Mental Health Clinical Bipolar Flashcards
What does euthymia mean?
Mood is stable
Describe the epidemiology of BPD:
1% of pop
Up to 5% on bipolar spectrum
Incidence is similar in both genders and all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes
Can occur at any age, first diagnosed 18-24
Describe the aetiology of BPD:
70% of BPD patients have at least one close relative with it or unipolar depression
6th leading cause of disability in the world
What are the risk factors for BPD?
FHx- genetics, combo of many genes
Being male (only slightly increased)
What are the trigger factors of an episode of BPD?
Life events e.g trauma, abuse
Stopping a mood stabiliser suddenly esp lithium
Potentially being on an AD without mood stabiliser if bipolar
Goal attainment events
Disrupted circadian rhythm e.g shift working
Spring/ summer - mania/ hypomania
What is the physical health risk to an individual having BPD?
Obesity
Heart disease and HTN 5x increase
Dying from resp 3x increase
Dying from infection 2x
Poor memory more likely
Life expectant lowered by 10 yrs
What is the mental health risk to an individual having BPD?
Suicidal 4x increase
Substance misuse is common
1 in 2 dependent on alcohol and 2 in 5 dependent on other drugs
Name the most common symptoms of drug induced mania:
Increased activity
Rapid speech
Elevated mood
Insomnia
What are the drugs that can induce mania?
Hallucinogens e.g LSD
CNS stimulants e.g amphetamines, caffeine
Antidepressants- switch from depression to mania
Antipsychotics- newer gen rather than haloperidol
What are the general prescribing points for mania?
- discontinue any manicogenic agents, inc ADs and stimulants
- stabilise any medical conditions
- start non specific calming meds e.g benzos, antipsychotics
- start specific mood stabilisers or relapse prevention agents, preferable when pt is able to consent
- hypnotic/ sedative should be considered
- any co-morbid substance misuse must be tackled
Name the first line mood stabilisers/ relapse prevention agents for BPD:
Lithium
Quetiapine
Olanzapine
Aripiprazole
Lamotrigine
Valproate
Describe the licensing of quetiapine for BPD:
Licensed as monotherapy for acute mania and relapse prevention acute BPD (only one licensed) and relapse prevention
Also acute mania and relapse prevention in people who response in acute state over 2 years
Name the baseline monitoring for quetiapine:
Weight/ BMI
Pulse/ BP (HTN risk)
Lipid abnormality
ECG if at risk (as can increase QT)
Name the ongoing monitoring for quetiapine:
Pulse and BP after each dose change
Weight/ BMI weekly for 6 weeks, then at 12 weeks
BG or HBA1C
Blood lipid profile at 12 weeks
Response to treatment
SEs
Emergence of movement disorders
Adherence
Name the SEs of quetiapine:
Very common: sleepiness, dizziness, dry mouth (anticholinergic), weight gain, post hypo
Common: headache, akathisia, anticholinergic SEs
Describe the prescribing advice for quetiapine:
Initial dose titration must be slow due to risk of post hypotension an about 16% of pts
Although highly sedative at low doses (e,g 25mg) the sedation is not proportional to dose
Describe the licensing for olanzepine in BPD:
Licensed for mania and relapse prevention in people who have responded to it acutely and are lithium or valproate non responders
Widely used as an anti manic and as a mood stabilisers
Name the formulations of olanzapine:
Tabs
IM injection
Orodispersible tabs
Depot (restricted use)- rare but serious section and sudden cardiac death
Describe the monitoring requirements for olanzapine:
Same as quetiapine
What are the very common SEs of olanzapine?
Sedation- so take at night
Weight gain
What are the common SEs of olanzapine?
Post hypotension
Dry mouth, constipation
Peripheral oedema
Diabetes
Long term weight gain
Metabolic syndrome e.g diabetes, raised lipids and cholesterol
Describe the smoking interaction with olanzapine:
Smoking induces CYP1A2 enzyme that metabolised olanzapine
If stopping smoking can increase levels
What is the prescribing advice for olanzapine?
Starting dose in acute mania is 15mg/d as monotherpay or 10mg/d as adjunct
Don’t give benzo within an hour of short acting IM olanzapine as reports of death
Describe the licensing of aripiprazole in BPD:
Licensed for acute mania and main presentation in people who have responded acutely including in adolescents aged 13 years or older
What are the monitoring requirements of aripiprazole?
Same as quetiapine
What are the formulations of aripiprazole?
Tabs
Oridisperisble tabs
Liquid
Injection- long acting depot
What are the very common SEs of aripiprazole?
Akathisia
Insomnia- take in morning
Stomach upset
Constipation
Blurred vision
What are the common SEs of aripiprazole?
Movement disorders (extra-pyramidal SEs)
Post hypotension
Palpitations
What is the prescribing advice for aripiprazole?
For mania start at 15mg and increased to 30mg/d
Relapse prevention dose can be 15-30mg/d
Due to its partial agonism, start it at 5mg/d if patient has had another antipsychotic in their system
Describe the licensing of lamotrigine for BPD:
Licensed for prevention of relapse of BPD
No efficacy in mania, mixed, rapid-cycling or unipolar depression nor acute BPD (due to long titration)
Efficacy shown in severely depressed pts
Describe the prescribing points of lamotrigine:
Must be titrated ‘by the book’
Starting dose must be low and slowly titrated as per BNF
25mg/d for 2 weeks, 50mg/d for 2 weeks then increase by 50-100mg/d every 1-2 weeks
Half this if used with valproate (e.g 25mg alternative days for 2 weeks, taking 6 weeks to reach 200mg/d)
Why is the dosing of lamotrigine so specific?
Almost abolished the risk of potential fatal rashes
What are the most common SEs of lamotrigine?
Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision
What are the rare but serious SEs of lamotrigine?
Oedema
Bone marrow suppression
Skin rashes
Describe the skin rash side effect of lamotrigine:
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
Red rashes across the face and body, blisters and inflammation in the nose, mouth and eyes, looks like serious sunburn
Describe the licensing of valproate for BPD:
For mania and relapse prevention
Depakote (semi sodium valproate) and Episenta are licensed for BPD
Epilim is available in tabs, MR and liquid