Lecture 22

Question 1

What are the main concepts of treatment for epilepsy?

Answer 1

Use dependent sodium channel block

Increasing GABA effects

Question 2

Give an example of a use dependent sodium channel blocker used as an AED

Answer 2

Carbamazepine

Question 3

Give an example of an AED that targets the GABAa receptor and how does it work?

Answer 3

Phenobarbital - binds to the barbiturate site acting as an agonsit potentiating the effects of GABA

Vigabatrin - inhibits GABA breakdown in glial cells by inhibiting GABA amino transferase

Question 4

What are alternatives to AEDs in epilepsy treatment?

Answer 4

Vagus nerve stimulation

Surgical treatment of the temporal lobe

Question 5

What is depression?

Answer 5

A pathological sadness often accompanied by pain and digestive/respiratory difficulties

Question 6

How much of the US population does depression affect?

Answer 6

5%

Question 7

What do we currently believe causes depression?

Answer 7

The biological amine theory - caused by a functional deficit of NTs (NA, 5-HT and DA)

Question 8

What are the main methods of treating depression?

Answer 8

Inhibiting NA or 5-HT reuptake
Inhibiting metabolism
Enhancing NT release

Question 9

What drugs could be used to treat depression by inhibiting uptake?

Answer 9

Tricyclic antidepressants - e.g. Doxepin
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors e.g. Fluxetine (Prozac)
Serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) e.g. Duxtoxetine

Question 10

What drugs could be used to treat depression by inhibiting metabolism?

Answer 10

Monamine oxidase inhibitors e.g. The reversible Modobenide or the irreversible Phenelzine

Question 11

What drugs can be used to treat depression by enhancing NT release?

Answer 11

Alpha 2 adrenoceptor antagonists e.g. mirtrazepine

Question 12

In depression why may clinical efficaypcy take weeks despite the drugs having an acute effect on NTs?

Answer 12

Neuronal adaptation

Neurogenesis

Question 13

What is the acute control for bipolar disorder?

Answer 13

Benzodiazepines
Anti psychotics
Carbamzapine

Question 14

What can be used as long term mood stabilizers in bipolar disease?

Answer 14

Lithium carbonate

Lithium citrate

Question 15

How does lithium citrate work?

Answer 15

It inhibits inositol monophosphatase preventing PIP2 formation

Question 16

What is epilepsy?

Answer 16

Electrical disturbances in the brain leading to chronically recurring seizures