mh review on med/ neurotransmitters

Question 1

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

Chemicals in the brain that help transmit signals between nerve cells (neurons) and play a crucial role in mood, behavior, and mental health.

Question 2

What is the role of serotonin?

Answer 2

Affects mood, sleep, appetite, and anxiety. Often called the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter.

Question 3

What are the effects of low serotonin levels?

Answer 3

Associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

Question 4

What medications affect serotonin?

Answer 4

Antidepressants, specifically SSRIs and SNRIs.

Question 5

What is the role of dopamine?

Answer 5

Involved in motivation, pleasure, and reward, as well as motor control and learning.

Question 6

What are the effects of low dopamine levels?

Answer 6

Associated with depression, lack of motivation, and cognitive issues (such as in Parkinson’s disease).

Question 7

What are the effects of high dopamine levels?

Answer 7

Can lead to symptoms of mania or psychosis (as in schizophrenia).

Question 8

What medications affect dopamine?

Answer 8

Antipsychotics and stimulants.

Question 9

What is the role of norepinephrine?

Answer 9

Increases alertness, arousal, and the ‘fight-or-flight’ response.

Question 10

What are the effects of low norepinephrine levels?

Answer 10

Can lead to depression, fatigue, and poor concentration.

Question 11

What are the effects of high norepinephrine levels?

Answer 11

Can cause anxiety and high blood pressure.

Question 12

What medications affect norepinephrine?

Answer 12

SNRIs, certain antidepressants, and stimulants.

Question 13

What is the role of GABA?

Answer 13

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter, helping to calm brain activity and reduce stress.

Question 14

What are the effects of low GABA levels?

Answer 14

Linked to anxiety, agitation, and seizures.

Question 15

What medications affect GABA?

Answer 15

Benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and other anti-anxiety medications.

Question 16

What is the role of glutamate?

Answer 16

The main excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in learning and memory.

Question 17

What are the effects of high glutamate levels?

Answer 17

Can lead to anxiety, agitation, and possible neurodegenerative diseases.

Question 18

What medications affect glutamate?

Answer 18

Some newer treatments for depression and psychosis.

Question 19

What are antidepressants used for?

Answer 19

To treat mood disorders, particularly depression and anxiety.

Question 20

What are SSRIs?

Answer 20

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors that increase serotonin levels by preventing its reabsorption in the brain.

Question 21

What are common uses for SSRIs?

Answer 21

Depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD.

Question 22

What are SNRIs?

Answer 22

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors that increase both serotonin and norepinephrine levels.

Question 23

What are common uses for SNRIs?

Answer 23

Depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and some chronic pain conditions.

Question 24

What are TCAs?

Answer 24

Tricyclic Antidepressants that increase serotonin and norepinephrine but also affect other neurotransmitters.

Question 25

What are common uses for TCAs?

Answer 25

Depression, chronic pain, and insomnia.

Question 26

What are MAOIs?

Answer 26

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors that block the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which breaks down serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Question 27

What are common uses for MAOIs?

Answer 27

Depression.

Question 28

What are typical antipsychotics?

Answer 28

First-generation antipsychotics that block dopamine receptors, reducing dopamine activity in the brain.

Question 29

What are common uses for typical antipsychotics?

Answer 29

Schizophrenia, acute psychosis.

Question 30

What are atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 30

Second-generation antipsychotics that block dopamine receptors and also affect serotonin receptors.

Question 31

What are common uses for atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 31

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, sometimes depression.

Question 32

What are benzodiazepines?

Answer 32

Anti-anxiety medications that enhance the effects of GABA.

Question 33

What are common uses for benzodiazepines?

Answer 33

Short-term treatment of anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.

Question 34

What is buspirone?

Answer 34

An anti-anxiety medication that acts on serotonin and dopamine receptors.

Question 35

What is lithium used for?

Answer 35

To stabilize mood swings in bipolar disorder.

Question 36

What are anticonvulsants?

Answer 36

Medications primarily used for seizures but also help stabilize mood in bipolar disorder.

Question 37

What are common uses for stimulants?

Answer 37

ADHD and narcolepsy.

Question 38

What is the summary of medications affecting serotonin?

Answer 38

SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs (used to treat depression, anxiety).

Question 39

What is the summary of medications affecting dopamine?

Answer 39

Antipsychotics (to manage psychosis, schizophrenia, and sometimes bipolar disorder).

Question 40

What is the summary of medications affecting norepinephrine?

Answer 40

SNRIs, antidepressants, stimulants (used to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD).

Question 41

What is the summary of medications affecting GABA?

Answer 41

Benzodiazepines (to treat anxiety, panic disorders).

Question 42

What is the summary of medications affecting glutamate?

Answer 42

Newer treatments for depression and some psychoses (still in research stages).