Final Exam Flashcards
SSRI stands for
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Fluoxetine half life
1 week
Longest of SSRIs
What is discontinuation syndrome and what medications commonly cause it?
caused by stopping a short half life SSRI/SNRIs abruptly
Meds: Paroxetine, Fluvoxamine, Venlafaxine
What combination can cause serotonin syndrome
SSRI and MAOI used together
Most likely SSRI to cause weight gain
Paroxetine
What is the required washout period to switch from an MAOI to an SSRI?
2 weeks
What is the relationship between escitalopram and citalopram?
escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram
What is the common side effect to all SSRIs?
sexual side effects
SNRI stands for
serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
What is the metabolite of venlafaxine?
desvenlafaxine
MOA of venlafaxine
blocks reuptake of serotonin at all doses, blocks dopamine at very high doses
Preferred use for duloxetine
Painful symptoms of depression, diabetic neuropathy pain, chronic pain (MSK, fibromyalgia, GAD, MDD)
What is “poop-out” syndrome?
decreased response to medication after initial response, seen with SSRI’s and SNRI’s
medical term: antidepressant treatment tachyphylaxis = progressive or acute tolerance development after chronic administration of SSRI/SNRI
Risk associated with SNRI use for bipolar patients
inducing mania
Venlafaxine effects
Helps with hot flashes/flushing in perimenopausal women Increases BP (dose dependent)
Major NDRI drug
Bupropion
MOA of Bupropion
Inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine
Use of bupropion
Treats cravings from nicotine dependence
Antidepressant
May be useful for treating children with ADHD
Benefit of using bupropion as antidepressant
No sexual dysfunction effects, no effect on weight gain
Risks associated with bupropion
Lowers seizure threshold, significantly at high doses
Compare efficacy of bupropion to SSRI/SNRI for GAD treatment
Bupropion is less effective than SSRI/SNRIs for GAD treatment
Onset of action for bupropion
2-4 weeks
Mirtazepine MOA
pre-synaptic alpha 2 adrenergic antagonist increases release of NE and 5HT into the synaptic cleft, also blocks postsynaptic H1
Benefits of mirtazepine over SSRI/SNRI
decreased GI side effects due to specific 5HT3 antagonism
Side effects of mirtazepine
weight gain (F>M)
Combination of mirtazepine and MAOI can cause
Serotonin syndrome
Onset of action for insomnia and anxiety effects of mirtazepine
Immediate
Mirtazepine effect on CYP450
No effect
TCA mechanism
inhibits reuptake of 5HT and NE
TCA side effects
Anticholinergic effects: blurred vision, urinary hesitancy, dry mouth, constipation
Alpha1 adrenergic effects: dizziness, sedation, hypotension
Histamine effects: sedation, weight gain
Metabolite of amitriptyline
Nortriptyline (secondary amine) is metabolite of amitriptyline (tertiary amine)
Metabolite of imipramine
Desipramine (secondary amine) is the metabolite of imipramine (tertiary amine)
Gender differences in TCA antidepressant efficacy
TCAs may be more effective than SSRI’s for treating depression in men
TCA concentration is increased by
medications that inhibit CYP450 2D6 including fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion, duloxetine
Risk associated with TCA OD
Cardiac arrhythmia risk due to blockade of fast sodium channels
Lithium is approved for treatment of
acute manic episodes, maintenance therapy for bipolar disorder
Unique benefit of lithium
Decreases suicide risk
When should Li blood levels be drawn?
5d after starting/changing dose to confirm therapeutic levels
Should be trough levels (12 hours after previous dose)
Maintenance treatment levels for Li
0.6-0.8 mEq/L
How is Li toxicity > 4 mEq treated
dialysis
What conditions can increase risk for Li toxicity?
Renal impairment
Sodium depletion
Dehydration
Labs 1-2x/year for patients on Li
Li level, TSH, BUN/Cr
Labs before starting Li
TSH, BUN/Cr, Pregnancy
Li risk during pregnancy
Ebstein’s anomaly from exposure during first trimester
Li can cause tremor, which can be exacerbated or improved by what substances?
Tremor exacerbated by caffeine, improved by propranolol
Divalproex sodium (Valproic acid) is approved for treating
Antiepileptic approved for treatment of bipolar mania, migraine prophylaxis
Labs before starting valproic acid
LFT, platelets and pregnancy test
Risks associated with valproic acid treatment
Hepatotoxicity in children <2y
Spina bifida from exposure during first trimester
Aspirin + valproate increases risk of thrombocytopenia
Difference between depakene and depakote
Fewer GI side effects associated with depakote due to enteric coating
Interaction between valproate and lamotrigine
Valproate doubles lamotrigine concentration
When used in combination, dose of lamotrigine should be halved
Trough levels for valproate are drawn
19 hours after last dose
Carbamazepine is approved to treat
acute manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder
Unique metabolism feature of carbamazepine
Autoinduction - half life decreases to less than 50% of initial because it is substrate and inducer of CYP3A4
Interaction between carbamazepine and oral contraceptives
CYP induction decreases concentration of oral contraceptives, increasing risk for pregnancy
Side effects of carbamazepine
Agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia
Hyponatremia
Hepatotoxicity
Regular labs for carbamazepine
Blood levels, platelets, CBC, LFT
Oxcarbazepine
similar to carbamazepine but not FDA approved for bipolar treatment
Lamotrigine is indicated for
maintenance of bipolar disorder, bipolar depression, but NOT acute mania
Medications approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder
Lithium, lamotrigine, quetiapine, olanzapine, and aripiprazole
Medications approved for treating bipolar depression
Lamotrigine, quetiapine, lithium, olanzapine/fluoxetine and lurasidone
Medications indicated for treatment of acute mania
Lithium, divalproex, carbamazepine, quetiapine, ziprasidone and asenapine
Side effects of lamotrigine
Benign rash, severe rash, SJS
No risk for weight gain or sedation
DDI between lamotrigine and divalproex
divalproex doubles lamotrigine level, need to halve lamotrigine dose to keep at therapeutic level and prevent possible SJS
MOA of lamotrigine
Blocks sodium channels
What was the first antipsychotic medication?
Chlorpromazine
2 major categories of typical antipsychotics
high potency and low potency
Available haloperidol formulations
PO, IM, and IV
Use of haloperidol
Agitated psychotic patients
Can also treat Tourette’s syndrome
Typical antipsychotics available in IM forms given every 2-4 weeks
Haloperidol and fluphenazine
Medications to counter EPS effects of FGAs
trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, and diphenhydramine
Low potency antipsychotics act on what receptors
anticholinergic, antihistaminic and anti alpha1
Typical antipsychotic used more often as an anti-emetic
Prochlorperazine
Treatment for intractable hiccups
Chlorpromazine
Typical antipsychotic with highest risk of dose dependent QTc prolongation
Thioridazine
Most efficacious antipsychotic
Clozapine
Quetiapine use
Psychosis in lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease
Quetiapine has a low risk for this side effect
EPS
Atypical antipsychotics most likely to cause sedation and metabolic syndrome
Olanzapine and clozapine