neuro: anxiety Flashcards
OCD tx
1st line: SSRI
2nd: clomipramine
3rd: venlafaxine
approach to dosing
Starting Dose must be LOW: (start low go slow)
Transient jitteriness in the initial 1-2 weeks of starting antidepressant.
Start antidepressant at with low dose; consider Benzodiazepine as adjunct
Maintenance Dose may be at HIGH end of the range.
Effective maintenance dosing of antidepressants for treatment of Anxiety
Disorders are on the high end of the dose range (e.g. Fluoxetine 60-80mg/day vs 20mg for MDD)
serotonergic antidepressant
- effective for ‘excessive worrying’ type of symptoms in anxiety
Onset at least 1-2 months
Full response generally 3 months
Duration of treatment at least 1-2 years, typically long-term.
bzd
adjunctive: effective for physical sx of anxiety eg. muscle tension
- fast onset of action, can be within 30 mins for lorazepam
- aim for short term (3-4 months) of treatment, prn dosing, then taper
- anxiolytic, hypnotic, muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant, amnesic properties
tolerance of bzd
- to hypnotic actions: common, develop within days
- to anxiolytic action: less common
bzd dependence
avoid abrupt cessation after weeks of continued use (withdrawal)
- gradual taper required
high potency bzd agents
usually preferred in aniety disorders
- clonazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam xr for panic disorder
cautions to bzd
- parodoxical excitement esp in children and elderly
- dependence and withdrawal sx can occur esp in pt w hx of drug dependence
tx not recommended
- kava: risk of hepatotoxicity
- chamomile: avoid in pregnancy
- valerien: incr gaba
FDA-approved bzd for treatment of general anxiety
alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam
escitalopram dosing
10-20mg
PD, SAD: 5mg
fluoxetine
Prozac
20mg starting dose, PD: 5mg
max 80mg
fluvoxamine
Faverin
50mg, PD: 25mg
max 300mg
paroxetine
Seroxat IR
20mg
40-60mg
sertraline
Zoloft
5mg
200mg