Neuropsychopharm Flashcards
- Where are the neurons that contain NE in the brain and where do they project?
- Where does serotonin originate in the brain?
- Where are dopamine containing neurons and where do they project?
- Neurons are located in locus coeruleus and innervate nearly every part of CNS
- Raphe nuclei
- Substantia nigra projects to the striatum. Ventral tregmentum projects to prefrontal cotex and limbic system.
Where are the 6 sites of GABA localization?
- Sustantia Nigra
- Globus Pallidus
- Hippocampus
- Limbic structures - Amygdala
- Hypothalamus
- Spinal cord
What is the difference between DSM-IV depression categorization and DSM-5 categorization?
DSM-IV denotes Major Depressive Disorder under which include unipolar and bipolar. DSM-5 separates Bipolar disorder from Major Depressive Disorder
What is the difference between the classic theory of depression vs. current theory of depression?
The classic (Monoamine Theory) was insufficient transmission of NE and 5-HT in CNS. The current theory is that there is an imbalance of amine receptor or transmission imbalance in CNS.
- How does efficacy and time course of SSRIs compare with TCAs?
- How does acute toxicity of SSRIs compare to TCAs and MAOIs?
- How soon do withdrawal symptoms begin after cessation of SSRIs?
- What are 4 unique symptoms of withdrawal?
- Efficacy and time course are about the same.
- Acute toxicity is less.
- 1-7 days
- Shock-like sensations and paresthesia, dizziness, gait instability, visual disturbances.
What are the approved uses for SSRIs? (8 items)
- Major Depression
- OCD
- Panic disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- PTSD
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Hot flashes associated with menopause
- What are two examples of SSRIs?
- Which has the longer half-life? Why?
- Which has less effects on drug metabolism?
- Fluoxetine and Sertraline
- Fluoxetine. It has an active metabolite
- Sertraline
- What drug is an SNRI that blocks 5-HT and NE reuptake?
- What is its half-life?
- What non-psychiatric conditions is this drug approved for?
- What patients should this drug be used with caution?
- Duloxetine
- 12-18 hours
- Chronic pain syndromes: fibromyalgia, back pain, neuropathic pain.
- Patients with liver disease.
- What are two atypical antidepressants?
- Bupropion and Mirtazapine
- What is the mechanism for Bupropion?
- What are non-depression uses for Bupropion?
- What is the benefit in terms of side effects of Bupropion?
- Bupropion weakly blocks NE and dopamine uptake.
- Nicotine withdrawal, Seasonal Affective Disorder
- No weight gain or sexual dysfunction as with SSRIs
- What is the mechanism for Mirtazapine?
- What is a side effect of Mirtazapine?
- Blocks pre-synaptic alpha2 receptors in brain
- It increases appetite
- What are two examples of TCAs?
- What is the mechanism of TCAs?
- What is the relative absorption and distribution of TCAs?
- Which TCA has an active metabolite that is also used as a drug?
- What is the plasma half-life of TCAs?
- Amitriptyline and Clomipramine
- Blocks NE and 5-HT reuptake
- Rapid absorption and high concentrations in brain and heart.
- Amitriptyline
- Long: 8-100 hours.
- How long does it take for TCAs (Amitriptyline and Clomipramine) to improve depressive symptoms?
- What effect do TCAs have on sleep?
- What are some prominent side effects of TCAs?
- What type of patient are TCAs contraindicated?
- 2-3 weeks
- Decreased REM and increased stage 4 sleep
- Anti-cholinergic effects, Sedation, Cardiac abnormalities
- Patients with recent M.I.
What are the major therapeutic uses for TCAs? (4 items)
- Major depressive disorder
- Enuresis in childhood
- Chronic pain - Amitiptyline
- OCD - Clomipramine
What is the hallmark MAOI for this course?
Phenelzine
- How long do MAOIs take to achieve their effect?
- Used with caution in bipolar depression. Why?
- About 2 weeks.
- Can progress to hypomania
- Do MAOIs worsen or improve sleep disorders in depressed patients?
- What effect would MAOIs have in a normal patient?
- They correct sleep disorders.
- They may produce stimulation
What are some symptoms of MAOI toxicity?
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Hyperpyrexia
- Convulsions
- Changes in blood pressure
What is the primary dietary concern with MAOIs? Why?
Tyramine containing foods (cheese, wine, chocolate, processed meats) can cause hypertensive crisis by increasing release of NE because Tyramine is broken down my MAO.
What are the two major therapeutic uses for MAOIs?
- Major depression – no longer drug of first choice
- Narcolepsy
What is a non-specific blocker of NE and 5-HT used to treat depression?
Amitriptyline
What are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for this course?
Fluoxetine and Sertraline
What is the mechanism of action for Duloxetine? What is it used for?
Inhibits the reuptake of Serotonin and Norepinephrine. It is used for depression.
What is the mechanism of action for Phenelzine? What is it used for?
It inhibits the action of Monoamine Oxidase and therefore inhibits the breakdown of monoamines like serotonin and norepinephrine. It is used for depression.
What term do the following things describe?
- Derangement of personaliy
- Loss of contact with reality
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
Psychosis
Describe the Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia.
What area of the brain does this refer to particularly?
Schizophrenia results from a hyperactivity of dopaminergic neurons or their receptors particularly in the limbic areas.
What do all effective antipsychotic drugs have in common?
They all interact with dopamine systems.
What portion of Schizophrenia is dopamine hyperactivity of the mesolimbic pathway most responsible for?
It is most responsible for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
What portion of Schizophrenia is diminished dopaminergic activity of the mesocortical pathway most responsible for?
It is most responsible for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
How does the nigrostriatal pathway play a role in schizophrenia and its treatment?
Schizophrenia medications create increased extrapyramidal symptoms by blocking dopamine in this pathway.
What receptors are not utilized by anti-psychotic medications?
Which receptor is utilized by Haloperidol?
Which receptor is utilized by Clozapine?
D1 and D5 receptors are not utilized by anti-psychotic drugs.
D2 is utilized by haloperidol.
D4 is utilized by clozapine.
What primarily affects potency of anti-psychotic medications?
Their affinity for binding to the D2 receptor.
- What is the only difference between typical anti-psychotics?
- What is not well treated by older typical agents?
- Why are atypical drugs generally more desirable?
- Potency is the only difference.
- Negative symptoms are not well treated.
- They are more effective in treating the negative symptoms. In addition to treating the positive symptoms.
What is meant by the extrapyramidal effects of anti-psychotic medications? (4 items)
- Dystonia
- Parkinsonism
- Akathisia
- Tardive dyskinesia
In order of early to late, when do EPS appear in anti-psychotic therapy generally?
Acute dystonia → Parkinsonism → Akathisia → Tardive dyskinesia