Neuro Flashcards
What are the major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
TRAP:
Tremor
Rigidity
Akinesia/bradykinesia
Postural instability
Drugs that can worsen Parkinson’s disease
Phenothiazines (prochlorperazine, etc.)
Butyrophenones (haloperidol, droperidol)
1st and 2nd gen antipsychotics
Metoclopramide
Which med is preferred for the treatment of PD-associated psychosis?
Quetiapine
Rapid withdrawal of levodopa or dopamine agonists can cause what condition?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
What is the active metabolite of levodopa?
Dopamine
Why is carbidopa given in combo with levodopa?
Prevents the peripheral metabolism of levodopa that would destroy most of the drug before it crosses the BBB
What drug is 1st line for the treatment of PD?
Carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet)
Which PD drugs are used to reduce “off” periods and to limit dyskinesias?
COMT inhibtors and MAO-B inhibitors
What drug can be used in younger PD pts to treat tremor-predominant disease?
Centrally-acting anticholinergics (benztropine)
Amantadine is also an option
Key points for carbidopa/levodopa
Starting IR dose = 25/100 mg tid
CI w/ non-selective MAOi and narrow angle glaucoma
SE: Nausea, dizziness, orthostasis, dyskinesias, hallucinations, psychosis, unusual sexual urges, pripism
Can cause brown/black urine discoloration
must d/c if positive Coombs test
Response worsens with long-term use
Must taper if stopping
Examples of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors
Entacapone (Comtan)
Opicapone (Ongentys)
Tolcapone (Tasmar)
When can COMT inhibitors be used?
Must be used in combo with levodopa - increases the duration of action of levodopa (prevents peripheral conversion)
Examples of dopamine agonists
Pramipexole (Mirapex)
Ropinirole (Requip)
Key points for dopamine agonists
Warnings for somnolence, orthostasis, hallucinations, dyskinesias
Must be tapered if stopping
For patch, cannot use same site for 14 days after use (daily patch)
Cannot use patch with sulfite allergy
What drug can be used as a rescue drug for off-periods for PD?
Apomorphine
Must be started in medical office
Key points for amantadine
Blocks dopamine reuptake and increases dopamine release from presynaptic fibers
Warnings for somnolence and psychosis
SE: Dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, livedo reticularis (reddish skin mottling)
Examples of selective MAO-B inhibtors
Selegiline
Rasagiline
Safinamide
Key points for MAO-B inhibitors
CI w/ MAOi, SSRIs/SNRIs, linezolid, opioids, TCAs
Same food interactions as MAOi’s
Risk of serotonin syndrome and HTN
Selegiline can be activating - do not take at night
Key points for benztropine (Cogentin)
Has anticholinergic and antihistamine effects
SE: dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision. mydriasis, somnolence, confusion
Avoid in elderly pts
Drugs that can worsen dementia
Antiemetics (promethazine)
Antihistamines (benadryl, doxyalamine)
Antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, aripiprazole)
Barbituates (phenobarb)
BZDs
Anticholinergics
Skeletal muscle relaxants (baclofen)
CNS depressants
What test is used to diagnose dementia?
Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
Score <24 = memory disorder
What supplements have shown possible benefit for Alzheimer’s dementia?
Vit E and ginkgo
Both increase bleed risk