FIrst Aid: Psychopharmacology Flashcards
What antidepressant class is used to treat enuresis?
TCAs
What antidepressant class is used to treat Autism?
SSRIs
What antidepressant class is used to treat premenstrual dysphoric d/o?
SSRIs
What is the treatment for the depressive phase of manic depression?
SSRIs, bupropion
What is the treatment for insomnia?
- Mirtazapine
- TCAs
What antidepressant class is used to treat neuropathic pain?
TCAs
What antidepressant class is used to treat dysthymia?
SSRIs
What is the MOA of TCAs?
-Inhibit reuptake of NE and 5-HT
Why are TCAs not first-line agents?
higher incidence of side effects, require greater monitoring of dosing and are lethal in overdose
What is the hallmark of TCA toxicity?
widened QRS (>100 msec)
List examples of TCAs
-ipramine
-triptyline
Doxepin
Which TCA is least likely to cause orthostatic hypotension?
nortriptyline
Which TCA is least sedating (least anticholinergic side effects)?
desipramine
Which TCA is the most serotonin specific?
Clomipramine
What is clomipramine specifically used to treat?
OCD
How do you treat a TCA overdose?
IV sodium bicarbonate
What are the major TCA side effects?
- antiHistamine (sedation)
- antiAdrenergic (orthostatic hypotnesion, tachycardia, arrhythmia)
- antiMuscarinic (dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, tachycardia)
- weight gain
- lethal in overdose
- 3 C’s
What dosage of TCA’s is lethal in OD?
1 week supply
What are the 3 C’s of TCAs?
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Cardiotoxicity
What is the MOA of MAOIs?
prevent the inactivation of biogenic amines such as NE, 5-HT, dopamine, and tyraminMOA-e (increase amount of these transmitters available in synapses)
MAO-A preferentially deactivates what neurotransmitter?
serotonin
MOA-B preferentially deactivates what neurotransmitter?
NE/epinephrine
MOAIs are very effective for what conditions?
- Refractory depression
- Refractory panic disorder
List some examples of MAOIs.
- Phenelzine
- Tranylcypromine
- Isocarboxazid
What are the common side effects of MAOIs?
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Drowsiness
- Weight gain
- Sexual dysfunction
- Dry mouth
- Sleep dysfunction
What happens when SSRIs and MAOIs are taken together?
serotonin syndrome (lethargy, restlessness, confusion, flushing, diaphoresis, tremor and myoclonic jerks)
What does serotonin syndrome progress into?
Hyperthermia Hypertonicity Rhabdomyolysis Renal Failure Convulsions Coma Death
What is the first step when suspecting serotonin syndrome?
discontinue medication
How long must you wait before you switch from an SSRI to MAOIs?
at least 2 weeks
When would you get a hypertensive crisis when on MAOIs?
if you take it with tyramine-rich food or sympathomimetics
What type of foods have tyramine?
- Chianti wine
- Cheese
- Chicken liver
- Fava beans
- Cured meats
Why do you get a hypertensive crisis when you take an MAOI with foods with tyramine?
causes a build-up of stored catecholamines
What is the MOA of SSRIs?
Inhibit presynaptic serotonin pumps, leading to increased availability of serotonin in synaptic clefts
Why are SSRIs the most commonly prescribed antidepressants?
- Low incidence of side effects
- No food restrictions
- Much safer in overdose
List the SSRIs.
- Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline
- Citalopram (and escitalopram)
Which SSRI has the longest half-life (so no need to taper)?
fluoxetine
Which SSRI has the highest risk of GI disturbances?
sertraline
Which SSRI is most serotonin specific and most activating?
paroxetine
Which SSRI is currently only approved for use in OCD?
fluvoxamine
Which SSRI is the levo enantiomer of citalopram?
escitalopram (much more expensive and fewer side effects)
What neurotransmitters do the SSRIs not act on?
histamine
adrenergic
muscarinic
What are the common side effects of SSRIs?
- Sexual dysfunction
- GI disturbance
- Insomnia
- HA
- Anorexia, weight loss
- Serotonin syndrome when used with MAOIs
Atypical antidepressants include which classes of drugs?
SNRIs (serotonin/NE)
NDRIs (NE/DA)
SARIs (5-HT antagonist)
NASAs (NE/5-HT)
What is the example of an SNRI?
venlafaxine
What is a side effect of venlafaxine?
can increase BP
What happens if you miss 1-3 doses?
potential withdrawal (flu-like symptoms and electric-like shocks or zaps)
What is the example of NDRIs?
Buproprion (Wellbutrin)
What are the major uses for buproprion?
- Smoking cessation
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Adult ADHD
What is the most significant advantage of buproprion?
Lack of sexual side effects
At high doses, what could buproprion do?
it’s dopaminergic effect can exacerbate psychosis
What are some side effects of buproprion?
increased sweating
increased risk of seizures
psychosis
What patients should not take buproprion?
- Pts with significant anxiety
- Contraindicated in patients with seizure or active eating disorder
List the examples of SARIs.
- Nefazodone
- Trazodone
What are the uses of SARIs?
- Refractory major depression
- Major depression with anxiety
- Insomnia (secondary to its sedative effects)
What are the side effects of SARIs?
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- SEDATION
- PRIAPISM
List an example of a NASA?
Mirtazapine
What is mirtazapine used for?
Refractory major depression (especially in patients who need to gain weight)
What are the side effects of mirtazapine?
- sedation
- weight gain
- dizziness
- somnolence
- tremor
- agranulocytosis
What is the dose of mirtazapine with the maximal sedative effect?
15 mg of less
What happens to the sedative effect of mirtazapine at higher doses?
increases NE uptake and is less sedating
What is the MOA of traditional (typical) anipsychotics?
block dopamine receptors
What is the MOA of atypical antipsychotics?
block both dopamine and serotonin receptors
Why do atypical antipsychotics have fewer side effects than typical?
their effect on dopamine is weaker
List the 2 low potency traditional antipsychotics.
Chlorpromazine
Thioridazine
What does “low potency” mean as far as antipsychotics go?
lower affinity for dopamine receptors (so higher doses are required)–DOES NOT MEAN LOWER LEVEL OF EFFICACY