine HA
long acting barbituates
- effects are generally realized in 1 hour, lasting approx. 12. They are primarily used to treat what?
Seizure disorder
This is the most widely used anti-convulsant worldwide and the oldest medication for seizure control. It has sedative and hypnotic properties, but is generally superseded by benzodiazepines - which drug is this?
Phenobarbital / Luminal
Barbituate, Schedule IV
SE profile is too rough with low TI
This class of drugs works by binding GABA R site that triggers opening of Cl channels - influx of chloride causes hyper-polarization making it difficult for excitatory neurotransmitters to depolarize the nerve cell and cause an AP - what class of drug is this and aside from anxiety, what else can this drug class treat?
Benzodiazepines
can also be used for
- MUSCLE RELAXATION
There are short-acting and long-acting benzodiazepines - when is each indicated?
Short-acting: Sleep ONSET insomnia
Long-acting: insomnia, anxiety
This short-acting benzodiazepine is used for sedation and anxiety prior to upper and lower GI endoscopy - gen. administered IV but can be available in a syrup form
- use of this drug via nose or buccal route as an alternative to rectal diazepam is becoming increasingly useful in the emergent treatment of childhood seizures - what is it?
Midazolam / Versed
long term use for seizure disorder is not recommended - tolerance is easily achieved and marked SE of sedation makes it unfavorable.
This benzodiazepine has gained popularity due to its use as a “date rape” drug - when it is mixed in alcohol and administered to an unsuspecting victim
Flunitrazepam / Rohypnol
this long-acting benzo binds to receptors in the CNS to enhance GABA activity
- rapidly absorbed PO and metabolized in the liver to active metabolites prolonging clinical duration of action
- largely been replaced by shorter acting agents (xanax and halcion) - which drug is this?
Diazepam / Valium
- rebound insomnia may occur if discontinued
- withdrawal can be severe for chronic users
This is a short-acting, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic that potentiates GABA by binding to GABAa receptors at the same location as benzos - works within 15min w/ a short half life (2-3 hrs).
Effective in INITIATING sleep, no evidence for maintenance. If given in 10-20x the dose, it can act as an anti-convulsant and muscle relaxant - but has not been approved for either seizure prevention or muscle relaxation. What drug is this?
Zolpidem / Ambien
Chamberlainism:
these are “the work of the devil”
this benzo-like hypnotic is indicated for insomnia
- works by potentiating the effect of GABA on Cl ion channels, binds to a specific R site not involved with the binding of benzos. Taken PO.
- Rapid onset of action (15-30 mins) w/ minimal reports of drowsiness upon waking - seems good, however - full side effect profile may not be fully appreciated until its been on the market for at least 5 years, this is a newbie - what is it?
Eszopiclone / Lunesta
SE - impaired mentation prior to sedation
This new class of sedative hypnotics, act as melatonin receptor agonists - high binding affinity at MT1 and MT2 receptors - mimicks and enhances endogenous melatonin action - associated with maintaining circadian rhythm. The drug that represents this class has no appreciable binding activity on the GABAa receptors (associated with muscle relaxation, anti-anxiety and amnesia effects) - what is the name of this drug?
Ramelteon / Rozerem
Melatonin Agonist
- no published studies have indicated whether Ramelteon is more or less safe or effective than melatonin
Is gastric lavage with activated charcoal beneficial in benzo overdose? When is charcoal lavage recommended?
No
although charcoal absorbs the benzos due to risk of adverse effects that outweigh the potential benefit
Recommended ONLY
if benzo was taken with other drug that may benefit from gastric decontamination
This is a benzo-R antagonist
- can rapidly reverse effects of benzodiazepines.
It is ONLY administered IV with a rapid onset of action (1-2mins) w/ half life of only 1 hour (therefore repeat dosing is necessary, esp with long acting benzos).
- VERY effective in reversing CNS depression
- LESS effective at reversing RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION. It has the ability to abruptly precipitate withdrawal syndrome in patients who are benzo dependent* - what is this drug? And what CIs does it have?
Flumazenil / Romazicon
C/I:
- history of seizure d/o (can precipitate seizure)
- tachycardia
- WIDENED QRS COMPLEX ON ECG*
- hx of long-term benzo use (precipitates acute withdrawal)
antipsychotic drugs are also referred to as what?
neuroleptic
anti-schizophrenic drugs
tx:
delirium
mania
agitated states
Which antipsychotic drug is used to treat Tourette’s Syndrome?
Haloperidol / Haldol
psychosis - a mental state where the perception of reality is distorted and is particularly associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depressive disease) and severe depression - has been traditionally linked to which neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
What is the dopamine hypothesis of psychosis? In what pathway is this hypothesis active?
psychosis results from overactivity of dopamine function
- esp. in the mesolimbic pathway
- dopamine antagonists (antipsychotics) reduce psychotic symptoms
- dopamine boosting drugs - amphetamine and cocaine - trigger psychosis
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter traditionally linked to psychosis, however a dysfunction in this recently hypothesized excitatory neurotransmitter and its receptor can also create psychosis?
what is the neurotransmitter and what is the receptor name.
glutamate
action with NMDA receptor
NMDA Receptor antagoinsts (kteamine, PCP, detromethorphan) in large overdose induces psychosis more readily than dopinergic stimulates - even at recreational doses
As with primary and secondary diseases - psychosis that is not psychological is known as secondary psychosis - what are 4 causes of this type of psychosis?
- neurological disorders
- electrolyte disorders
- multiple medical conditions
- Drugs - use, abuse, withdrawal
There are several drugs whose use, abuse or withdrawal have been associated with psychosis
- withdrawal from these 2 can be particularly dangerous - leading to delirium, psychosis or potential lethal withdrawal - what are these two?
barbituates
alcohol
- additional drugs whose use, abuse and withdrawal are associated with psychosis
- amephtamines
- cannabis
- cocaine
- LSD
- MDMA (ecstasy)
- Mescaline
- PCP
- Psilocybin
What is the MOA of a first generation (typical) neuroleptic?
what is it for a second generation (atypical) neuroleptic?
TYPICAL
First gen. antipsychotic
- D2 Antagonism
ATYPICAL
Second gen. antipsychotic
- 5HT2A/D2 Antagonism
Atypical antipsychotic medications include which 4 classes as an example?
Butyrophenone class Dibenzodazepine class Thenobenzodiazepine class Benzisoxazole class
what is the main MOA of both the typical and atypical neuroletic drugs?
blockade of dopamine receptors in the brain
This group of neuroleptics is
- first line tx for schizophrenia
they are a heterogeneous group of otherwise unrelated drugs united only by the fact they work differently from typical antipsychotics - what are they?
atypicals
- some believe MOA to be D2 and 5-HT2A receptor antagonists
- atypical neuroleptics also serve to antagonize fully or partially the serotonin receptors
what are the two decreased propensities of an atypical antipsychotic and therefore among its most defining characteristics?
- extrapyramidal side effects (less likely to cause tardive dyskinesia)
- absence of sustained prolactin elevation
(making them superior)
Five dopamine receptors have been identified, which of these is the chief receptor of neuroleptic action?
D2 receptors
- stimulation associated with tardive dyskinesia*
- evidence suggests atypicals have less an affinity for D2, and more affinity for D4 receptors
excess release of dopamine in which region of the brain has been linked to psychotic experiences?
mesolimbic pathway
- blockage here is thought to control psychotic experiences