Mood Stabilizers (Week 7/8) Flashcards
Cyclothymic Disorder
Hypomanic Episode
Manic episode
Bipolar 1
Bipolar 2
Alterations of brain regions in Bipolar Disorder
Amygdala (mood)
Hypothalamus(decreased sleep)
Basal Forebrain(decrased sleep
Nucleus Accumbens(racing thoughts, goal-directed grandiosity
Prefrontal cortex: racing thoughts, grandiosity, distractability, pressured speech.
Diagnostic Criteria for Bipolar 1
-Must have one or more episodes of mania
-Must have one or more depressive episodes
-manic episode must last for at least 1 week.
-depressive episodes may last for weeks or months
-may have hypomania
-not a result of medical condition or intoxication
Mania mneumonic
D:Distractibility (low concentration, easily distractible)
I:Insomnia
G:Grandiosity (feelings of greatness, superiority, uniqueness)
F:Flight of ideas (multiple ideas expressed together in speech, making it barely understandable)
A: increase in goal-directedActivities (continuous search for pleasurable activities: spending money, hypersexuality, smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs,…)
S: pressuredSpeech (rapid speech, talking too much, almost unstoppably)
T:Thoughtlessness (high risk activities: sex, projects, drugs,…)
Diagnostic criteria for bipolar 2 disorder
Major depressive symptoms lasting for 2 weeks
At least one hypomanic episode: less severe than a full blown manic episode
Not a result of drug intoxication or medical condition.
Diagnostic criteria for Cyclothymic disorder
Mood swings between major depressive symptoms and
Hypomanic symptoms episode: less severe than a full blown manic episode
Cycle of symptoms present more than 2 years
Not a result of intoxication or medical condition.
What is the gold standard for Bipolar 1 treatment?
Lithium
Lithium
Natural occurring element, Li+ on the periodic table
FDA Approved to treat bipolar disorder: Acute Manic, Mixed episodes and maintenance therapy
Off label: Augment antidepressants, to treat rage reactions, prophylactic agent for cluster headache, schizoaffective disorder
Mechanism of Action: Unknown. Possibly neuroprotective and neuro-proliferative effects preserve grey matter
Protective benefit against suicide
Lithium Pharmacokinetics
Absorption: GI tract
Excretion: Exclusively in kidneys
Narrow therapeutic index
0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L
Lithium Dosing
Dosing: (300-2,400 mg/day divided in 24 hours)
Increasing lithium dose by 300mg/day should increase lithium level by 0.3mEq/L
Onset of action: 6-10 days in mania, up to 3 weeks in depression
Target level: 0.6-1.0 mEq/L
Baseline serum level and after each dose change or annually
Lithium therapeutic Index
Narrow therapeutic index
0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L
Contraindications for Lithium use
Kidney Failure
Cardiovascular Insufficiency
Untreated hypothyroidism
Pregnancy: Ebstein’s anomaly during first trimester
Long term use can cause kidney changes
Significant fluid loss: increases risk of lithium toxicity
Common Lithium Side effects
Nausea
May improve with food or ER formulation
Dry mouth, thirst
Offer ice chips, sugarless gum or hydration
Acne
Resolves after 1 month of use
Alopecia (usually in women)
Check thyroid function
Mild fine tremor
Avoid caffeine
Treat with propanolol
Polyuria/polydipsia (occur in 70% of patients)
Weight gain (average of 4-6kg)
Behavior modification counseling
Leukocytosis
Usually not treated, benign
Psoriasis (common over 50 y/o)
Order topicals for mild/moderate symptoms
Refer to dermatology for severe symptoms
Mild Lithium Toxicity: 1.5-2.0 mEq/L
Toxic serum level of lithium is greater than 1.5 mEq/L to 2.0 mEq/L
GI: Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Neuro: Lethargy
Muscular: Coarse hand tremor, muscle weakness
Muscle twitching
T-wave depression noted on EKG
Usually benign and treatable
Moderate Toxicity: 2.0-2.5 mEq/L
Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Confusion, slurred speech
Ataxia, muscle twitching
EKG Changes
Seizures
Oliguria
Circulatory failure
Coma
Death
Severe Toxicity: >2.5 mEq/L
Impaired level of consciousness, coma
Increased deep tendon reflexes
Syncope
Seizures
Death
Important relationships with Lithium:
Diuretics increase Retention of Li
NSAIDs Increase Retention of Li
Renal disease Increases Half-life
Decreased Doses required
Increased Dietary Na decreases Li levels
Decreased Dietary Na Increases Li levels
Decreased Na in blood via sweating, diarrhea increases Li levels
Causes of lithium toxicity
Intentional or accidental overdose
Decreased lithium renal clearance
Kidney disease, sodium deficiency, water deprivation, or medication interactions
A low or no salt diet, use of diuretics, fever and excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea
Failure to regular lithium level checks
Prescription of high doses of lithium
Lithium Drug/Drug interactions
Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Increase lithium levels by up to 60%
Angiotensin Converter Enzyme Inhibitors
Increases lithium levels by up to 40%
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Increases lithium levels by up to 20%
Diuretics
Decrease lithium levels by up to 40%
Can cause lithium toxicity
Methylxanthines (Caffeine, theophylline)
Decrease lithium by up to 60%