Mood Stabilizers Flashcards
1
Q
multi-drug cocktails
A
- trying & failing to get control of illness- keep adding- chasing side effects- psychstim to combat antipsych demotivation etc.
- unpredictable drug interactions= destabilization.
- emerging dependence, withdrawal, tolerance- prob stopping safely- give child/teen still dev brains.
2
Q
Concept of MS
A
- vague imprecise term.
- more associated with drug marketing than science.
- originally anti-convulsants used prevent epileptic fits & seizures- now stabilize mood.
Robert Post- drew analogy b/w epileptic fits & seizures- both episodic.
–thought epilepsy & BD got worse with age (BD actually doesn’t).
IDEA- anticonvulsants stabilize brain to prevent fits- may also stabilize mood -tenuous link.
- -epilepsy fits lasts secs/mins & reoccur on timescale days/weeks.
- -BUT–
- -BD eps last months & timescale several years.
- non were effective for Mania/Depress
- -only few had psychiatric value.
3
Q
Carbamazepine
A
Japan 1960s (found/used before Post’s theory)
- kinda effective controlling Mania not Depress.
- -reduces irritability/agg- kind of tranq.
- lots of side effects-
- impaired coordination, turns off white blood cells- vulnerable to infection- needs to be monitored.
4
Q
Sodium Valproate
A
- valpromide, valproic acid, epilim (for children)- used in France 1960s.
- took off in 1990s when new patented versions.
- mainly used prevent Mania- not used acute cases,
- side effects-
- sleepiness, weight gain.
5
Q
Lamotrigine
A
has anti-d properties
- somewhat stimulating roughly psycho-stimulant.
- side effects-
- Steven Johnson’s disease- rare skin condition can be fatal. -increase dose slowly + monitor.
6
Q
Gabapentin
A
- falsely marketed as mood stabilizer.
- like Bz but with more side effects.
7
Q
Antipsychotic
A
effective treatment of acute Mania–> cus of this relabeled as Mood Stabilizer & assumed it would prevent mania.
-atypical antipsychotic very sedating.
(6 billion dollars a year)
