NSG 533 Module 4 Flashcards
When a patient has depressive symptoms, it is necessary to investigate the possibility of a medical, psychiatric, and/or drug-induced cause. You will find these exclusions also listed in DSM5. All depressed patients should have a complete physical examination, mental status examination, basic laboratory work-up and suicide risk evaluation (There is an increased risk of suicide at the beginning of the antidepressant therapy)
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Pharmacological causes of depression
- Antihypertensive drugs (propranolol, methyldopa, clonidine)
- Hormones (oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids)
- Acne therapy (isotretinoin)
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Antidepressants are used in treatment of depression, as well as some anxiety, pain and eating disorders, but not B______ D_______.
bipolar disorder
- All antidepressants take ______ weeks to achieve their full effect. Adequate trial is necessary prior to making changes.
4-6
Principles: Most studies find combination of pharmacotherapy + cognitive therapy more efficacious than either therapy alone. Efficacy of different antidepressants is generally comparable across and within classes.
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For patients with unipolar major depression who are initially treated with antidepressants, newer agents such as SSRIs / SNRIs rather than other antidepressants should be tried. It is critical to take into account patient specific factors such as prior response to a given class of medications, tolerability of adverse effects, comorbid conditions (eg. avoiding anticholinergics in glaucoma or BPH; avoiding bupropion in seizure disorders), etc
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- There is an increased risk of suicide at the beginning of the antidepressant therapy
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- Potential for withdrawal symptoms with abrupt discontinuation of antidepressant therapy.
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- In patients with mild to moderate major depression who obtain little symptom relief from an initial antidepressant, switching to an antidepressant from a _______________ as first-line treatment, rather than augmenting the initial antidepressant with a second drug is recommended (After an adequate trial)
different class
- For patients who obtain little symptom relief despite repeated (eg, one to three) antidepressant switches, augmentation with a ________ medication is recommended.
second
- For patients who obtain definite symptom relief that is not satisfactory and can tolerate the initial antidepressant, we suggest augmentation as first-line treatment
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______ - Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor
SSRIs
- Currently most often prescribed initial drug of choice because of low side effect profile and not lethal if overdose as single agent
_________ (psych drug class)
SSRIs - Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor
- Nearly all SSRIs undergo hepatic oxidative (P450) metabolism with fluoxetine having an extremely long T 1/2 because of its active metabolite. In fact, the “wash out period” for fluoxetine is about ___ weeks (eg to prevent serotonin syndrome if starting a MAOI, John’s Wort, etc)
5
o Fluvoxamine inhibits CYP1A2, 3A4, 2C9, 2C19
o Fluoxetine and paroxetine inhibit CYP2C9 and 2D6
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o Citalopram, escitalopram and sertraline do not block P450 enzymes
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_______ (psych drug class)
- Generally well tolerated.
o May be associated with n/v, weight gain (especially paroxetine), etc.
o 30-40% of patients report loss of libido, delayed orgasm or diminished arousal
o Class effect
SSRIs
- Fluoxetine and TCAs have greatest ________________ safety
reproductive
SNRIs block both SER-T and NE-T (re-uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine)
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examples of this drug class include venlafaxine, duloxetine, desvenlefaxine
SNRIs
- Similar indications and side effect profile to SSRIs with different MOA
SNRIs
- Higher doses of some agents (venlafaxine) may be associated with increases in DBP, but not seen with others (duloxetine).
Which psych drug class?
SNRIs
- Not only indicated in MDD, but also used in treatment of chronic pain disorders (including neuropathies and fibromyalgia), generalized anxiety, stress urinary incontinence (duloxetine), and vasomotor symptoms of menopause
SN______ (psych drug class)
SNRIs
Because of their side effects and potential for lethal overdose (even if taken alone), _________ have essentially been replaced (ie. NOT initial therapy) by SSRIs and SNRIs as the first choice for treatment of depression. They still are used in refractory cases and for other indications (enuresis, migraine prophylaxis, neuropathies, etc).
TCAs
Significant anticholinergic effects
mnemonic “Anti-SLUD” -
salivation (dry mouth), lacrimation (dry eyes/blurred vision), urination (urinary retention), defecation ( constipation).
Can’t see, pee, spit, or shit.
___________ (psych drug class)
TCAs
T_________ ADs (psych drug class)
- Avoid in:
o Patients with benign prostate hyperplasia
o Patients with closed-angle glaucoma
o Patients with cardiac disease
o Patients with hepatic impairment
o Elderly patients
TCAs
Side effects of ______ (psych drug class):
- Alpha-blocking properties - orthostasis, falls
- H1 blocking properties - drowsiness, sedation, weight gain
- Sexual side effects
- QTc prolongation
- CNS depression, especially if combined with other CNS depressants (benzo’s, EToH, opiates)
TCAs
Trazodone was among most commonly prescribed antidepressants before introduction of SSRIs. Use now primarily limited to insomnia
Drug class?
5H_______ (psych drug class)
5HT2 antagonists
- Bupropion - Also known as norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) (also used in smoking cessation)
main drug class?
Unicyclic / tetracyclic antidepressants
o Blockade of 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT3 * receptors
o Also blockade of H1 receptors and presynaptic α2-adrenoreceptors
- Mirtazapine
Unicyclic / tetracyclic antidepressants
o good choice if weight loss part of clinical picture and weight gain is desired
(mi________, psych med)
- Mirtazapine
Unicyclic / tetracyclic antidepressants
o Significant sedative effects, weight gain, dizziness
does NOT cause sexual dysfunction
mi_________ (psych med)
- Mirtazapine
Unicyclic / tetracyclic antidepressants
o Reasonable 1st line option in select patients where weight gain is a concern, patients w/ ADRs from SSRIs (eg. sexual dysfunction), where smoking cessation is also a consideration, etc.
b____________ (psych med)
Bupropion
o Active metabolites (including amphetamine-like compounds)… note side effects in relation to this fact and yes, this will cause a positive urine test
CNS stimulant effects, such as decreased appetite, anorexia,[weight loss], insomnia, agitation, tremor, seizures
b____________ (psych med)
Bupropion
May NOT be a good choice for monotherapy if anxiety is part of the clinical picture
b___________ (psych med)
Bupropion
o Contraindications: seizure disorder; history of anorexia/bulimia; patients undergoing abrupt discontinuation of ethanol or sedatives, including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or antiepileptic drugs –> because ______________ lowers seizure threshold!
Bupropion
o Very Low likelihood of sexual dysfunction. Sometimes used as add on therapy to offset the sexual dysfunction caused by other antidepressants or in place of other antidepressants
bup___________ (psych drug class)
Bupropion
MAOI:
Mono-amine oxidase inhibitors
Used only for refractory cases of MDD
________ (psych drug class)
MAOI
- By blocking the enzyme that breaks down 5-HT, NE and DA, MAO inhibitors increase the levels of these NTs in the brain
MAOI
- This drug class (psych drug class) has several significant drug interactions, one being hypertensive crisis.
o Drugs that can precipitate a hypertensive crisis include: Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine
MAOI
Washout period of 14 days necessary when switching from an ______ (AD drug class) to another antidepressant or from another antidepressant to an ______ (AD drug class) (5 week washout when switching from fluoxetine to an ______(AD drug class))
MAOI
Which psych drug class? (M____)
Several significant drug interactions
o Serotonin syndrome with other antidepressants, narcotic analgesics (esp. meperidine (Demerol®)), St. John’s wort, linezolid (Zyvox®)
MAOI
o Drug -food interactions precipitating hypertensive crisis
The “Wine and Cheese Reaction”
MAOI
o Drug -food interactions precipitating hypertensive crisis
Aged cheeses
smoked/pickled meats
yeast extracts
red wines
italian broad beans
MAOIs
Regarding anxiety:
Primary therapy should address underlying issues and should be managed accordingly (i.e. with SSRIs,SNRIs, etc.)
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Citalopram, sertraline, fluvoxamine, and fluoxetine are not FDA-approved for the treatment of GAD. However, the efficacy of SSRIs in GAD appears to be a class effect, and there is uncontrolled data to support the use of all SSRIs in the pharmacotherapy of GAD.
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Generally, treatment of GAD should be continued for at least one year
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BZDs:
Benzodiazepines
o Most prescribed agents for the acute treatment of anxiety (and in conditions such as depression with there is an anxious component -“bridge therapy”)
o Efficacy is similar among the available agents
BZD - Benzodiazepines
BZ___ tapering: 25% per week reduction until 50% of dose is reached, then decrease by 1/8th every 4-7 days.
> 8 weeks of therapy: 2-3 week taper
>6 months of therapy: 4-8 week taper
> 1 year of therapy: 2-4 month slow taper
BZD - Benzodiazepines
o Use should be limited to short term (2-6 weeks) until “other therapies (SSRI, SNRI)” takes effect
B__s
BZD - Benzodiazepines
Should not be used in patients with past or current substance and/or alcohol abuse or dependence
BZD - Benzodiazepines
Prefer those agents with longer half-life due to better coverage of anxiety (this is not the same in elderly patients or for insomnia)
BZD - Benzodiazepines
May paradoxically produce an increase in irritability and aggression in some individuals (particularly if short- acting drugs are given (triazolam)
B________ (psych drug class)
BZD - Benzodiazepines
________ (psych drug class), shown to affect memory, can produce anterograde amnesia (i.e., a loss of memory for events occurring forward in time). Following the ingestion of a _______ (drug class), short-term memory is not affected, but long-term memory is impaired.
BZD - Benzodiazepines
Caution: patients are often prescribed _______ (psych drug class) for different reasons (muscle spasm, anxiety, insomnia, etc) by different providers. Always be aware of potential therapeutic duplications
BZD - Benzodiazepines
All BZ______ (psych drug class) are lipid soluble (easy access to the CNS) and can cause profound CNS depression, especially if combined with other CNS depressants
BZD - Benzodiazepines
o Duration of action:
Short-acting: alprazolam, triazolam
BZD - Benzodiazepines
o Duration of action:
Intermediate-acting: lorazepam, oxazepam
BZD - Benzodiazepines
o Duration of action:
Long-acting: diazepam, flurazepam, chlordiazepoxide … The half lives of the parent compound and active metabolites are extensive (up to 100 hours)and can accumulate.
AVOID in the elderly.
(psych drug class)
BZD - Benzodiazepines
Anxiolytic drug, but NO sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant or muscle relaxant properties
Buspirone
o Comparable efficacy to benzodiazepines in the treatment of GAD, but some trials reported inconsistent findings. Considered second line overall
Buspirone
o Abrupt discontinuation of buspirone does not cause withdrawal effects as seen in BZDS
Buspirone
Slow onset of action (2-3 weeks)
b_________ (psych med)
Buspirone
o lack of activity against comorbid conditions (e.g., depression, panic disorder, social phobia) is a drawback in some patients.
Buspirone
_____________________ (drug class) may be helpful in patients with physical symptoms (e.g., palpitations and other cardiovascular complaints) but are not effective for the treatment of GAD.
β-Adrenergic antagonists (e.g., propranolol)
- Basic principles for the rational treatment of ______________ are to use the lowest effective dose, use intermittent dosing (2-3 nights/wk), use short term (2-3 wk at a time), discontinue after slow taper if the patient has been taking it regularly, and use agents with short and/or intermediate half-life to minimize daytime sedation
insomnia
Dosage, pharmacokinetic properties, and risk-benefit ratio are the key factors in selecting the most appropriate medication for ____________.
insomnia