Mental health disorders Flashcards
What condition is the serotonin receptor agonist Buspirone contra-indicated in?
Epilepsy
What is the MHRA alert regarding Benzodiazepines?
risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression - should only co-prescribe opioids + benzos if no other alternative option
How long do benzos have to have been taken for in order to be weaned off?
> 2 weeks - risk of benzodiazepine withdrawal
What is an associated risk of an elderly person taking benzos?
Increased risk of falls
What CD schedule are Benzos?
CD4 - 1
What are the indications of use of Chlordiazepoxide?
Short term use in anxiety
Treatment of alcohol withdrawal
What are some of the licensed indications for Diazepam?
- muscle spasicity
- tetanus
- status epilepticus
- premedication
- anxiety
- sedation in dental procedures
Intravenous Diazepam holds a risk of what?
Severe thrombophlebitis (reduced by using emulsion form)
What drugs can be used to treat anxiety?
Benzos or Buspiron (serotin agonist)
What age and gender is ADHD most commonly diagnosed in?
3-7 years most common in men
What are the 2 first line drug treatments for ADHD?
Lisdexamfetamine mesilate and methylphenidate hydrochloride
If a patient does not respond to Lisdexameftamine or Methylphenidate, what other non stimulant drug can be trialled?
Atomoxetine (centrally acting sympathomimetic)
What are the monitoring requirements associated with Methylphendiate?
BP, pulse, psychiatric symptoms, appetite, weight, height at initiation ad following dose adjustment then every 6 months thereafter
What CD schedule is methyphenidate?
CD2
What drug class is useful in the acute stages of mania?
Antipscychotics e.g. Olanzapine, risperidone, qutiapine
What drug class is Asenapine and when is it used?
Second generation antipsychotics, used for moderate - severe manic episodes associated with bipolar disorders
How many weeks should antipsychotics be discontinued over?
4 weeks if continuing on the antimania drugs or up to 3 months otherwise
What anti-epileptic drug(s) can also be used to prevent bipolar disorder?
Carbamazepine
Valporate - treats manic episodes associated with bipolar + prophylaxis
what is the indication for lithium in bipolar disorder?
treatment and prevention of mania, hypomania and depression
How long after initiation of lithium therapy can it take for the full prophylactic responce to be seen?
6 - 12 months
What 2 side effects of valporate lead to immediate withdrawal of the drug?
Pancreatitis and hepatic dysfunction
What false positive on laboratory tests can valporate cause?
Ketones
Contra-indications to lithium therapy
dehydration, low sodium diet, cardiac disease, untreated hypothyroidism, addisons
Long term lithium therapy is associated with what endocrine disorder?
Thyroid disorders - monitor TFTs every 6 months
Side effects of lithium
- GI disturbances ( particularly at initiation)
- Metlic teaste
- Weight gain
- Ankle oedema
- Polyuria and polydipsia (due to ADH inhibition)
- Neurotoxicity {paeaesthesia, ataxia, tremor, cognitive impairment}
- QT prolongation
- hypersalivation
Signs of litium toxicity
-Early signs: non-specfic, restlessness, apathy, confusion, drowsiness
-Following signs: Vomiting, diarrhoea. ataxia, weakness, dysarthria,muscle twitching,trmor,visual disturbance
Severe signs: Convulsion, coma, renal failure, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia
Causes of Lithium toxicity
reduced renal function, dehydration, interacting medications (diuretics/NSAIDS), infection
Monitoring requirements for lithium therapy
- Lithium levels weekly at initation, 3 monthly for 1 year then 6 monthly or after doses changes thereafter
- U&Es ( 3 monthly)
- Cardiac / ECG (annual)
- TFT ( 6 monthly)
- Body weight (annual)
- Calcium (annual)
- FBC (annual)
7.
What can lithium do to your calcium levels?
Increase them - they should be monitored yearly
How long after a lithium dose should samples be taken?
12 hours post dose
What is the optimum dose range of Lithium
0.4 - 1mmol/L
In patients with acute mania or who have previously relapsed what is the target lithium level?
0.8-1mmol/L
What does abrupt withdrawl of lithium increase the risk of?
Relapse - if lithium is to be discontinued the dose should be reduced gradually over 4 weeks (up to 3 months)
What should patients be advised to report when on lithium therapy?
signs of lithium toxicity, hypothyroidism, renal dysfunction (polyuria / polydyspepsia), beign intracranial hypertension (persistant headache and visual disturbance)
What should patients be counselled on when starting lithium therapy?
- maintain hydration
- avoid dietary changes that lead to increase/decrease in salt
- lithium booklet / alert card
- contraception
- recognising toxicity signs
- OTC sales
Indications of lithium therapy
- acute management of mania/hypomania
- prophylaxis against bipolar affective disorder
- control of aggressive behaviour or intentional self harm
- Treatment/prophylaxis of recurrent depression
Why should lithium be prescribed as brand names?
Different salts have different bioavailbilities (carbonate v citrate)
Brands include; Priadel, Camcolit, Liskonum
What drugs can cause an increase in lithium levels?
ACEIs,ARBS, Diuretics, NSAIDS, macrolides, metronidazole, steroids, tetracycline
What does an increase sodium level do to Lithium levels?
Decreases lithium levels as you drink more and excrete it out (e.g pt on antacids)
What does a decreased sodium level do to lithium levels?
Increases the lithium level as decreased excretion may occur
What drugs can decrease lithium levels?
Antacids, theophylline, caffeine
What are some of the side effects that can occur during the first few weeks of taking antidepressants?
Increased suicial thoughts, agitation, anxiety
What drug class is first line in depression?
SSRI (safer and better tolerated)
What SSRI is safe in patients who have had a recent MI or unstable angina?
Sertraline
What herbal remedy is popular for treatment of depression?
St John’s Wort
What can St johns wort do to other medications?
St JW is an enzyme INDUCER, it will reduce levels of other meds
At the start of antidepressant treatment, how often should patients be reviewed?
Every 1 - 2 weeks
How long should treatment be contined for before consdiering switching to an alternative medication?
4 weeks (6 weeks in eldery)
Following remission, how long should antidepressant therapy be continued for?
At least 6 months at the same dose or for 12 months in people wiht GAD
If a patient has a history of recurrent depression and is tapered off antidepressants, how long should they continue to receive maintenance therapy for?
2 years due to high risk of relapse
What electrolyte imbalance is associated with all antidepressants (particularly SSRIS)
Hyponatraemia
What is the risk of adding several serotonergic drugs into a patients regime?
Serotonin syndrome risk (esp if long half life drugs e.g. MAOIs)
3 main areas of serotonin syndrome
- Neuromuscular hyperactivity (tremor/hyperreflexia, clonus, ridgity)
- Autonomic dysfunction (tacycardia, BP changes, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, shivering)
- Altered mental state (agitation, confusion, mania)
If a patient does not respond to an SSRI, what is the next option?
- increase dose of SSRI
- switch to different SSRI or Mirtazapine
- Other agent e.g Lofepramine, moclobemide, reboxetine
- severe forms - TCAs, Venlafaxine
What medication class can be considered for chronic (>4 weeks) anxiety?
Antidepressants
How should GAD be treated?
- psychological approach (CBT)
2. Antidepressant (escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, pregabalin)
How are paniac disorders, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD treated?
SSRIs
What drugs can be used second line in panic disorder?
Clopiramine and imipramine