L7-8 Antipsychotics Flashcards
What is thought to cause the psychosis and positive symptoms in Schizophrenia?
Increased DA in the mesolimbic system
What is thought to cause the negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in patients with Schizophrenia?
Decreased DA in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
How do the classical antipsychotics work vs. the newer atypical antipsychotics?
Classic-block D2, treat positive symptoms, no help in negative symptoms
Newer, Atypical-block 5-HT2a, treat negative symptoms better
What are 5 mechanisms that can be theoretically used to treat Schizophrenia?
Block D2: classical antipsychotics
Block 5-HT2a: newer antipsychotics. Facilitates DA release in prefrontal cortex to treat negative symptoms
Stimulate NMDA receptors (glutamate): increases DA in mesocortical (combats negative symptoms) and decreases DA in mesolimbic (combats positive symptoms)
Increase GABA: decreased GABA synthesis has been reported in schizophrenia and bipolar perhaps as a result of decreased activity of NMDA receptors. Decrease in GABA leads to overstimulation of cortical neurons
Stimulate M4 receptors (in trial): improve cognitive disorders
What types of receptor blockade do most of the side effects come from with the antipsychotics?
muscarininc blockade
alpha-adrenergic blockade
histamine blockade
What are the low potency Phenothiazines?
How do they work?
What types of side effects do they cause?
Chlorpromazine and Thioridazine
Block D2, alpha, histamine
Very effective but require high doses
Considerable anti-cholinergic effects, less likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms
More sedation and hypotension
What are the high potency Phenothiazines?
How do they work?
What types of side effects do they cause?
Fluphenazine and trifluoperazine
High potency, more selective for DA receptors
Less anti-cholinergic effects, more likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms
Less sedation and hypotension
What are the side effects of the classical antipsychotics?
Extrapyramidal effects: due to blockage of DA receptors in nigrostriatal system (motor control, Parkinsonian sx), treated with anti-cholinergic drugs
Tardive Dyskinesia: uncontrollable movements of mouth, tongue, face, clozapine and olanzapine less likely to cause
Endocrine effects: weight gain, increarse prolactin release (DA inhibits prolactin), decrease release of sex hormones (decreased libido, infertility, amenorrhea, gynecomastia)
Autonomic effects: due to blockage of muscarininc (dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, tahycardia), alpha (orthostatic hypotension, difficulty ejaculating), and histamine (sedation)
Seizures: slow frequency of EEG
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: life-threatening-muscle rigidity, catatonia, increase temp, change BP and HR
Which antipsychotics are least likely to cause tardive dyskinesia?
clozapine and olanzapine
Which antipsychotics are seizures most likely to occur with?
What patients should not be given antipsychotics?
Clozapine, olanzapine, chlorpromazine
Used with caution in untreated epileptics and patients who are withdrawing from CNS depressants
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
How do you treat it?
Life-threatening side effect of the classical antipsychotics: muscle rigidity, catatonia, increase in body temp, altered BP and HR
Tx: discontinue antipsychotic immediately, supportive care
Dantrolene, diazapan, and dopamine agonists may also be used
Name the Phenothiazines.
What are they used for?
Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine, Fluphenazine, Trifluoperazine, Prochlorperazine
Widely used to treat schizophrenia, used in psychotic episodes, manic episodes, hallucinations
Other uses: nausea, vomitting, pre-anesthetic sedation, premature ejaculation, relieves severe itching
Low potency drugs (chlor and thio): high anti-cholinergic activity-increases autonomic side effects, lower chance of extrapyramidal symptoms
What is important about the phamacokinetics of the phenothiazines?
Absorbed erratically when taken orally
Effective IM
24-48 hr half-life, very slow liver elimination
What are the side effects of Phenothiazines?
Anticholinergic: blurred vision, constipation, dry mouth, urinary retention, decreased GI motility
Alpha blockade: postural hypotension, inhibition of ejaculation
Negative inotropic action
Mild jaundice in 2nd to 4th week
Decrased seizure threshold (worse with chlorpromazine)
Thioridazine: retinal deposits
Haloperidol
Selective blocking of D2 receptors
Similar effects to phenothiazines: sedation, indifference, reduced initiative, decreased anxiety
Well absorbed orally
Often injected in acute situations
Concentration in brain can be much higher than in blood
Slow metabolism and excretion, blood levels stable for 3 days
Most likely of all antipsychotics to cause extrapyramidal symptoms
Pimozide
Similar to haloperidol, blocks D2
Can be used for motor and phonic tics in patients with Tourette’s
High extrapyramidal symptoms, moderate sedation, moderate anti-cholinergic
ECG changes, lengthen QT interval
Loxapine
Similar to phenothiazines
Used when other drugs have not worked
Lowers seizure threshold more than phenothiazines
Molindone
D2 blockade
Moderate sedation, increases motor activity, mild euphoria
Extrapyramidal effects, xerostomia, constipation, hypotension, syncope, tachycardia
Clozapine
Atypical antipsychotic, Improves negative symptoms
Binds D4 (mainly in limbic and cerebral cortex and not in striatum) causing lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms
Binds 5-HT2a: faciliatates DA release in prefrontal cortex
Inhibits muscarinic, alpha, and histamine receptors
Unlikely to cause tardive dyskinesia
Treat delusions in Parkinson’s disease
Use is reserved for patients who do not respond to conventional drugs
What are the side effects of Clozapine?
Sedation
Decreased seizure threshold
Hypotension, tachycardia
Increased salivation, dizziness
Weight gain
Agranulocytosis in 1%-serious!
Olanzapine
Similar to clozapine
Blocks D2, D4, 5-HT2a (more effective for negative symptoms)
anticholinergic, extrapyramidal rare
Can improve positive and negative symptoms
Also used to treat bipolar
Does not cause agranulocytosis, less toxicity than clozapine
What are the side effects of Olanzapine?
Weight gain-very common
Sedation and dizziness
Orthostatic hypotension
Akathisia (restlessness, anxiety, pacing)
Constipation
Increased incidence of hyperglycemia and type II diabetes
What antipsychotic is most likely to cause weight gain and a high incidence of hyperglycemia and type II diabetes?
Olanzapine
Risperidone
Atypical antipsychotic
Very effective at relieving positive AND negative symptoms
Used in combo with SSRIs to in treatment resistant depression and in autism
Inhibits D2 and especially 5-HT2a, blocks alpha receptors
Enhances DA in basal ganglia-few extrapyramidal
Low incidence of tardive dyskinesia